I believe online course take just as much effort to succeed in as any other type of course, sometimes even more so. Although the class setting may be more convenient to the student, the coursework it self may be just as demanding as any class that met face-to-face or everyday. Below I have listed a few of the things I think every online student should consider in order to be successful.

1. Be willing and able to commit to the necessary hours per week per course.

– Because online courses often have no set schedule, it is important to plan your schedule so it includes an allotted time to study and complete assignments.

2. Be self-motivated and self-disciplined.

– Most of the time deadlines for assignments are set weeks in advance and it is left up to the student to make sure they complete all required assignments. Internal motivation is often necessary do to the different structure of the class.

3. Be able to communicate in writing, and do not be afraid to reach out when in need of help.

– Proficiency in basic computer skills is often necessary for online course and the ability to type and write professionally is important in order to maintain success in your courses, online and otherwise.

Below are a few web design tips I learned from Web Style Guide: Interface Design Section

1. When designing web “spaces”, it is important to consider the top 5 elements people look for when navigating environments: Wayfinding

• Paths: Create consistent, well-marked navigation paths
• Regions: Create a unique but related identity for each site region
• Nodes: Don’t confuse the user with too many choices on home and major menu pages
• Landmarks: Use consistent landmarks in site navigation and graphics to keep the user oriented

2. It is important to include a search function while also allowing users the option to browse through menu links. It is likely that those that visit your site will have to use both functions.

3. Because some viewers may only see  freestanding, single pages of an entire site, it is necessary to include the basic elements of who, what, when, and where:

• Who – “Whether the page originates from an individual author or an institution, always tell the reader who created it and what institution you are associated with.”
• What – “The page title and major headings are also crucial for search engine visibility. The page title element is the most important determinant of keyword relevance for search engines, so craft your titles carefully if you want users to find your content.”
• When – “Date every web page, and change the date whenever the document is updated. This is especially important in long or complex online documents that are updated regularly but may not look different enough to signal a change in content to occasional readers.”
• Where – “Always tell the user where you are from, with (if relevant) your corporate or institutional affiliations. Also, incorporating the “home” url within the page footer is an easy way to maintain the connection to where a page originated.”

Below are some excellent Presentation tips as well as a couple of presentation-help links…

1. Create a consistent look and feel. – It helps to thinks of your presentation as a story. Using slides that include the same graphic elements, color, and typography create cohesion and uniformity. Sometimes the pre-designed template help but they can also be restrictive.

Go easy on the effects and transitions. – Keep effects and transitions limited and consistent. Sometimes to0 many effects mean uninteresting content and can lead to a cluttered or confusion slide. Use simple ones.

Reproduce simple charts and graphs. – Using a sourced imaged of a chart works fine most of the time but in order to create cohesion & not disrupt the feel of the presentation, it is also possible to redraw a simple graph in the native presentation application. Doing so allows for a consistent feel throughout the presentation with complete control over all aspects of the graph design like color and typography.

Links:

http://www.garrreynolds.com/preso-tips/

http://blog.ted.com/10-tips-for-better-slide-decks/

Three things that I now know about correct citations in academic writing:

1. Paraphrases must be cited. Even if it is in your own words and sentence structure, the idea was not originally yours, and correct credit must be given.

2. Citations are not just to make sure you do not plagiarize. They are also necessary to give credit to those who deserve it, and also to provide readers away to evaluate the argument and its sources for reliability and credibility.

3. There are many resources out there that will help you cite sources, such as EndNote and Zotero. Still, it is always best to know the citation guidelines to check auto-generated citations for accuracy.

The CRAAP test is a checklist created by the Meriam Library at California State University, Chico used to evaluate Web resources for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, & purpose.

http://www.justfacts.com

• Currency: This site provides no information regarding when it was last updated & does not clearly display publication dates for its articles and information.
• Relevance: This site provides an “appropriate breadth and depth of detail” about topics concerning current events and world news.
• Authority: This site provides citations for most of its information as well as their own credentials in their “About Us” section. The URL also matches the content.
• Accuracy: The site provides accurate information seemingly pulled from reliable sources, some peer-reviewed. Links to external resources and sources are provided when possible.
• Purpose: This site provides its purpose for the viewer under their “About Us” section through their mission statement: “to research and publish verifiable facts about the leading public policy issues of our time“.

http://www.factcheck.org

• Currency: This site provides publication dates for the majority of its articles and information. An up-to-date copyright statement is also located at the bottom of the website page.
• Relevance: This site provides an “appropriate breadth and depth of detail” about topics concerning current events and political news.
• Authority: This site provides the names of the authors and publishers for each article. It is also transparent in who their sponsors are with a financial breakdown easily accessible.
• Accuracy: This site provides citations underneath all available articles. The site is very professional and well designed and covers a wide-range of topics and viewpoints.
• Purpose: This site provides its purpose to the viewer under their “About Us” section through their mission statement: “We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.“

Topic: Possible Careers obtainable by holding a B.S. in Psychology

Terms Used → bachelor’s degree AND psychology AND career

Search Engine	Top Five Results
www.google.com
www.bing.com
www.yahoo.com
Meta-Search Engine	Top Five Results
www.metasearch.com
www.dogpile.com
www.iboogie.tv

 Similarities: All of the sites featured many of the same results and in much of the same order.

Differences: One of the major differences I noticed was whether or not a site chose to display ads and if so, the location of where those ads were displayed.