Lesson Overview

As you prepare for a blended learning semester, we want to provide you with a few tips that will help you to successfully approach this new challenge in the virtual university classroom. While you may already be familiar with Canvas and frequently use your phone, tablet and laptop in your private life, being a student in an online learning environment has its own challenges. Online learning is a little bit different to what you may be used to in school or your previous college experience and the study and learning skills you will need in an online classroom are similar but slightly different those in a traditional classroom. For example, you will have to become a mostly self-directed learner and schedule your study time more effectively. Unlike the face-to-face classes you are used to, there may not always be immediate responses to emerging questions because your professors, lecturers, peers and yourself may not always be simultaneously present or work on the same task at the same time (asynchronous learning). Here, we provide you with a variety of ideas how to adjust to and succeed this new educational setting.

Learning objectives of this session include:

Knowing how to find information about your course and its requirements
The importance of time management and scheduling
Using technology in the classroom
Digital Citizenship
Acquiring knowledge about written online work
Balancing personal and college life
Where and how to find help

Download the Approaching online learning poster here.

Approaching Online Learning Video Lesson

Approaching Online Learning

Learning in an online environment is different to studying on campus. However, there are many new skills you will be able to learn.

Our tip: embrace the opportunity!

We are going to introduce you to a few tips that will make online and blended classes at UCC more accessible to you. For example, we encourage you to engage with the new technology and applications you will need to use for class as this is practical preparation for a future degree or job. During some of the weeks ahead, you may feel overwhelmed or exhausted. Try exchanging ideas with other students to get the most out of this new experience and to stay connected. Using the virtual world to learn and study, it is more important than ever to know how to navigate your course, schedule your time and where to find help if you need it. In this session, we will guide you through the process of becoming a successful online student and introduce you to a variety of aspects you should keep in mind when approaching online learning.

Know Your Course

The Book of Modules and your syllabus:

The UCC Book of Modules and your course syllabus are great resources to help you understand the assignments for the class, your lecturer’s expectations, important due dates and grading criteria. So, at the beginning of each week, review the assignments and tasks that are due that week and any other activities that need to be completed and set reminders for yourself. For example, your lecturer may post this information on a Course page here on Canvas. Make sure you check out material uploaded by your instructor, and watch all tutorials or instructional videos that have been posted.

In a nutshell:

- Read the course information and make sure you know your syllabus which can be found by searching UCC’s Book of Modules and the Book of Marks and Standards
- Know what is expected of you (assignments, deadlines etc.) and know how and where to access learning resources for example, UCC’s “Keep Learning” webpage has links to many UCC – based resources.

Time Management and Scheduling

"Chunking" and scheduling your week:

Spending a lot of time on the computer to work on your classes, listen to lectures or watch videos can be exhausting. Good time-management skills will help you as they will allow you to break up your study sessions into shorter, more manageable sections.

It can be challenging to juggle so many dates and tasks, especially in these new and uncertain times, using a planner or organiser will help you stay on top of things. It will allow you to schedule all the time you need to read, write and complete other college assignments. You could, for example, use the Google Calendar that is included in your G-Suite access package through UCC, or the Canvas Calendar and To Do list, or a hardcopy planner, or a combination of all of them. Whichever you use, highlight due dates or mark by what date you have to participate in online discussions, mark in your completion dates for your assignments and online course work.

If you are not attending many online classes, meaning, most of your learning will be done asynchronous, you might also want to think about dedicating certain time of the day or week to complete the assignments for your classes. During these “chunks”, you will exclusively be working on college assignments and class work for a certain module, while during other chunks, you may want to schedule a break, exercise, stretching or calling a friend.

Another way of handling your time during the online week is to follow your class schedule. For example, if you normally have a “Introduction to Literature” course on a Monday 10-11 am, but this is now moved to online, asynchronous learning, stick with the time slot and do the tasks assigned by your lecturer for this week during this slot.

If you have live, online classes (synchronous), you should, of course, attend those just like you would if they were held on campus.

If you want to know more about how to best manage your time, check out our resources about time management on the Skills Centre Canvas space. For example, we suggest using the Pomodoro method for time management (You will break up your study time into 20-25min segments and take 5-30min breaks after you have completed 1-4 "pompodoro" study sessions). Check it out at: skillscentre.ucc.ie!

Pro tip: Be on time! Try and get in the virtual classroom a few minutes before the class starts. Sign into to your Canvas account, Teams or Google account before the course starts and make sure it is accessible for you before the lecturer starts the session.

Online Classroom Technology

Essential technology and online tools:

Understanding the technology, programmes, apps and services that will be used for online classes at UCC will make your life a lot easier when it comes to attending your lectures this semester. Make sure that you know how to use your own computer, phone or tablet before you go into the new semester but also familiarise yourself and get to know your way around the different programs so that you can avoid issues when it comes to using the software. And, very important, know how and when to – and when not to – use your camera and microphone.

Lecturers at UCC will be using a variety of programmes, online tools and applications to facilitate synchronous, asynchronous and blended learning sessions. Among them is of course Canvas, the G-Suite and Panopto but you may also be asked to use YouTube, Padlet, Quizlet, Kahoot and other tools to help you self-assess, further your study and develop your skills. There will be online tutorials available, your lectures may even explain how to use these programmes and UCC IT can always help you if you have issues. However, it is important that you know how to use these applications to your benefit and that you learn how to navigate them for class. Make sure you set aside time during the week to look into them, explore them and all their functions and learn how use them comfortably.

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You can check out the software's supported by UCC here.

Since we will all be using our laptops, computers, tablets and phones more for class in the future, it is essential that you not only check that your equipment before it is time to sign on, but, also, that all your devices are charged and work well for you. Does your headset fit well? Do your earphones work? Do you know how to turn on an off your camera and microphone?

A stable internet connection may sometimes be a challenge. Don't worry. We are all facing this issues and lecturers are aware and may even have similar problems. If your internet is not strong enough to support the use of a camera, or there may be a risk of you dropping in and out of the call/lecture/group work task, simply let the lecturer/tutor know in the chat function or email them in advance that you may be facing some issues with your internet connection. Most classes will be recorded and available here, through Canvas, or via Panopto, so you don't have to worry that you will miss out on important content because your internet connection failed. You can also always get in touch with UCC IT who can help you with all things related to your computer or other devices.

In a nutshell:

1. Find out which programmes, apps etc. will be used in your classes
2. Know how to use these apps/programmes/software for your course, before you need them in class!
3. Know how and when to (when not to) use your camera and microphone: Know where the mute button is and make sure you are used to muting and unmuting yourself. Although we recommend keeping your camera on to keep yourself focused and showing you are engaged, it is good to know where the camera button is in case you do have to turn it off

Digital Citizenship

Polite and positive interaction online:

Don’t write anything that you would not say to a person face-to-face! So think twice before you react, think twice before you write and think twice before you hit “post“ or “submit“! And be aware of the fact that your audience does not have the opportunity to read your facial expressions or hear your tone of voice when they are reading your responses or posts, this makes it easier for your words to be misunderstood. Therefore, be cautious about how you phrase things and keep in mind that you are talking to real people on the other end of the post or discussion board entry. Adhere to the same high standards of behaviours and manners in a virtual, online environment that you would follow in real life.

Swearing and rude language is never allowed at any UCC class or event. Also, all existing rules and UCC guidelines about not harassing people, making fun of fellow students or bullying them still apply in the virtual classroom. Similarly, do not use profanity in an email or discussion post. Try and always be respectful of your instructor and fellow students so do not write hurtful comments about anyone’s work or experience.

Be careful about what you share online. It is good to be cautious when you are asked to share personal information, and, generally, that will not be the case in any only class. Just as we advise you to be mindful about sharing information about yourself online, please also be considerate about sharing information and details about fellow students and friends. As you know, once you post something online, it is public. Once it is public, it may be difficult to remove from the internet platform you used to post it. Thus, our tip: think twice before you post anything, and always re-read your entry.

Avoid using all capital letters as using all caps often indicates yelling or anger. So please don’t write in all capitals because it may be read as if you are screaming at a classmate or as if you are angry at them. The same goes for exclamation marks, don’t overuse them, it will take away from your argument or the point that you are trying to make. Instead, you could emphasise a point by using italics, underline or bold features.

When in an online class setting, don’t use texting language like, for example, using the letter U for the word “you” or using other abbreviations or acronyms; this is not considered professional in an academic setting. Let us give you another example: when writing emails or composing discussion board entries, avoid abbreviations such as LOL, LMAO and, similarly, use emoticons sparingly. They can sometimes help portray emotions, but they are usually not ideal in an online lecture.

In a nutshell:

1. Think twice before you react and hit submit!
2. Know the fundamentals of online classroom netiquette
3. Dress appropriately and have an appropriate background (if visible to class)
4. If your internet is strong enough, know how to blur your background / put on a suitable neutral background picture
5. Know the rules for online submissions and participation in video conferences, discussion boards, general online rules (be polite, professional, positive, participate!)
6. Know about privacy, copyrights and cyberbullying

We also have a session here on Canvas about Netiquette and are happy to advise you if you need further instruction.

Online Written Work

Composing and submitting written work online:

Your department in UCC will provide you with all the guidelines and information you need to submit your work online. This could, for example, be a post on an online discussion forum, an essay submitted via Canvas, or it could be a post on Padlet or Google Jamboard. With all submissions, you should always be aware of the referencing system your department uses, always re-read and spell-check your work, try and be as concise, clear and objective as possible (unless otherwise instructed). Here are a few tips to unlock your potential online:

Don’t plagiarise!

No matter where and when you post something online, be sure to cite all your sources and references. If you did not take a photo, tell us where you got an image from and make your you respect copyright and license agreements. It is vital that you link and refer to any online or offline sources that you are using. Each department has guidelines about plagiarism, their reference system and how and when to cite. Make sure you are familiar with these rules!

If you need any help, check out our Cite-Seeing downloadable pdf or contact us at the Skills Centre if you have any questions.

Re-read and spell-check:

Just like you should re-read your “offline” assignments, we encourage you to always edit and proof-read your online contributions. Make sure that there are no spelling mistakes, that your grammar and sentence structure is proper and that you have understood and applied the basic essay structure (introduction, main body, conclusion) and basic paragraph structure (topic sentence, elaboration and evidence and concluding sentence(s)) that should be used in any academic piece of writing. Even if you are just submitting a 300-word discussion board post, pay attention to structure, your tone, grammar and punctuation rules. That means: Please write your posts using the high standards of grammar, composition and spelling that you would use in addressing your professor/lecturer or your fellow students in a face-to-face setting or in an essay or email. Make sure you should take enough time to plan out your post or entry and edit and spell-check your text!

Be clear!

It is important to know that, in your online learning environment, communication is key to understanding and being understood. There are many ways through which you will be asked to interact and communicate with each other online this semester. For example, via Teams meetings or chats or through a Canvas conferences. Moreover, your professor might ask you to contribute to an online discussion board. The same rules that apply in a classroom discussion apply to an online discussion and your contribution to online discussion boards and forums. In an online environment, we present ourselves without nonverbal clues. That means our virtual classmates can often not see our facial expressions when they read our entries or identify our tone of voice. Especially in an online discussion board, the perception of us is only based on our written words. So choose your words well. You want to communicate in a professional way at any time and in any given situation. So please remember that you are communicating with or responding to an actual person so be respectful and respect each other’s privacy and feelings when you interact with other students or respond to or evaluate their postings, entries or arguments.

In a nutshell:

1. Make sure you spell-check and re-read your online contributions!
2. Be clear! Clear communication is essential online!
3. Don’t plagiarise! Always cite your sources!
4. Don’t use all caps, avoid using texting language, avoid jokes and sarcasm

Your Wellbeing

Take breaks and exercise:

It is important that you stick to your weekly schedule but, just as important: make sure that you take breaks and spent time away from the screen! Get up, get some water, get some fresh air and stretch before you start your next online session or class.

While having a good and comfortable working environment is essential, and your college work is very important, don’t forget about your mental and physical health! Schedule some time to socialise and connect with others as much as possible. Stay engaged in College Life and connect with Clubs and Societies.

You will get tired, spending more time online on your computer or phone to do college work, so balance it out and stay active and exercise! Avoid being in front of a screen all day/week!

Pro tip: Use the Pomodoro time management method. You will work in 20-25min chunks and have shorter and longer breaks between sessions. Schedule short stretching exercises for your shorter, 5min breaks and perhaps go for a walk outside and call a friend during your longer break. You can find out more about this technique here.

Take Notes

How to get the most out of your class:

Whether you are attending a lecture or class online or offline, if you are watching a recording on Panopto or a live session: be sure to have pen and paper handy to take notes or write down thoughts or questions during the class. You can then, for example, email classmates or your lecturer after the session and find our answers to your queries. Taking notes might seem redundant to you, because most sessions are recorded anyways, but, in the end, taking notes is the first step to retaining information that you will need to succeed in your exams. Even if you know you are not going to be tested on the specific material, you are taking the time out of your day to attend the class, you might as well get the most out of it. The online environment may be new to you as a learning environment and it may take a while to become comfortable in the virtual classroom. So, no matter if recorded or live, write down key points of what is being said and jot down any questions you may have.

Taking notes, especially when you are in a video conference, will signal to your lecturer and peers that you are actually paying attention to the lecture and that you are processing the content.

Pro tip: We recommend taking notes on a paper notepad as, when you are typing into your computer with your mic on, people may think that you are texting or emailing or doing something else. Taking paper notes not only helps you process the content of the lecture better, but it also shows that you are following the class are not texting, using Snapchat or browsing the internet. However, if you are more comfortable using your tablet or laptop to take notes, do so. It is all about finding the ways and shortcuts that help you reach your full potential in a virtual classroom.

Be an Active Online Participant

Engaging with class material and using the chat function:

Make sure that you demonstrate to your lecturers that you are actively engaging with the material and that you are following along with the course. You could do this via the chat function in a video conference, you can post on the discussion board, you can create or join a study group and share material and ideas with the rest of the class.

The chat function, for example, is a good way to get some of your questions answered without having to stop the teacher or interrupt the session. Asking question in the chat allows the lecturer or your classmates to continue their class but read your question or comment and respond to it when it is convenient or fits into the schedule of the course.

MS Teams, for example, has a “Raise Your Hand” function in the options bar that pops up when you click on the meeting screen. Don’t forget to lower your hand when you are finished talking. You can also use the chat function to agree or disagree with your lecturers or fellow classmates or to confirm their statements or answer their questions in the chat. For example, it helps to give a thumbs up if your question has been answered or you could type “that’s a good point”, “I agree with you”, “that is a great idea!”, “Here is the link to that…”, “did you mean this?” or “thank you for your contribution”. That way you don’t interrupt but show that you are an active listener. Teachers want you to be paying attention to them, so being active in the chat signals to your instructor that you are participating and following along.

Use any opportunity in the course to collaborate and interact with other students and your lecturer. The time you will have to interact with other students in person may be limited in the foreseeable future so make the most of the time you get online or offline. For example, if you are studying a language, explore the idea of finding a language tandem partner to practice your language skills outside the classroom.

Another way of engaging with the class is to offer to help other students in your course. This will help create a conducive and interactive online learning environment that will consequently benefit all students. The virtual classroom setting may not offer as many opportunities for natural social interaction with your fellow classmates, but you can enhance your engagement by purposefully contributing to online discussions and initiating exchanges with other members of the class.

In a nutshell:

1. Show your lecturer that you are following along and engaging with material by submitting on time, participating in discussion forums, using the chat function and getting in touch
2. Stay informed and communicate and connect with other students
3. Help other students and post useful links or videos that relate to discussion or class topics

Your "class" environment

Welcoming your class to your home:

Before you start the call or video conference, make sure you pick your environment wisely. While it may not always be possible, try to find a quiet room in the house where you can take the call or video conference for your class. Ideally, communicate with your housemates, family or roommates that you have to take a class and ask them for exclusive access to that quieter room in your house. Then, set up a work and study space in that room and eliminate distractions like your phone. For example, you don’t want to be sitting in the kitchen or the family room with your little sister running around and making a lot of noise. Most microphones are very sensitive and will pick up all sorts of sounds. Therefore, we recommend that you stay away from eating while you are in the call or video chat (or, if you have to eat, turn off your camera and mute your microphone). Speaking of noises, avoid clicking with your pen or typing on your computer or phone, or, if you have to, again, make sure that you turn off your microphone and camera. A quiet room and an environment without distractions will help you take better notes, pay better attention to the content of the lecturer and allow you to learn and understand the material better.

Also be aware that, via your video camera, you are welcoming people into your home! Turn on your camera before your class and take a look at what is around you: is it what you want everyone else to see? Once your camera is on, and everyone can see you and your room so be conscious of your background and your manners: wear appropriate clothes, don’t text or look at other devices or walk around the room or house while you are on camera. We all like to wear comfortable clothing when we are at home but you never know what activities will be asked of you, for example, you may be asked to stand up, and you do not want any embarrassing situation to occur. So, before you start: Take a quick look at the mirror, check your outfit and then you are ready to jump into your online classroom!

Pro tip: If you didn't have time to tidy up your bedroom or your house mates are a bit chaotic, don't fret: You can set your Teams, Skype or Google Meet background to a neutral background or use a stock image of UCC as your background. That way, the rest of the class to see your bedroom or living room.

Know Where to Find Help

Use UCC services to help you be a successful online student:

It is never easy to navigate your way around a place you've never been to before and we understand that, especially this year, it may be hard for you to find your feet on the virtual or blended learning UCC campus. But the good thing is: we are all here to help! So don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. For example, if any of the instructions you have been given for a specific online task seem unclear: the first thing to do is to ask for clarification from your lecturer or department. Your lecturers and tutors are the go-to people for assistance and this remains unchanged in an online setup. They may not be able to address some technical concerns that can come up in online learning, but they may be able to direct you to other forms of support and appropriate resources like the UCC IT Services, the library or the Skills Centre. On that note, UCC offers a lot of helpful tutorials, resources and services. If you ever feel stuck or unsure or if you have issues with any of the technology, content or new ways of learning. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your department, other services like the IT desk, the UCC Plus+, DSS services or our team here at the Skills Centre. We are here to help you unlock your potential!

In a nutshell:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it
2. Know how to contact your lecturer, department, other services; it is helpful to keep a list of these contact details for when you might need them
3. Contact the relevant services and your department if you have any difficulties
4. Make sure your department knows if you have any issues, they might be able to help!
5. Inform yourself about student services at UCC - there are lots!

Approaching Online Learning Video Lesson

Approaching Online Learning

Know Your Course

Time Management and Scheduling

Online Classroom Technology

Digital Citizenship

Online Written Work

Your Wellbeing

Take Notes

Be an Active Online Participant

Your "class" environment

Know Where to Find Help

Helpful Links