If you don’t understand course material—lectures, presentations, handouts, documents, readings, assignments, or directions that your instructor has provided—first reread the material thoroughly and carefully, and follow any tips that are included. If you still need help, contact your instructor directly, either by e-mail or by phone, or, if you live near your school, visit your instructor on campus during office hours. Some instructors set aside online office hours for communicating with students. Check your syllabus for your instructor’s availability and preferred method of communication.

If you’re working at a time when your instructor does not have office hours (late at night, for example), you can also try contacting your peers for help. When you log on to the course platform, you might be able to see who else from your class is online and available to chat. It is a good idea to make a few contacts right at the beginning of the semester. If possible, exchange phone numbers and e-mail addresses with other students in your class so that you can ask them for help. Additionally, check your course’s discussion forum for a help area. Some instructors set up special discussion threads for peer-to-peer assistance.