Studying Online;Succeeding through Distance Learning at University

106 Studying online 
It is no good trying to take those baby steps in forum participa-
tion if there is only a day or two left before the forum closes for 
the assessment or before a tutorial. You need to ensure you start 
taking part from the beginning. Otherwise, you will not be able to 
contribute as you would like, which could lead to a loss of marks 
if the forum is assessed. 
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PLANNED PARTICIPATION IN FORUMS 
One way to help ensure your participation is to plan it and 
schedule it within your timetable. All too often, students do not 
get the best out of the available online forums because they for-
get about them. Tey are told to visit the forum at the start of 
a module, for instance, and then do not return unless they are 
reminded. Tat also means students do not participate. Every 
now and then, they look when someone reminds them, but they 
do not feel part of the discussion and hence observe rather than 
contribute. Tis issue can be avoided if you check in to the forum 
regularly. Create a timeslot for checking in to the forums in your 
calendar. Indeed, if you make it a routine, you will fnd it is easier 
to participate. 
If you have a routine for checking in every day at 3:00 pm, for 
example, it becomes a habit. Tis means you do not have to think 
about it. Nor do you have to worry about whether you have con-
tributed because you will know. Te regular routine will also help 
increase your number of contributions. Tat has a double impact. 
First, you reduce the anxiety about taking part because you will 
have done it so many times. Second, you will almost certainly 
increase your marks for the module because higher participation 
rates are associated with good marks. 
QUICK TIP: Set a routine in your calendar for regular forum 
participation. 

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