More adults than ever are turning to online learning for its convenience and flexibility, perfectly suited to meet their educational goals amidst busy lifestyles. The last decade has seen a surge in online degree programs, courses, and virtual universities specifically designed for adult learners. While accessing online education is now easier than ever, students often discover that succeeding in this environment requires a distinct set of skills.
Educators have long considered the skills necessary for online learning success. However, insights directly from successful online students are less common. This article addresses this gap by summarizing a study that explored the experiences of successful online learners. It identifies key strategies that instructors can promote and students can adopt to thrive in online courses, focusing on self-discipline and effective time management as cornerstones of online learning success.
Study Methodology
This research began with a series of questions developed in collaboration with online course designers, faculty, and administrators. This initial question set was then reviewed and refined by a larger group of faculty and administrators, leading to the creation of an online survey.
Participants were selected from graduates who had completed at least 80 percent of their degree coursework online and maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher. Out of 93 eligible graduates, 59 chose to participate. The survey employed open-ended questions, allowing participants to freely describe the online learning techniques they found most effective and share their personal experiences as online students.1
Seven Key Tips from Successful Online Students
The survey responses revealed a strong consensus among successful online students regarding the practical steps that significantly contributed to their achievement in online courses. These tips highlight the importance of self-discipline and time management in the context of online learning.
1. Crafting a Robust Time Management Strategy
When asked about effective time management strategies, students consistently emphasized the critical role of self-discipline. Online learning, often lacking fixed class schedules, demands a proactive approach to allocate sufficient study time. Establishing a personal study schedule emerged as a crucial element for ensuring consistent engagement with course materials. One student shared:
Setting and adhering to specific study days was key for me. Evenings during the week were dedicated to reading lessons. Saturdays were primarily for writing assignments and engaging with online discussions by responding to posts and building on my initial submissions.
Another student highlighted the benefit of designating specific times for reading, writing, and participating in online discussions. Flexibility and avoiding overwhelm were also stressed. As one student explained, “I made sure not to put excessive pressure on myself when tackling assignments. I found that working in smaller chunks, ‘a little bit here and there,’ was much more effective than trying to do everything at once.” Creating a structured yet flexible schedule that includes dedicated time for logging into the course, participating in activities, reading, and research is a cornerstone of success for online learners. The study revealed that setting a study schedule (78.9 percent) and dedicating daily time to coursework (31.6 percent) were the most helpful time management strategies.
The independence inherent in online learning, allowing students to participate at their convenience, also presents a challenge: procrastination. Graduates were asked how they combated procrastination. A portion (15.8 percent) found that daily logins to the course portal to check for updates helped them stay on track. However, a larger group (36.8 percent) credited weekly assignments from instructors for maintaining a regular course rhythm. One student elaborated:
You absolutely must discipline yourself to stick to your schedule and minimize distractions. I would allow myself an hour to unwind after work, have dinner, and then head to my study room. I discovered that dedicating about 3–4 hours of study during the week usually allowed me to complete weekly assignments by Thursday or Friday.
Another student emphasized the importance of upfront planning, acknowledging that online study needs to be integrated with other life responsibilities.
2. Maximizing Online Discussion Forums
Online discussions are often the primary mode of interaction in online courses, replacing traditional face-to-face classroom discussions. This asynchronous format can foster richer discourse as students have time to carefully compose their responses. When asked how they leveraged online discussions, successful students shared valuable techniques. One student noted: “Interacting with other students was the enjoyable part of online classes. I made it a point to respond, question, or comment on other students’ posts as much as possible. This helped build an online learning community.” Another suggested: “Respond to various student postings, ensuring you add meaningful content beyond just ‘good post.’ Also, diversify your interactions beyond the same few classmates. Look for opportunities to engage with different perspectives.”
Active participation in threaded discussions was cited by 52.6 percent of students as the most beneficial aspect of peer interaction, while reading others’ responses was helpful for 15.8 percent. Around 21 percent found direct email communication outside the course platform a useful supplement.
The instructor’s role in fostering effective online discussions is crucial. One student explained, “Weekly discussions were most effective when the instructor actively encouraged participation, especially by initiating debates, posing ‘why’ or ‘how’ questions.” Instructors who set clear expectations for online discussion participation or pose thought-provoking questions in response to student posts can cultivate more engaging online dialogues. Students who proactively plan for regular communication with classmates within their course schedule will experience greater success in their online learning journey.
3. Embracing the “Use It or Lose It” Principle for Content Retention
Content retention can be a challenge in online learning. Successful students agreed that actively applying course concepts significantly improved their ability to remember and understand the material. One student stated: “I used the ‘use-or-lose’ technique. Immediately after reading or studying something, I would apply that knowledge through collaborations with classmates or in my workplace.”
Online discussion forums provide an ideal avenue for applying learned concepts. Students can actively interpret and rephrase concepts in their own words while engaging in dialogue with peers, solidifying their understanding.
Another student found that “connecting new material to existing knowledge” aided retention. Many successful online students mentioned applying concepts to current or past experiences, particularly in their professional lives (31.6 percent). Nearly half (47.4 percent) found that taking handwritten notes from online materials was crucial for retaining key information, mirroring strategies used in traditional face-to-face courses.
4. Formulating Effective Questions to Enhance Learning
“Asking questions is fundamental to learning,” one student emphasized. “By asking questions, both classmates and instructors delved deeper into the subject matter, leading to a more comprehensive understanding.” Online learning environments provide various communication tools, such as discussion forums, email, and chat, facilitating in-depth questioning. Students have the advantage of crafting well-considered questions that might be more specific and probing than those asked in real-time in-person settings. Another student elaborated:
Asking questions was key to my understanding. As a newcomer to online learning, I benefited from the experience of other students. Questioning fellow students helped me grasp the principles and real-world practices faced by professionals in the field.
Successful online students in the survey invested time in researching and formulating questions (21 percent) and ensuring their questions were clear and understandable (10.5 percent). They recognized thoughtful questions as a valuable resource in their online learning experience, while a portion (26.3 percent) admitted to simply asking questions without significant preparation.
5. Maintaining Motivation Throughout the Course
The absence of direct physical interaction with instructors and peers in online learning can lead to decreased motivation or loss of interest. Graduates were asked about their motivation techniques to prevent burnout. “Keeping your eye on the prize” was a common sentiment. Another student shared, “My primary motivator was visualizing myself in graduation regalia, receiving my degree, surrounded by family and friends.”
Students also found motivation in achieving good grades (21 percent) and setting personal goals (42 percent). One student stated, “I always aim for an ‘A’ in every course. While it might matter less in graduate school compared to undergraduate studies, it still drives me.”
Some students leveraged peer interaction for motivation, finding encouragement and feedback from online study partners (15.8 percent). One student explained, “I partnered with a friend in my online courses, and we pushed each other to not only complete assignments but to submit the highest quality work possible.”
Motivation is personal. One student humorously mentioned promising themselves a new truck upon degree completion. Given the independent nature of online learning, developing personal motivation strategies is crucial for staying engaged and avoiding burnout. Creating a self-motivation plan is a valuable step for any new online student.
6. Communicating Effective Instruction Preferences
Online instructors utilize diverse techniques to engage learners. Study participants shared insights into the most effective instructional approaches. One student commented, “I appreciated instructors who logged in frequently and asked numerous questions. This not only enhanced subject understanding but also provided ample opportunity for class participation.” Another student added, “One instructor went above and beyond by posting initial discussion questions and then posing individualized questions based on our responses. This personalized approach was wonderful.” This personalized interaction resonated well with many learners (42 percent). Instructors who provided tailored questions and relevant online resources (15.7 percent) were particularly effective in supporting student learning.
7. Building Connections with Online Peers
Through open-ended survey questions, participants shared successful practices for developing online learning skills. Making online friends was highlighted as beneficial. The sense of community found in in-person classes is equally valuable in online settings (15.8 percent). One student noted, “Having good students in the class made a significant difference.” Another student reflected:
My relationships and interactions with fellow students greatly enriched the experience. It’s amazing how well we got to know each other despite being geographically separated and only virtual classmates.
I learned as much from my peers and their experiences as I did from the instructors, a type of rewarding learning experience I hadn’t anticipated, even in a traditional classroom.
Online discussion forums facilitate classroom discussions beyond physical time constraints. Students in online classes can develop deep connections through written communication, recognizing each other’s writing styles and ideas, fostering meaningful relationships that can extend into professional networking opportunities.
Summary
The experiences of these successful online students offer valuable insights for instructors aiming to support their students in developing effective online learning skills. Crucially, students need to develop robust time management strategies to navigate course requirements as independent learners.
Participants emphasized the central role of online discussions with peers and instructors in the learning process. Instructors can encourage students to optimize their online discussion techniques to enhance learning and promote course success. Furthermore, instructors should encourage students to apply course concepts, embracing the “use it or lose it” principle, to improve retention and synthesis of learning objectives.
Successful online students also highlighted the importance of developing and asking thoughtful questions to engage both peers and instructors, facilitating deeper subject exploration and understanding.
Maintaining motivation is a significant challenge for independent online learners. Students who develop personal motivation strategies gain a valuable asset that prevents disinterest and burnout.
Finally, connecting with online peers is crucial. Meaningful peer connections provide mutual support and foster a sense of community among learners.
While no single formula guarantees online learning success, recognizing the unique skills required for this environment is essential for instructors. The techniques identified by successful online students provide a strong foundation for enriching the online learning experience and empowering students to develop these crucial skills. Instructors play a vital role in guiding students toward success.
Endnote
Alan R. Roper ([email protected]) is Director of Administration for CyberCampus and teaches online courses in the graduate business school at Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
[1] The complete study findings are available in Alan R. Roper, “Online Versus Face-to-Face Class Discussions: Student Perceptions, Expectations, and Performance,” Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks 9, no. 1 (2005),
