Coordinate
Part of "The Great '-ate's" blog series
By Stephanie Cooley
There are several definitions of the word coordinate. The good news is that I am not asking you to change the way you dress or perform a series of physically challenging tasks. Of course, some of you might prefer either of those to a final exam or big project!
The definition that I am using is “to organize something complex.” If you have ever taken an online course, you know that it can be very complex—both in terms of using the learning management system [D2L, Blackboard, Moodle] and in organizing the material presented in the course. Thinking about the course as a whole can be overwhelming.
It helps to break the course into manageable sections. At UWP, we give students a week before class officially starts to preview the course. This is a good time to look through the information and get a preliminary plan of attack in place. Map out your semester and look for weeks that might be a problem, especially if you are taking more than one course. Remember to incorporate family events and your work schedule into the mix. By breaking things up you can take one week at a time and, before you know it, you will be another step closer to getting that degree!
Another way to keep coordinated is to match your classes to your work, when possible. There is usually some flexibility regarding both the courses you need to take and the order in which you take them. Try to take courses that coordinate well with your current position. If you can immediately apply what you learn, it will be easier to retain the information.
UP NEXT… Dedicate
About this series
Being an online student can be trying at times. We want to give you the knowledge and knowhow to navigate the waters of distance education. This continuing series, which builds upon words that end in “-ate,” is meant to offer tips and techniques for those interested in distance education, as well as for those who are current distance students.
See our other blogs that are part of this series:
Investigate
Dedicate
By Stephanie Cooley
There are several definitions of the word coordinate. The good news is that I am not asking you to change the way you dress or perform a series of physically challenging tasks. Of course, some of you might prefer either of those to a final exam or big project!
The definition that I am using is “to organize something complex.” If you have ever taken an online course, you know that it can be very complex—both in terms of using the learning management system [D2L, Blackboard, Moodle] and in organizing the material presented in the course. Thinking about the course as a whole can be overwhelming.
It helps to break the course into manageable sections. At UWP, we give students a week before class officially starts to preview the course. This is a good time to look through the information and get a preliminary plan of attack in place. Map out your semester and look for weeks that might be a problem, especially if you are taking more than one course. Remember to incorporate family events and your work schedule into the mix. By breaking things up you can take one week at a time and, before you know it, you will be another step closer to getting that degree!
Another way to keep coordinated is to match your classes to your work, when possible. There is usually some flexibility regarding both the courses you need to take and the order in which you take them. Try to take courses that coordinate well with your current position. If you can immediately apply what you learn, it will be easier to retain the information.
UP NEXT… Dedicate
About this series
Being an online student can be trying at times. We want to give you the knowledge and knowhow to navigate the waters of distance education. This continuing series, which builds upon words that end in “-ate,” is meant to offer tips and techniques for those interested in distance education, as well as for those who are current distance students.
See our other blogs that are part of this series:
Investigate
Dedicate
posted by UW-Platteville Distance Learning Center at
1:55 PM
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