Linked below are two sample calendars: a course calendar, with due dates set by the instructor to fall on Wednesdays and Fridays; and a student’s personal planner. The student has written and highlighted the course due dates on her planner but has set personal goals to complete the assignments on the Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays before the course due dates. These personal goals will help her complete the assignments without rushing to finish at the last minute.
Assignment calendar with due dates
Personal planner (March 2010)
Once you’ve established a semester plan, transfer the information to weekly or daily to-do lists so that you can keep up-to-date with all course requirements.
Check both the due dates and the times very carefully. Many course platforms allow instructors to close assignments at particular times—noon or midnight, for example—on the due dates. Students can no longer submit their work after the assignment is closed. Carefully read the assignment information so that you do not miss the deadline. Because assignment settings might be automated by the software system, minutes—and sometimes even seconds—may make the difference between being able to turn in an assignment or not. If you live far from your school, pay attention to possible time-zone differences.
Due date and time for an assignment
Give the course—and yourself—a chance. Every new experience has its own learning curve, and you might feel a little overwhelmed when you start your first online course. Your progress might be slower at the beginning of the semester, while you are still learning how to navigate the course platform and tools, so make additional room in your schedule as necessary. As you gain confidence with the software and the course requirements, you will be able to navigate through the course more quickly and to devote most, if not all, of your study time to the course content itself.
Related topics:
Setting priorities and managing your time
Communicating regularly
Making adjustments to increase motivation