flexibility in scheduling work for class

flexibility to study in any convenient location

ability to skim over materials already mastered and to concentrate time and effort in areas containing new information and/or skills

within the framework of the class, flexibility to study materials at a personal speed and intensity, without having to wait for slower pace of the average classroom

flexibility to join "conversations" in the bulletin board discussion areas at any hour, and to catch up on everything that has been "said" by others since the previous visit.

the ease to procrastinate - to wait until later

difficulty of staying on track without the structured classroom

feeling of isolation - alone - without the direct interaction with classmates

occasional difficulty to immediately reach other classmates and/or instructor through technology

Set up a grid with 1/2-hour time slots down the side, from waking to closing the mind for the night, and with all 7 days of the week across the top.

Fill in your nonflexible times (work hours, scheduled classes, etc.) with specific information

Fill in your flexible times related to those nonflexible ones (travel time to work or school, lunch, break, etc.)

Fill in your other activities - clubs, choir, meetings, etc. - that happen less than once a week

List special must-do for family etc. (pick up the kids, etc.) that occur regularly. Some find that taking a book along can ease the time spent waiting and can help accomplish study time needs at the same time.

List DEDICATED TO STUDY TIME. This will be time that you will reserve for study, and nothing less than a major emergency will be allowed to disturb it. One student suggested that this be set in 1/2-hour segments - 1 segment per credit hour - and before or after this segment a 1/2-hour or hour TRY TO STUDY TIME be scheduled.

List TRY TO STUDY TIME. This will be time that you are planning nothing but study, but recognize that it may be interrupted. If interrupted, remember to grab some catch-up time.

Use a semester calendar to lay out your deadlines. If your instructor did not provide specific deadlines, set your own and meet them.

Review the syllabus, study guide, or notes while waiting for the kids at the dentist (school, dance lesson, etc.)

Find a corner at school or home to work on a project between (before/after) other tasks.

Get up a half hour before the kids and use that time for the "heavy" or new stuff.

Set mind to work solidly for certain length of time - and keep to that limit as close as a reasonable stopping point occurs. Using a timer with a bell or tone alarm set to the time to stop can be very useful and productive (you don't have to guess or keep looking at the clock but can totally concentrate on the work).

Do not puzzle for days on a problem. Get together with a fellow student in the class or with the instructor for help early in a problem.

Lay aside a problem piece of work and go back with a fresh look later. However, if that does not work after a second try, get help from somewhere reasonably early in the game. Ask a fellow student online, or write to your instructor.