Category: Online Learning

LD and Navigating Online College

The team at Study.com recently developed a free guide to help students with learning disabilities navigate online college. The goal of the guide is to provide students with relevant information about attending college and seeking accommodations at the postsecondary level.   The Guide to Online College with a Learning Disability offers information in several areas, including:

  • Understanding and documenting learning disabilities
  • Securing learning disability accommodations at college
  • Choosing specific classes when you have a learning disability
  • Finding assistive technologies
  • Utilizing institutional resources designed for students with learning disabilities

Note. Study.com is a commercial site, requiring a subscription to use most resources.  Interested users do have the option of a 30-day free trial.

Tips for Online Testing

Test taking, whether traditional paper and pen or online test taking, can cause you to be anxious, even when you know you have studied well and know the material. But, if you have little or no experience with online testing, the tips below can help you work more effectively in the online environment.

If  you are a little more anxious than usual because of unfamiliarity with testing online, many of these suggestions will reduce test anxiety. If you are having active testing anxiety, try the breathing exercise listed below.

  1. Make sure you press the “SAVE” button after answering each question (selecting an answer). This is very important because if you answer several questions and your computer freezes, you may lose all the short answers you just typed, etc. Pressing save frequently will save frustration and time.
  2. Some students find it very helpful to read questions out loud to ensure understanding. This will minimize misunderstanding about what the question is asking. If you have the accommodation for a screen reader (or questions read aloud), be sure to ask your instructor for
  3. If you have an accommodation for extra time, be sure to contact your instructor ahead of time to ensure that the testing time is set accurately for you (plus 50 or 100% extra time). If you email the instructor, also copy the disability services advisor you have worked with, on the request or reminder.
  4. If you have an accommodation for clarification, be sure to ask your instructor how to contact him or her if you have a question about an item on the test.
  5. Plan ahead and find a quiet place with no distractions to test, so you can fully concentrate on the questions and not be interrupted.
  6. Hydration is important for your body and brain to work well. Have a water bottle close by if you need it.
  7. Get a good night’s sleep before testing. By the way, testing late at night is not an optimal time unless you have time to rest beforehand.
  8. Make sure you are eating properly. Your brain will not function adequately if your blood sugar is low (from not eating).
  9. If possible, take small breaks to stand and stretch and move around. This helps the blood to flow (especially if you are zoning out a bit).
  10. Along with breathing, you can try progressive muscle relaxation while you are taking the test. Tighten and release one muscle at a time, or use a squeeze ball.Breathing exercises will bring down your blood pressure and help you calm yourself. Try this:
    • Breathe in for a count of 4.
    • Hold the breath for a count of 4.
    • Breathe out (release) for a count of 4.
    • Repeat this several times. You should feel your body responding positively.

 

Tips courtesy Lake Sumter State College, South Lake Campus, Student Accommodations Services

 

 

 

 

A Quick-start Guide to Learning in an Online Environment

If your campus closes and moves to offering classes only online, do you know how to keep in contact with your instructors? Before you get started, here are a few things to think about as you prepare to be an online student:

A Quick-start Guide to Learning in an Online Environment

No matter how far into the semester classes are required to move online, your instructors are committed to ensuring your academic progress. This may require some adjustments in the syllabus, but you can expect to continue to have learning materials and activities for the rest of the semester.

  1. How will you communicate with your instructor?
  2. How will you maintain internet access?
  3. Do you have a device with appropriate video and audio capabilities?
  4. Do you know how to use all of the essential features in Canvas?
  5. Do you know how to attend a virtual Zoom meeting?
  6. Do you know where to go to get help?

Communication

If your course moves online, the most important change is going to be the way that you communicate with your instructor. It is essential that you are familiar with the following modes of communication, as they are the most likely ways your instructor will contact you. Check your syllabus or ask your instructor to see what form of communication they would prefer you to use.

  • Email: be sure to check your school email multiple times a day
  • Online learning platform Announcements: check your platform (ex: Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard) settings to ensure you get email notifications for announcements
  • Platform Inbox: when sending emails to your instructor, it is recommended that you use the built-in inbox feature. The message you send will automatically contain information about what course and section you are in, which will help your instructor answer your email more efficiently.

In addition to the Quick-start guide above, the website, LDAdvisory.com, has posted tips that ALL students learning from home, may find useful.  Visit,  Crowdsourcing Learn-From-Home Strategies for College Students – Spring 2020