O3-c: Making adjustments to increase your motivation and participation

O3-cMake adjustments to increase your motivation and participation.

If your level of participation begins to wane because the online format doesn’t suit your natural preference for face-to-face learning, try adjusting your habits to increase your motivation. Small behavioral adjustments—such as those listed in the chart below—can help you feel more involved in your class and attentive to your work.

As you learn How do you motivate yourself to complete course work? What rituals or practices do you follow when “going to class”?

Tips for increasing motivation

  • Make a friend or two. Many classes have an open discussion area where students can post messages that are unrelated to the course materials. Use the open discussion area to get to know other students in your class and to build a greater sense of community.
  • Meet the instructor. You might be close enough to campus to meet your instructor during office hours. Do so if you can. Establishing a face-to-face relationship can increase your sense of responsibility and encourage a sense of partnership with your instructor.
  • Create a class environment. Get ready to study online as you would get ready for a job or an on-campus course. Get dressed and “go to class”—even if the class is just a small office space in the corner of your bedroom. If possible, close the door and ask your friends and family not to disturb you while you are working.
  • Get out of the house. If you don’t like studying alone, try completing your work in a computer lab, where other students will be working online. If you live near your school, form study groups with other students in your course so that you can see your peers face-to-face.
  • Make a contribution. Contribute some ideas from your independent reading. Or share a handy source or reference work or Web site with your classmates. Making a positive contribution—being generous with ideas and information—increases your sense of worth and involvement in your class.
  • Tune in to your body clock. Work on your course materials when you are most alert. If you’re a morning person, complete the course materials early, before you go to work or before members of your household wake up. If you prefer staying up late, save your work for the evening hours.
  • Plan ahead. Preview what is coming. Scanning upcoming readings and assignments can help you feel in control. Finishing an assignment before it is due makes the course and your other obligations seem manageable.
  • Reward yourself. Set up a simple reward system for yourself as you progress through your course. For example, you can postpone watching your favorite TV show until after you’ve completed your homework for the week, or you can treat yourself to a movie after you’ve completed a major project. Create incentives that are meaningful to you.
  • Work offline. Even though the course materials are delivered online, not all of your work has to be completed on the computer. Reduce eye strain by handwriting some activities—such as brainstorming for an essay or creating an outline.