3 Resources for Extra Help as an Online Student

Being an online student has many perks. Online classes are often more flexible than in-person courses, which means you may be able to do your classwork whenever it best fits in your schedule.

Online education also incorporates a wide variety of subjects, and you may not be limited to what is being offered on the physical campus that semester. But leaving the brick and mortar classroom, and a teacher who you see face-to-face regularly, can be an intimidating experience that leaves you unsure of where to turn when you need extra help in a course. Fortunately, there are many resources available online, just like your class.

Here are three key resources for online students:

1. Technical resources Perhaps, as an online student, your issue lies not with the materials in the course, but instead with the class format. Perhaps your professor is using digital tools that you are unfamiliar with, and you could use a bit of help in learning to use them to their fullest potential. Whether you are struggling to bookmark promising research documents in an electronic database, or to build a complex accounting spreadsheet in Google Sheets, a brief Internet search can uncover wonderful technical resources like Youtube tutorials. Best of all, learning to master new digital tools can be of use to you beyond your online course, both as you continue your college education and as you start your career.

2. Review resources When studying for an exam or other assessment (in any course), review resources like study guides can be very helpful. Occasionally, your professor may provide you with one, but if this is not the case in your online class, why not create your own? Websites like StudyBlue are a great starting place. Some websites offer blank templates that you complete, while others will allow you to enter your information, and then they will compile a study guide for you. Certain websites will even create quizzes or games using the material that you need to know for your course. Chances are you know your study habits and what works best for you, so find a website (and a review tool) that is an appropriate match.

3. Supplemental resources Consider this scenario—you begin studying, but you just do not feel like you have a solid grasp on the material. If this is the case for you, look for supplemental materials online. Supplemental materials may include additional readings, diagrams or graphics, or perhaps even video lectures. Of course, you should exercise caution, as not all material that you find will be accurate or helpful. Be sure to use websites that are reliable, and remember that your best bet may be to ask your professor about the supplemental resources that he or she recommends. Your professor may have specific websites that he or she favors, or that he or she used when designing the course. Even if your professor has no recommendations, the Internet is host to many resources that can help online students, so you will never truly be alone in your academic pursuits. Good luck!

Catherine Martin is a contributing writer for UniversityTutor.com, the world’s largest global marketplace for finding independent tutors.