How to Be a Successful Online Student at BWU

Online education certainly has its advantages. 

• It’s usually much more convenient to study “whenever and wherever”: no driving, no fighting for student parking, no having to buy food out when you have class.
• Surveys show that business leaders have started accepting online degrees just as readily as they would degrees earned by sitting in traditional face-to-face (F2F) classrooms.
• Studies show that the learning outcomes of a graduate from a quality online-degree program are indistinguishable from the learning outcomes of a graduate from a quality F2F-degree program. 

So, you’re wondering if YOU would make a good online-degree student. 

REMEMBER: online education is still education. You’ll need to apply yourself.

Given that, here are some issues to consider:

• TIME 

You need to be willing to dedicate sufficient time to the learning process.  You won’t necessarily be online all of that time, but you will have reading, writing, projects and other learning activities to complete.  You’ll need to find some uninterrupted time for this.  Most students must find a way to balance their personal and professional responsibilities in order to make enough time to do well in class.  Remember, with BWU’s one-class-a-month format, you’ll essentially be a fulltime student each month you’re taking a class.  We’re working-adult friendly, so earning your degree CAN be done, but there’s no getting around the fact that learning still takes time and effort.

• THINKING 

An online course allows you the time to consider your opinions and responses before posting them for others to read.  This is a real plus over the F2F class (have you ever blurted out an answer in a class—perhaps when you were a kid—and wished you could “take it back”?).  However, this also makes it vital to have well-conceived ideas/thoughts and to share them in a cogent manner; once you hit “send,” it’s a done deal.  If you don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to SPEAK UP in your class and ask questions of your instructor or fellow students—via email or perhaps a discussion board.  In fact, surveys show that students often receive more one-on-one time with the instructor and interact with other students MORE in an online class than in a traditional class.

• LEARNING 

You need to realize that there IS a difference between the regular, traditional “campus life” and the “life” you have as a student in an online-learning environment.  Your focus here at BWU will be on learning and earning your degree, not football, dormitories, or spirit rallies.  Instead, you’ll be able truly to focus on your education.

• WRITING 

Writing is KEY to succeeding in higher education today, especially in an online class.  It is the primary method whereby you communicate your thoughts, opinions, and reactions to the subject matter.  Since BWU is an American university, all coursework and communication with the school are in English.  In order to succeed here you must be able to write in English via your computer.

• DISCIPLINE 

At BWU, our classes are accelerated.  You’ll focus on ONE course per month and only one.  We believe this is a PLUS, especially as opposed to the traditional “Monday -Wednesday-Friday” type class, which happens over a 16-week semester and then (in order to be “full time”) needs to be taken simultaneously with three or four other classes.  However, the accelerated pace we offer students means you must discipline yourself to keep up with your assignments and to spend the time necessary both to interact with the online material and to complete the assignments in such a way that you’ll be satisfied with your effort—and your grade.

• EFFORT 

Online and traditional programs are both evaluated under the same set of guidelines by the state of California and outside accreditors.  Therefore, though it may be easier to “arrive” at class by sitting down at your computer, the amount of effort required is the same.  It will take work on your part to learn the subject matter and to earn the credits that form the basis of your quality degree program.

• PROJECTS 

Although you may never meet your classmates, your professor may still give you opportunities to work collaboratively in the completion of certain projects—just as you might in a traditional classroom.  Surveys of online-degree students show that most thrive with this type of online interaction and the results of those collaborative class projects are often more typical of the high-tech collaborations now being used in companies world-wide.

• TECHNOLOGY 

Inasmuch as you’re basically “exchanging” the traditional classroom for our high-tech online-learning environment, certain computer technology abilities and skills are essential.  Basic competencies include using email and logging on to our designated, high-tech, class-members-only online-learning environment where your class will be “delivered” and where you’ll upload your assignments and interact with the class members.  Beyond that, you also may have times when your professor holds a synchronous “chat session” for class members only.  During your program you’ll undoubtedly be downloading files, opening PDF documents, printing certain documents, and visiting required web sites.  You may be viewing PowerPoint slides, a white board, or a video clip or listening to an audio selection. While you’ll find our online Virtual Learning Environment to be an effective and efficient way to learn, some basic technology skills are a must.

The bottom line: it is possible for YOU to be successful at Brown Western University!  It is possible for you to learn and receive a good education and earn a quality bachelor’s or master’s degree, while maintaining a personal and professional life outside of school.  Others adult students have done it; so can you!

The staff and faculty of BWU are here to help you.  If you have more questions, please ask.  We want you to succeed and move ahead toward your goals.