Make the most of your foray into online learning with this advice!

Get involved with online activities
Being involved can help you to avoid feeling isolated and will give you access to other students who are taking the same course as you at the same time.

Say your Bit!
Make sure you jump in and put your 20c worth on the discussion board.Whether you are working alone, or in a group, contribute your ideas, perspective and comments on the subject you are studying, and read about those of your classmates. Your teacher is not the only source of information in your course—you can learn lots of really great things from your peers and they can learn from you as well.

Be a serious insect
Just because you are studying at home doesn’t mean you aren’t studying.Make it clear that you need time to do your study - there will be times when you will have to sit at your computer for hours at a stretch in the evenings and on weekends. You will have the usual demands from friends and family to socialise and relax so it is up to you to enlist their support.

Log on a lot
Try for every day or every other day.Stay connected, keep up with who is participating, see what they have to say.Once you get into the online discussion, it is exciting to see who has commented on your postings and encouraging reading the feedback of your teacher.

Remember, no one can see you.
You can be anyone, you can do anything, know anything.You have time to research and think about your postings and assignments so there are unlimited opportunities for you to appear how you would like.Just remember to be polite – no need to be a slob just because nobody knows you.

Use it or lose it
Bore everyone you know senseless with your newfound skills and knowledge.Make sure you have a go at implementing your knowledge in your workplace or at least think about how you could connect your learning with your future (highly paid) positions.

Brush up on your writing skills.
If you find it hard to read lots of articles and quickly and clearly put your thoughts in writing, consider brushing up on these skills before attempting the course.

Understand constructivism and embrace it
Be aware that the course information will not be just given to you; it may be a series of problem solving activities that require you to critically analyse (and be critically analysed) and provide possible solutions.Beware; your comfort zone will be challenged.