Know Your Online Responsibilities
Know what the instructor's expectations and goals are for each course with a Web-based component. Find out when and why you should access the course site and use its tools.
Practice Using the Tools
Give yourself extra time in the first few weeks to get used to the features of a course site. Practice using the tools, such as schedules, discussions, and content modules.
Remember that course sites and tools may change from course to course and semester to semester. Even when using the same platform (i.e., WebVista), system upgrades, instructor options, and other factors may require new time for learning the system. While the first semester may require the most time, you will need to familiarize yourself with each course site at the beginning of each semester.