Why?

Because so much of online learning is done autonomously, it is especially important that students have the right study and learning skills, such as how to space out their work (instead of cramming) and how to self-assess their progress. Our research suggests that students who receive study-skill training at the beginning of the term boost their performance in online classes. See our research papers on study skills and self-regulated learning.

How?

  • Provide resources  to help students understand what skills are needed for online learning, such as a course entry quiz, introduction to using your school's learning management system, and videos or a reading on self-regulated learning
  • Embed explicit guidance on how to improve these skills in your course content by explaining the value of spaced studying and self-testing, showing students how to download the course calendar from the learning management system, and how to  check their grades and understand the available information
  • Show students where to find resources for help, preferably in multiple modalities

Resources

Check out these videos from CVC-OEI covering an introduction to online learning, getting tech ready, organizing, time management, strategies for reading online and much more

Here's a video on reading strategies
​
If your LMS is Canvas, you might find these resources helpful: