Page 24 - Keys to College Success

■ Synchronous tasks require students and instructors
to interact in real time. A professor may schedule a
webcast at a specif c time for students to view live,
for example, or may set up quizzes or exams that
students take online at a f xed time.

■ Asynchronous tasks can be completed any time, so
long as students turn them in by the established due
date. You might have assignments that you work
on each weekend because they are due on Sundays
at 11:59 PM, for example, or be assigned a reading
response or quiz that can be submitted at any time
until the end of the week.
An online course may be completely synchronous, com-
pletely asynchronous, or have a combination of synchro-
nous and asynchronous elements. You’ll learn more when
you access the course on your college’s online platform.

The Online “Classroom”—Your Learning Management
System (LMS)

Each online college course has its own website, and the learning management system
(LMS for short) is the platform that hosts course websites. Most schools choose one
LMS and run all their courses through it. Learning management systems commonly
used by colleges include Canvas, Moodle, and Blackboard, among others. LMS course
sites are your f rst and most important resource. On these sites you will learn and inter-
act with others, access assignments and syllabi, read announcements, and get updates.
Your instructors will use these sites as a primary mode of communication with you.

Technology Needs

Online coursework requires both internet access as well as the use of some kind of elec-
tronic device. Here are strategies for getting tech-ready:
■ Internet access. Reliable broadband service will allow you to learn online most
effectively, but getting it can be easier said than done. If money is tight, some
companies such as Xf nity and Spectrum have low-income family plans, and in

the COVID-19 era several companies have offered short periods of free internet
to households with students, or those facing f nancial hardship. Students who are

able to be on campus will have access to campus wi-f .
■ Digital devices. Use the most effective device available to you. If you have access to
a desktop or laptop computer, this may make your LMS sites easier to view than a
smaller device, but you should be able to view your online course materials on any
device, even a cell phone. If you don’t have the money for a computer, reach out to
organizations that offer free or reduced-cost computers such as Computers with
Causes or PCs for People, or see if your school can provide you with a device.
■ Software. Make sure you have the software you need to complete course tasks
(Microsoft Off ce for most coursework, but some courses, such as advanced com-
puter programming or language translation, may require other specif c software).
Check to see if your college provides free software to registered students.
■ Browsers. To help your coursework run effectively, be sure to use the most up-
dated version of whatever browser you choose. Consider setting it to update auto-
matically.

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