Helpful Hints and Tips

Here are some useful hints that come from student and faculty experiences in online courses.

File Formats

Before attaching a file to Email or placing in a digital drop box, check to see what file formats your instructor can open.  Instructors at BRCC have access to Microsoft Word, but if you don't have Word (and it isn't required by your instructor), you can save your file as in Rich Text Format by selecting the .rtf file type when you save the file.  RTF is widely supported and will keep your formatting intact, until plain text (.txt).  The bottom line is to always read the assignment requirements very carefully.  Your instructor cannot grade a file that he or she cannot open.

Web Forms

Before placing content of any length into a Web form, it is best to save it into a word processing program first.  That will give you time to proofread carefully and spell check before you copy and paste it into the Web form.  This will also keep you from losing all your work if your computer freezes, the power goes off, etc., before you finish filling out and submitting the form.

Plan Ahead

Don't wait until the last minute to submit your work.  Technical problems can happen at any time that may prevent you from accessing your course or your work.  Be sure to print off your course syllabus as a back up so you know what is coming up in case your course is temporarily not available.

Tests/Assessments

If your instructor uses Blackboard for tests, be aware that Blackboard has a feature that only allows one test attempt.  If you accidentally double-click the test link or have technical problems in the middle of a test, your instructor will have to reset your test.  Do not contact the student helpdesk as this is one situation where they can't help you.

Some instructors require proctored tests.  The Learning Assistance Center on the second floor of the Houff Student Center on the Weyers Cave campus is normally used for proctoring, but your instructor will give you specific instructions if she requires proctoring. 

Time Management

Your course will require a lot of your time.  Students who take online courses thinking they will save time by not coming to campus are always surprised.  Remember, you will be responsible for reading all the course material (instead of your instructor covering it in class) as well as completing assignments.  It is a good idea to block off specific times during each week when you will work on your class.  If you procrastinate and wait until you have some time...well, you know how that goes.

Read Carefully and Ask Questions

An online course requires careful reading of both course content and instructions.  In a classroom setting, your instructor will usually give you written instructions as well as oral instructions that sometimes clarify what is expected.  In online courses, you will usually only have the written instructions to go by. 

If you are not sure about anything in the course, ask your instructor.  You may be used to relying on other students to ask questions in a traditional classroom, but you must take the initiative online.  It's better to be sure than to than to spend a lot of time doing an assignment that doesn't meet the requirements. 

We'll leave you now with a few additional support resources in case you need them.