Starting Late in Online School: Tips to Catch Up

No one usually plans to start a semester late, especially if you’re new to a virtual online school. There are several reasons why this may happen such as students needing to transfer schools due to a change in their parents’ work commitments or the lack of availability of certain courses students may wish to enroll for. Whatever the reason, due to unavoidable circumstances, sometimes students are forced to join school late and begin their school-year mid-term. While that may present some issues, there is no need to worry. Here are 5 ways to catch up in online school when you’re starting late.

1. Make a timetable and stick to it

When studying in an online learning environment, it is imperative to have a structured timetable for students to follow. This is very similar to the timetable used by traditional schools when imparting education in brick-and-mortar classrooms. However, when students end up starting the semester late, it becomes even more important for them to have structured timetables that they adhere to. This ensures that they stay on track and make up for lost time.

At The Ogburn Online School, we take pride in providing our students with a self-paced learning environment. This allows our students to schedule study time as per their convenience. Using our integrated learning management system, students can access their coursework 24/7 from anywhere, anytime. This allows them to work at a pace that suits them without any additional pressure. So, even if you’re starting late during a semester, you can create a schedule that suits your specific needs while ensuring that you do not fall behind.

2. Familiarize yourself with the available online tools

Virtual learning environments are very different from traditional schools and physical classrooms. They provide students with a set of online tools that are designed to enhance productivity and help learning in a holistic manner. To get the most out of your online studying experience, it is vital that you spend time understanding all the tools available to you so that you can take advantage of them. The sooner you familiarize yourself with the tools that are available, the faster you will be able to catch up on your study schedule.

The Ogburn Online School provides students with a fully online platform that delivers a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. Our platform uses various multimedia resources and interactive online tools to make learning more fun and engaging. This helps students build a love for learning as opposed to getting used to a routine that requires them to just go through the motions. This ensures the overall development of our students in a holistic manner while also fostering in them a keen interest for learning.

3. Be realistic with your expectations

Starting out late can make students and parents quite anxious. While that is entirely understandable, the key to being successful in playing catch up is to be realistic with your expectations. In their zeal to catch up and make good on lost time, many students and their parents tend to set the bar too high. This can sometimes be detrimental to a student’s progress since it places too much burden on the student in too little time. This results in unmet goals, which in turn demotivates students and may then hamper their progress.

Yes, online learning platforms like the one provided by The Ogburn Online School do allow you to set your own pace for learning. But it is important for students and their parents to evaluate and decide what is realistically possible for them to achieve. Of course, the staff and support team at The Ogburn Online School are always ready to provide any guidance and support parents and their children might need while they learn to adapt to this new learning environment.

4. Be systematic and organized

While it is always good to get organized with your online coursework, it is especially needed when you’re trying to catch up on your coursework in a virtual learning environment. Spend time developing a system that works for you. Get all your coursework and other materials that you need organized in a systematic manner. Make use of all the space you have available to you at home in the most efficient manner possible. Use drawers and filing cabinets for hard copy materials that you need for study. For soft copies, make sure you assign certain space on your computer’s hard drive just for your coursework.

Allocating dedicated space for study materials will ensure you stay focused on your learning without any distractions. Do not include any materials for entertainment in this space. Furthermore, ensure that you keep backup copies of all your assignments and other coursework, even if your online school provides you with cloud storage. When you’re already behind schedule and short on time, you can’t afford any slip-ups. Make getting organized your number one rule!

5. Don’t be scared to ask for help

When you’re starting out late during a semester, catching up can get overwhelming. If you need any help, ask for it. Don’t hesitate. There is no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed. No one’s going to know you need help unless you ask for it. Virtual online schools like The Ogburn Online School have an entire support team that is always ready to help students with their queries. Ask questions about the online platform if you feel like you’re getting stuck somewhere. Ask for guidance if you don’t know how to go about selecting your courses. There’s no point in overextending yourself and then regretting it later.

Always remember – all you need to catch up on your coursework is dedication, commitment, and hard work. At The Ogburn Online School, we’re always here for you to support you all the way!