5 Tips to Succeed in Our Online Courses

Since we started offering both self-directed and mentored online courses, Escape has seen some amazing talent develop through online learning. Unlike classroom courses, online courses give students the option to learn when and where they want. This is ideal for working professionals or anyone who can’t make it to our campuses. But of course online learning – even a mentored course that provides access to instructors and peers – has challenges, which is why I’ve put together five tips to help you succeed in our online courses.

1. Set a schedule and progress goals at the beginning of the course
The good news is that online courses offer lots of flexibility for you to set your own study time and time to work on projects. The bad news is that online courses offer lots of flexibility for you to set your own study time and time to work on projects. While each course has deadlines and due dates, the way that you arrive at them is up to you. When you start one of our online courses, look through the material along with a calendar. Set your own progress goals by assigning dates for completing material and assignments. Don’t forget to factor in holidays, work commitments and family obligations. Carve our regular times to work on the course. Select times you know will work for your schedule; maybe that’s after dinner on Tuesdays and Thursdays or during the weekend. If you know you are more alert and work better in the morning, schedule your study for before lunch. If you’re a night owl, schedule your study block after Conan. Keep your schedule simple and keep it regular. If it’s different each week, you’ll have a really hard time sticking to it.

2. Set up your space and always use it for your class
At least as important as when you study is where you study. Set up a quiet place to work without distraction. Make sure it’s comfortable and someplace you’ll want to spend time. You should also take time to set up your virtual space so that all you have logical folders to put your working files and the course materials you download. While you study, turn off notification on mail, FaceBook, Twitter, Skype, etc. Let your family, housemates and friends know that while you are in your space, you are studying and don’t want to be disturbed.

3. Use the e-learning engine to connect with instructors and peers
Our mentored courses offer an e-learning engine that lets student communicate privately with instructors and collaborate with other students on projects. Take advantage of these tools not only to learn skills, but also make connections to feel more involved. Get to know your classmates and connect up with them on Facebook and Twitter as well as in the in e-earning system.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
The best way to learn is to ask questions and our mentored courses offer that kind of environment. Don’t hesitate to ask instructors questions either publically or privately. You’ll figure out the material faster and build connections with the Escape crew and your classmates. If you can’t find an answer in the course materials, ask for help.

5. Stay motivated
Having to be in your seat in a class at a specified time is a big motivator that you’re missing if you are taking a course online. Be sure to apply what you’re learning beyond our course work. Use your new skills on other projects. When you are watching movies, trailers and TV shows or playing games. Think about how the skills you are learning in your course would fit into creating those images. And of course, share your work online. Nothing is more motivating than getting comments on a demo reel you posted to YouTube or Vimeo. If you don’t already have one, you might think about setting up a blog using WordPress or Blogger to write about and share your progress in the course with friends and family (I’ll have more thoughts on this in an upcoming post).