Being Successful in an Online Course – Hawkeye Community College

Able to follow deadlines and due dates. Check your syllabus. Deadlines can be deadly in an online course!

Missing a deadline or due date is one of the most common problems students have with online courses. There is no teacher in the front of the room reminding you to get your work done. It is up to you to watch the announcements, calendar, syllabus and/or the content area so you can plan your schedule to get work done before the due dates. It is always best to work as much ahead as is practical so that you have time to contact the instructor and get feedback from them if you have questions about the material or assignment.

Deadlines and due dates will vary depending on the type of course and the instructor’s preferences. The syllabus will tell you when the deadline and due dates are. Online courses at Hawkeye Community College are not open-ended, so you cannot work at your own pace and finish a course over a self-chosen period of time. Typically there are specific due dates for assignments, tests, homework, papers, projects. Some instructors require things to be completed in a specific sequence, some allow work to be completed ahead of time.