Your involvement can play a big part in helping your student be successful in an online course.  Parents/guardians are encouraged to take an active role in learning about the activities that will be required for course completion.  Please don't hesitate to contact course instructors if you have any questions about your student's progress in their courses.  Specific things that you can do to help your student include:

• Carefully review the keys to success for the online student with your son/daughter when considering an online course.
• Help them set up a good work space for the computer in your home.
• Help your student set up a regular schedule for working on their assignments.  Time management and logging regularly really help students keep up with the work.
• Be aware of when virtual classroom sessions are scheduled to help minimize schedule conflicts.
• Ask questions about how the class is going and what your student is working on.

The most common reason why students do not do well in an online course is because they do not develop a plan for successful time management and task completion.  If the following statements apply to you, you have a good chance at doing well in the online environment. 

• You are self-motivated and self-disciplined - You are the primary person responsible for your own success and act accordingly in your priority setting and decision-making. 
• You are not afraid of doing things on the computer - Your online class may require you to be comfortable using email, an Internet browser and a word processor.  You may also need to put in some extra effort and time to increase your own technical skills.
• You know how to get support from people around you when you need it - This may include having a parent/guardian or your friends helping you stay on-track with your course work and inviting them to visit your course site.  Throughout the course, keep them informed of events, assignments and other course requirements.
• You schedule regular work sessions for yourself - You plan a regular weekly schedule for accessing your course site and completing course requirements.
• You want to participate as much as possible - Since you won't be face-to-face for most class interaction, it is important that you contribute to online discussion boards or emails for online involvement.
• You maintain open communication with your instructor/facilitator - Contact the instructor and/or facilitator with any questions, with any difficulty accessing the course or materials, or understanding your responsibilities or assignments.
• You are willing to share your own experiences and listen to others - Your insights about course topics and discussions may be the catalyst for someone else to learn something new.
• You take time to think ideas through before responding - You treat the communications opportunities in your course with the seriousness that they deserve, since meaningful and quality input from all participants in the online classroom is a necessary part of the learning process and benefits everyone.

What Makes a Successful Online Student?
Illinois University's top 10 tips for being successful in an online course as well as other links to resources on the same subject.

Are Distance Learning Courses for Me?
Complete the survey on this site to see how your preferred method of completing tasks might contribute to or hinder your success as an online student.

Strategies to Succeed in Distance Learning
This article helps you if you are taking a course as a new distance learner. It also provides tips and ideas to distance instructors to improve their teaching at a distance.