5 critical success factors for students taking online graduate courses at HPU.

5 critical success factors for students taking online graduate courses at HPU.


1. Familiarize yourself with the web tools – Learning how to actively engage in with the web-based material, will carry a student a long way. The best way to learn anything new relies in familiarizing yourself with the content. If something remains unclear, get help right away and do not pretend to understand the material. In order to be successful in the online classes, you must understand the web tools and understand the limits of your computer. A good rule of thumb would be to find out if your current system supports the demands of the web program.

2. Plan ahead- since this a computer based system, you may run into web glitches, powers black outs or other system failures. By giving yourself enough time to get complete assignments, you reduce the risk of turning in late work. It would be smart to always give yourself a cushion in case a problem should occur. Most instructors stick to their course syllabus outlined in the course. And your points may be reduced for system failures on your end. So be careful!

3. Stay focused – by completing assignments in a timely manner will allow you to enjoy the class. Set up a study time to focus solely on the material for the class. Remember the bar has been raised from undergraduate to graduate work. And more work and higher expectations are required than in undergraduate courses. Allowing your self to get behind in one assignment can be detrimental to your grades. If you have a circumstance in which you are not able to complete an assignment, the instructor should be notified immediately.

4. Get involved – The online experience is designed to enhance your abilities, while providing you with the same structure as a classroom environment. The online experience provides students with a chance to interact online and improve their abilities in a professional environment. Each online class provides unique structures depending on the need of the class. Some classes offer chat rooms, discussion forums, and extensive material to help the student along the way.

5. Expect the best – Listening to negative remarks about the online environment can deter a student from taking the classes. Students should find out for themselves to determine if the program would best suit their need. Online classes offer a wealth of knowledge for students and are perfect for working adults. And remember the instructors and students can provide helpful insight in helping to understand the material. Have fun and learn, more likely if you combine these two words together you will be successful. Success begins with the person and their drive and determination to get results.