Attitude is Everything!

Overview
     

Attitude is everything when it comes to your success as a digital learner.

To sum things up, savor the positives about the experience coming your way. Make sure your attitude is “tuned to the right station”. Keep a positive attitude towards technology. Some things may not work how you want the first time, or you may have to spend extra time learning how to use a tool. Remember that not just school, but work and the world are becoming increasingly digital. Embrace this as a learning opportunity! Have an open mind towards alternative educational formats. Maybe you did not choose to take a hybrid or online course, maybe you needed to for one reason or another. Try to approach the experience with an open mind and do not start out comparing this to a fully face-to-face course. The experience WILL be different, especially if you are used to attending classes that are lecture-based.

Be willing to share your experiences with others.

As was mentioned previously, online courses build in, and rely on, your participation in discussions and activities. Unlike a face-to-face course, sharing your perspective and really building connections can feel artificial at first, but the dialogue between you and your classmates will be enhanced if you share your experiences. Online learning can become much more interesting and even enjoyable if you are willing to truly connect with your class as a learning community.

Be willing to seek solutions before contacting the instructor.

Of course, you should feel like you can reach out to your instructor in times of need but, it’s wise to make sure there aren’t other ways to get answers to your questions, so you leverage your instructor when you need to (like to discuss something you’re really “stuck” on in class versus how to find a resource). It is reasonable to expect a response or direction from your instructor within 48 hours of your request, but do not expect an immediate reply.

Consider:

    • Posting questions in the “Q&A Forum” of your course (if there is one),
    • Reaching out to a classmate
    • Reviewing the syllabus
    • Search Google or YouTube

Have patience with yourself, your peers, and the instructor.

When you are using technology and it works well, it is great! When it is not working, it can be quite frustrating. Please have patience with yourself, your classmates, and your instructor. When teaching and taking classes that use technology glitches can be expected. Nothing is perfect the first or even second time and sometimes things just don’t work right no matter how hard we try. Take it in stride and assume the best; everyone is working hard to make this learning experience great. Let your instructor know, politely, if something is not working! Modules 2 and 4 in this tutorial provide specifics on how to get 'help'!

Have a sense of humor.

Last and not least, have a sense of humor through the experience and when glitches occur. Life is too short to take little issues seriously! Now that you have the right mindset for learning online, let’s turn our attention toward how to navigate your online classroom.