The online learning process requires a real commitment on the student’s part. Students need to foster good habits to make their learning as productive and comfortable as possible and to enhance their academic learning, skills and outcomes.

Attending an online school like CGA, means that your classmates are from all over the world. Fostering social habits and focusing on soft skills development are also significantly important to become a well-rounded, successful online student.

Here are seven habits online students can practice to set themselves up for success:

1. Be prepared to participate in lessons and actively engage.

The online environment should be open and friendly. Coming to class prepared will give you the confidence to share ideas and opinions. The testing and challenging of ideas are encouraged; you will not always be right, just be prepared to accept a challenge. Having smaller, online classes also eliminates the barriers that hinder some individuals to express themselves when in bigger groups.

2. Think ideas through before responding.

Meaningful and quality input into the virtual classroom is an essential part of the learning process. Online students have more time to reflect on the information presented before responding, use this time to formulate your communications.

3. Focus on enhancing communication through writing.

In the virtual classroom, a lot of communication is written, so it is critical that you feel comfortable in expressing yourself in writing.

4. Be self-motivated and self-disciplined.

With the freedom and flexibility of the online environment comes responsibility. The online process takes real commitment and discipline to keep up with the flow of the process. Online school is not easier than the traditional educational process. In fact, many students will say it requires much more time and commitment.

5. ‘Speak up’ if problems arise.

If you experience difficulty on any level (either with the technology or with the course content), a successful student will communicate this immediately to their teacher. You might be addressing an issue, someone else was also facing, but too afraid to say.

6. Accept critical thinking and decision making as part of the learning process.

The learning process requires students to make decisions based on facts as well as experience. Assimilating information and executing the right decisions requires critical thought.

7. Connecting with your community.

It is very important that you take an active role in connecting with your local community, and your online classmates. Increase your awareness of the opportunities available in your local area such as sport clubs or volunteer clubs. CGA students have access to a variety of extracurricular activities, leadership opportunities, and in-person meet-ups with fellow classmates.