Prior to the course (offline)
- Order textbooks or materials
- Make sure to order the correct edition or version. Buying the wrong materials will delay your participation and may affect your class standing or grade
- Make sure to order the correct edition or version. Buying the wrong materials will delay your participation and may affect your class standing or grade
- Know the start and end date of your online course
- Make a plan for how you will keep track of your coursework (paper or virtual calendar)
- Schedule time to work on your online course
- Add due dates for all assignments, projects and exams to your calendar
- Schedule time to work on your online course
- Are there any time considerations such as your job or family commitments you need to plan around? What steps you can take ahead of time to alleviate any potential stressors?
- For example: planning your school schedule around soccer games, carpooling, or shift changes at work?
- For example: planning your school schedule around soccer games, carpooling, or shift changes at work?
- Make sure your computer is updated (system, virus checker, etc.)
- Review Syllabus (if available)
- Contact your instructor if you have questions about the course and/or if you need accommodations
During Preview Week & The First Week of Class
- Login into Blackboard (uma.umassonline.net)in to Canvas, Blackboard or Moodle
- Make sure your username and password work. If you have problems contact the 24 hour / 7 days a week Help DeskUMass IT.
- Review the Student Orientation & Resource Area and make sure you know how to:
- Post in the Discussion Board
- Post to a Journal or Blog (if your instructor is using them)
- Use the course email or Messages tool
- Submit an Assignment
- Find/Read Announcements posted by your instructor
- Review the syllabus and introductory course materials
- Contact your instructor if you have questions about the course and/or if you need accommodations
During the Class
- Once the course starts, make sure you know how to navigate the content
- Log in to the course every day for announcements and course messages
- Make sure to review both the syllabus and the course content regularly
- Sometimes instructors will provide up-to-date announcements, syllabus changes, or information about upcoming assignments
- Review your calendar to see what assignments or materials are due in the next week
- Check to make sure you can locate and access assignments or assessments in the course before the due date
- Make sure to participate and interact with your instructor and classmates through the course discussion or messages tools
- If anything in the course doesn't make sense to you, ask for clarification ahead of time
- If you are having difficulties completing work, contact your instructor as soon as these challenges arise
Wrapping up the Class
- Make sure you know when your course ends. The UMass Academic Calendar lists the dates for standard courses.
- Communicate with your instructor to see if you have any outstanding assignments
- Make sure to set aside time to complete any final papers or exams for the course as these make may take longer or need more preparation time