Get Ready Checklist

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
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
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?
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

Login in to Blackboard or Moodle
- Make sure your username and password work. If you have problems contact UMass 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

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

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 may take longer or need more preparation time

Here is a check list of things to take into consideration as your start to take an online course.