Regardless of what your reasons are for attending Kirkwood Community College, most of us will experience one of the many online or hybrid courses that this college has to offer.
In doing so, we face obstacles in figuring out how to still stay connected and stay on top of our work. As a full-time online and hybrid student that lives full time in Iowa City, I want to share some of my tips and tricks that have made me successful in these courses.
First things first: Stay connected with your professors and peers. Although you may only see your professors once a week, or not at all, it can be hard to maintain a relationship since we don’t get that face-to-face time.
The best advice I could give is to email them regularly. Introduce yourself and explain your background. Just a short greeting can make a world of difference and lets your professors know that you care.
In doing this, you may find it easier to reach out to them and ask for help when you need it, and they are more likely to engage and respond to students that are just as interested as they are.
Secondly, it can be confusing to know how to stay on top of your assignments. Most of these courses give you every assignment at once, and it is up to you to complete them in a timely manner.
The calendar tab that is found on the Talon homepage is going to be your best friend. Keep an eye out and plan what you want to accomplish within that week.
Professors will also send out announcements often. Make sure to check the announcements page and your email frequently.
Hybrid courses are also unique, since you do get to see your professor once or twice a week, so stress the importance of showing up and engaging in discussions.
It gives you the opportunity to meet your peers and collaborate on assignments and projects that will boost your success. Arrive early and arrive prepared. That means all the necessary materials and assignments that needed to be done prior are done.
Overall, being an online or hybrid student comes with its own challenges. No matter how you choose to take classes at Kirkwood, you can be successful, and you can come out of this experience smarter. Good luck this year, Kirkwood students!
Categories: Contributed, Opinion
