Try, Then Try Again
"Learning by doing" is one of the most effective techniques many people use with technology. Before you ask for help, see if you can find solutions or discover new features on your own. One student who completed a course in which a Web site was used advises, "Just keep trying and you'll begin to figure everything out."
Tips:
- Select icons and links to see what they do.
- Look for built-in help options. See what you can do. You can't break the hardware or software by exploring or experimenting.
- If you can't get a feature to work, log out and restart your browser, then log in again, or refresh your browser window or clear the browser cache.
Ask for Help
If something seems too hard, or if you're stuck, don't be afraid to ask for help. Many people are ready and willing to help you. If you do not have much experience using computers or the Internet, it is completely normal to need additional help while you are getting used to online learning. You are not alone. You can get help from the following people:
- the University's Technology Helpline staff (see Help from Staff for details),
- your instructor, or
- other students in the class:
You may want to ask your classmates for help first. A classmate may respond faster than the instructor or the Technology Helpline staff.
You also may benefit from taking WebVista and computer training short courses available on campus. See Computer Short Courses.
Be Patient
Many students who have used course Web sites say things like "Keep your chin up," "Don't worry if at first you feel overwhelmed," and "If I can do it so can you!" You may be discouraged at first, but in time you will learn the advantages of online learning and may even have fun with it. Some students say, "You may really enjoy using the computer more than spending time in class," and "Web-enhanced courses are a dream come true! It is so much easier to access the information you need."
The skills you gain while learning online will not only help you in future courses, but will carry over well into the workplace. Online communication tools and the Internet are playing an increasingly large role in many professions. Your persistence should have a long-term benefit beyond the class itself.
Don't Stress Out
Tips to remember:
- Communicate with your instructor. In most cases, you will not be "graded down" for a lack of technical skills. You will only be graded down if you don't participate at all. Your instructor wants you to learn and be comfortable with the Web site. Keep your instructor informed of any problems or questions you have.
- Explore. You cannot do permanent damage to the computer or the course Web site simply by selecting buttons or links or making mistakes.
- Back up your work. Create all of your papers, assignments, quiz essay answers, and discussion postings on your computer using a text editing or word processing program such as Microsoft® Word, WordPad, or Simple Text. Save the file, then copy and paste that text into the Web site. If you back up your files, you will not have to worry about anything bad happening simply because you or your instructor are new to online learning.
- Ask questions. If something seems very wrong with your course Web site, there is a chance that it is something that can be fixed. There may be technical problems with the machine you are using, the Web browser, or the server itself. See Help from Staff.