At 44 years old, with minimal technological ability, I was going back to school after an 18 year hiatus. One of my first classes was an online class – Technical Writing and I was not confident. I would not only be expected to master the subject matter of the course but the online learning system, Blackboard. How does it work? Who would answer my questions?

Everything You Need To Succeed

I discovered I was unnecessarily worried. The first thing I did was open Blackboard on my SUNY Ulster Student Portal. I explored every clickable item so I knew where to find things. Thank goodness they have a Blackboard Tutorial! After completing the tutorial I felt much more confident about using the online tools available.

However, I still didn’t understand how it would all work. Enter my amazing professor, Kimberly Wozencraft. First, she reached out by email and explained in  detail how she ran her class. She explained her expectations,  assignment submissions, and discussion forums. She then outlined her calendar for the class which included readings, discussions, assignments, and due dates. Each assignment submission contained a detailed description of what was required for the assignment and how to submit it.

Supportive Faculty

Any time I had a question or was unsure how to manipulate any facet of Blackboard I simply sent Professor Wozencraft a message through Blackboard Messaging. She always responded quickly with a detailed explanation. One of the main technical issues I experienced was opening Blackboard in Internet Explorer. I had some problems with functionality. Professor Wozencraft informed me that Chrome would work better. I followed her advice and had no problems after that.

In addition, we used a Discussion Forum to share thoughts, ideas, and research topics and findings. It was very helpful because the whole class was giving each other feedback on assignments and participating in real world discussions.  Professor Wozencraft participated in our discussions and made her presence known in every aspect of the class.

I was amazed at the thoroughness of the lectures and the prompt grading of assignments. Each assignment was returned with a personal breakdown of the strengths and weaknesses, as well as a kind word on participation and progress.  I finished the class with an “A” and did not hesitate to register for another online class this semester. All of the staff and faculty at SUNY Ulster want us to succeed. Never hesitate to reach out!

Stay Focused

At the start of the class I realized I was new to time management. It was easy to forget to log into my class. When life is busy,  you have to stay focused and make time. Just as we get up each day and go to campus, we have to set aside time each day to do our online classes. I set aside a set time for each class and found a quiet nook to do the work. On the bright side, you can do it all in your pajamas at 2 am if that’s what will make you successful!

Stay Focused…

Stay Organized…

Stay Safe!!!

The post Online Classes For All appeared first on SUNY Ulster News Blog.

The fall semester is over and the holiday season is in full swing, which means it’s just about time for Winternet classes! If you’ve signed up for one of these intersession classes, you’ll be taking an online course that covers all the information covered in a 15 week in-person or online course in about 3 weeks instead. Though that may sound overwhelming, it is manageable, and you can greatly benefit from taking one! Since we’ve already discussed what Winternet is and why you should take one of these classes, today we’ll jump right in to how to succeed at Winternet courses this break!

#1: Check Early, Check Often

Your email and course site on Blackboard, that is. Normally professors will post information about the course, including necessary textbooks, introductions, and sometimes even icebreakers and class content before the technical “start” of the class. At the absolute minimum, you should read the syllabus, have your textbook, and familiarize yourself with the course site before the start of class. Finding out this information as soon as possible will put you on the path to success, especially when working with such a small window of time to begin with. If you can’t find something or it doesn’t make sense….

#2: Don’t Be Afraid to Talk to Your Professor

Remember, your professor wants you to succeed as much as you do. Reach out to them via their email or online office hours with any questions you have, and be sure to let them know of any problems you’re having with the material or logistics of the course sooner rather than later.

#3: Have A Strict Daily Schedule

A common estimation for a winter session class is that students should set aside 30-40 hours per week to do all that needs to be done if they’re taking a 3-credit course. It’s not recommended that students try to work at full-time jobs while taking Winternet classes. For optimal results, log in daily to check and make sure there are no new assignments or readings.

#4: Maintain a Distraction-Free Environment

Ideally, you will have a consistent space to use each day for Winternet work. This could be your bedroom, a home office, or the local coffee shop, but it needs to be somewhere where you can focus and not be distracted during the time you’re working. Put your phone on silent, turn the TV off, close the door and put a “Keep Out” sign up… do whatever needs to be done so that you can work efficiently! Remember, it’s just three weeks!

#5: Complete ALL Assignments (On Time)

Since Winternet classes are short and online, your professor has even less to go on, which means every forum post, test, and paper counts even more toward your grade. One missed post or late quiz can be the difference between an excellent and mediocre final score. Keep an updated planner with ALL due dates, no matter how insignificant they may seem, so that you can maximize your time on projects and hand things in when they’re due.

Now Go Check Out Your Own Course Site!

By following these tips and working hard on your Winternet course for three weeks, you’ll likely pass with flying colors! Even though it’s a lot of work, the short time frame can be a blessing, especially if you’re not particularly interested in the subject matter. Have you developed any helpful tips and tricks for Winternet or online courses in general? Comment them below!

The post Top Five Tips for Winternet Class Success appeared first on SUNY Ulster News Blog.

As the days grow shorter and the last leaves fall, college students have two important issues to deal with: surviving the upcoming finals and planning spring schedules. Nick gave us some final exam tips a few months ago, but we haven’t talked much about class planning until now. If you think you might be behind on some credits, or if you’d like to get ahead, Winternet courses can be a great option!

Winternet classes, for those not familiar with them, are online, full-credit classes that you can take for a three-week span between Christmas and the start of the spring semester. You’re probably asking yourself, “Why would anyone want to use up their winter break by taking more classes?” Well, there’s a few great reasons to do so. If you’re like many students, you have at least a couple of grades on your transcript that aren’t that great. Perhaps you’ve switched majors and ended up with a few classes that didn’t transfer into your new program. Maybe you have a cap on how many classes you want to deal with in a semester. No matter your situation, you know the extra classes are going to affect graduating on time. So, what can be done?

Winternet offers a solution: take a class or two to get back on track. Most classes offered for Winternet can be applied toward at least one general education requirement. Look at the list on the left. Almost everyone at Ulster ends up taking Western Civilization, so getting that out of the way over winter break frees up more space in future semesters for classes which may be offered infrequently. Also, if any of these classes are not enjoyable to you, there is the added benefit of powering through them and getting done in a short amount of time. Would you rather sit in a class you find boring for 15 weeks, or work through it online in 3? This is also true if you have taken one of these courses in the past and not gotten a passing grade; if you already know the information, but didn’t have enough time to devote to the class while dealing with your other courses, a Winternet class can be a good way to quickly review and get through with a better grade.

I personally recommend that anyone needing to take Information Literacy do so through a Winternet course. Info Lit is a one credit class that’s required for almost everyone, and it’s a lot easier to take online rather than taking it on campus while also working on five other classes. I took mine over my freshman winter break, and not only was it enjoyable, it also gave me a head start when I took English 102 in the spring, the class for which it is a pre- or co-requisite. It doesn’t just benefit you; professors will appreciate that you already know good research and citation strategies!

Worrying about extra semesters and late graduation isn’t fun, and Winternet offers a potential solution. Registration has already begun for this year’s Winternet courses, so if these classes fit your requirements, register online today!

The post Get Ahead with Winternet Classes appeared first on SUNY Ulster News Blog.