Researchers investigating why some learners thrive in online classes and some struggle
have identified a handful of areas that account for most of the divide. Below you’ll
find information and resources in the six areas most important for your success as
an online learner. They are:
Technology
Time Management & Organization
Goals
Self-care
Effective Study Strategies
Click on the tabs below to explore resources and support available to get you ready!
If you're on your phone you may need to scroll after selecting a tab to see what CR
has to offer.
Basic computer skills and access to adequate technology are necessities for taking
online classes. Here are the tools and skills you’ll need and information about how and where to get
them.
Hardware / Software
Laptop or Desktop Computer Although you can do a some tasks on your phone, a lot of required coursework can
only be completed on a computer, preferably one less than five years old. If you don’t
have your own, there are computers in the CR library available to all students.
Computers located in the library are for student use.
The library has a laptop loan program where you can borrow laptop computers for the
semester, but you’ll want to request one early - a month or two before the terms starts.
It’s a popular program and the laptops go fast. More information can be found by going
to the campus library at our Eureka campus or learning resource center at our Del
Norte campus.
Students registered in SASS, EOPS, CalWorks or CARE can borrow laptops through their
program.
Reliable Internet Access Course materials for online classes can only be accessed with an internet connection.
If you don’t have a connection at home:
Free Wi-Fi is available all over the CR campus
Public libraries have free Wi-Fi access, as well as computers for public use
Many cafes and even fast food restaurants have free Wi-Fi for customers
Course-Specific Software Your class may require you to use software applications beyond Canvas, the platform
CR uses to provide online classes. The good news is that most of the software you’ll
need is already provided by CR or is free to use. Courses that require students to
purchase specialty software often provide discounted versions.
Microsoft 365 (including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more) is provided free
to all CR students. These are web-based, which means you don’t need to download anything.
You can access all of your Microsoft applications in your MyCR Portal once you sign-in.
CR students can also download Microsoft Office free to install on their personal computer.
After signing-in to your CR account, visit the Microsoft Apps – Installation guide. Download the installer using the links at the top of the page, then, open the installer
and sign in with your CR email and password. DO NOT refer to the instructions provided on the page – they are awaiting updates and are no longer accurate.
If your course requires the use of any other software, your instructor can provide
information about how and where to access it.
Access your web-based applications by clicking on the app tile in your MyCR Portal.
:
Use the provided links to download the Microsoft Office Installer. When you open the
installer, you will be prompted to enter your CR email and password.
Computer Skills
Students taking an online class should have a basic level of familiarity and comfort
working on a computer. These include skills like:
Saving and locating files in folders
Using a search engine and navigating to websites
Sending and receiving emails
Creating, editing, and saving documents using applications like Microsoft Word or
Google Docs
If you’re not sure about some of these skills, consider CR's FREE Education 207 course, Getting Started with Computers. You’ll learn all the necessary
skills you’ll need. These courses are held both online through Canvas, as well as
in person at our Del Norte and Eureka campuses.
All of CR’s online classes are in Canvas, an online platforms you access through your
MyCR Portal. You don’t need to be a Canvas expert, but it can be helpful to familiarize
yourself with Canvas before beginning your first online class. You can watch the video
below to get quick overview of Canvas, then explore the Canvas Guides for Students to learn more about using Canvas.
When it comes to time management, there are a lot of tools and techniques to help
you.
Don't get overwhelmed!
Most online courses at CR are asynchronous, which means you won’t meet with your class
online. Instead, you’ll be expected to work through material on your own and submit
work by the assigned due dates. This kind of flexibility is part of what makes online
courses so appealing. It’s also what can make them so challenging.
To do well, you’ll need to stay organized and manage your time to ensure you’re keeping
up. Even if you’ve never had to think about organizing your work flow or planning
out your week to keep on top of things, you'll benefit from trying some of these tips
and tools.
But before you explore any tools, watch this short video about feeling overwhelmed
and time-management.
Time Management
Everyone is different, and not every tip will work for every person. Try some of these
out and decide what works for you.
Are you brand new to time management tools? If you’ve never used a planner or heard about eating a frog first thing in the morning,
start here.
Download our Weekly Planner. This word doc provides tips and tricks for planning your week, an example schedule,
and a blank weekly calendar to map out your time.
If you try filling out the weekly planner and find your hours fill up before you’ve
finished putting in everything you want to do, it might be time to revisit your priorities.
There are a lot of ways to get things done – even things you don’t feel like doing.
Read through some of the techniques outlined in this article on effective time management techniques from Penn State. Everyone is different, so some techniques will work better for you
than others. If you’re not sure what to try first, consider the frog!
Ready to become a time-management ninja? The weekly planner above gives you a great tool for mapping out a workable weekly
schedule. The next step is to find a tool that allows you to keep track of upcoming
due dates and create lists of the things you need to get done.
Every student has access to Microsoft’s Outlook Calendar. You can access the Calendar
on your MyCR Portal, or by clicking on the calendar icon on the far left menu of your
CR Outlook email. With your Outlook Calendar you can set up a re-occurring schedule
and keep track of unique deadlines, due dates, and other important events. This is
a great choice if you like a digital format and want to be able to check your schedule
on your phone.
You can also access To Do on your CR email’s far left menu by clicking the check mark.
With To Do you can create daily or weekly To Do lists and just like Calendar, you
can use it on your phone.
If you’re not sure how to use your Outlook Calendar and To Do, visit the Student Technical
Help Desk in the Eureka campus library, or call them at 707-476-4225; in Del Norte,
visit the Library Help Desk or call them at (707) 465-2330.
Do you prefer a more freeform system, preferably one that allows you to doodle in
the margins? Paper planners come in a range of styles and layouts and are available
for sale at most stores that sell notebooks, including CVS, Target, and TJ Maxx.
If you are in EOPS, you can get a free paper planner through the program.
Access your Outlook calendar by clicking the blue calendar icon in the far left menu
of your CR Outlook email. Weekly Calendar view pictured here.
Organization
Keeping your course materials organized will make it easier to complete assignments,
study for exams, and keep track of due dates.
Store course materials separately. Organize your class materials in a way that makes it easy to go back and find things
later.
Use a separate notebook, binder, and/or folder (paper or virtual) for each class
Within each class, find a method for organizing that works for you. Some possibilities
include:
Creating separate locations for notes, assignments and exams.
Dividing materials by chapter or topic.
For digital storage, you can use Microsoft OneDrive. Every CR student has their own
OneDrive, accessible through your MyCR Portal (it’s the blue cloud icon).
If you prefer taking notes on paper, you can purchase notebooks, pens, and other supplies
in the Eureka Campus Library, in addition to stores such as CVS, Target, and TJ Maxx.
Keep a dedicated work space. Especially with online classes, it’s helpful to identify a dedicated work space where
you store your course materials and get assignments done. Try to keep it tidy and
free from other distractions.
Do you struggle with organization? Organization is an executive function skill, a set of cognitive skills that are still
developing in people under 25 and that remain challenging for many, even at advanced
ages. Although the video below was created by a psychiatrist for people with ADHD,
anyone who struggles with organization will find it helpful.
Access Outlook To Do by clicking the blue check mark icon in the far left menu of
your CR Outlook email. To Do Task list pictured above.
Finally, remember that organization is like any other skill – it gets easier with
practice.
Don’t be afraid to try different things until you land on a system that works for
you.
You got this.
Students who do well in online classes are often people who have clear goals that
they are trying to achieve. Those goals keep them motivated when the going gets tough.
When your motivation is running low, consider some of these tips for achieving your
goals from OpenStax.org.
Increase personal responsibility. Adopt the mindset that you are the only person responsible for your goals. Hinderances and roadblocks may appear
along the way, but you are responsible for navigating around them and overcoming them.
Take control of the journey! Issues are not other people’s problems. They are for
you to solve.
Reward yourself for completing the task. We are all motivated by rewards – use this to your advantage. Especially when you
complete a very difficult or unpleasant task related to your goals, give yourself
a reward for a job well done.
Make certain they are your goals. Your motivation level is not as high if the end result is not something you want to achieve.
Visualize the results. Keeping in mind the benefits and visualizing the end results of each goal is extremely
effective in keeping motivated.
Break the goal down into manageable tasks. As with any task, accomplishing the whole is easier when each part is tackled individually.
Tap into other people’s energy. Surround yourself with other people that are motivated. As humans, we are social
creatures, which means our moods and emotions can be influenced by others. If you
are around other positive people that all work toward achieving their own goals, their
energy can become infectious.
Remind yourself why you set the goal. This last item is of the utmost importance, especially for long term goals. Sometimes
it is too easy to become mired in the drudgery of a difficult task and forget why
you are doing something in the first place. Reminding yourself of the end goal helps
reinforce everything you do that works toward your goal.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals
S.M.A.R.T. goals refers to a system for setting goals that makes it more likely you’ll
achieve them. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. By writing out how your goals meet these criteria, you’ll be setting goals
that are clearly defined and have a due date. If you’ve never set S.M.A.R.T. goals
before, download this SMART Goals worksheet to try it out.
When you’re managing a busy schedule, it's easy to forget that we all need rest, fun,
and care to be our best selves. Stress, sleep-deprivation, and inadequate nutrition
lower your immune system function and leave you more vulnerable to illness, not to
mention reduced mood and poor mental health. All of this interferes with your ability
to learn.
Covering the Basics
Do you have a safe place to stay and enough to eat? CR’s Basic Needs Center is here to help students facing challenges with food assistance, housing support,
financial aid, and counseling services.
Do you need support for your physical and mental health? All College of the Redwoods students now have access to TimelyCare, a free web-based health and mental health software.
Are you dealing with dental problems? The Dental Health Center provides reduced cost dental services and they give priority
to CR students. For more information call (707)476-4250.
Stress Management
Below are some research-backed ways to reduce stress when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
When practiced regularly, they can also prevent stress.
Get some sleep. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night isn’t only good for stress reduction,
it’s good for learning. Sleep is when information gets transferred from short to long
term memory storage.
Eat nutritious food. A good rule of thumb is that the fewer ingredients something has, the better it is
for you. An apple is better than a protein bar, some mixed nuts are better than a
bowl of cereal.
Go get some exercise. You don’t need to go to the gym every day to benefit from exercise. A brisk walk
around campus between classes or following along with a yoga video on YouTube are
great ways to move and stretch your body.
Touch grass. Touching grass, forest bathing, whatever you want to call it, getting out into nature
lowers blood pressure and reduces stress. Turn off your phone for an hour and go hug
a tree or take a walk on the beach.
Write it down. Writing down your thoughts and feelings provides an outlet for your emotions and
can give you some clarity and perspective on things.
Are you freaking out? Breath. In moments of acute stress, when you’re heart is racing and you can’t think straight,
box breathing offers a way to calm your body and mind down. Breath in for four counts,
hold for four, breath out for four counts, hold for four counts, and repeat. It really
works!
Coming Soon!
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