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Now that you’ve had an overview of how to find your course(s) and what might be expected, take a few moments to create an inventory of these expectations. On a piece of paper (electronic or physical), answer the following questions. You can also download a template at the bottom of this page to save and type into or to print and fill out.

Question 1: Where will your online courses be located?

Be sure to list here the links you’d use to find your class and also any additional places you might have to travel to get to course information.

Example: https://classes.lanecc.edu is where online classes start at my institution, but some classes might also ask me to navigate to an external site for readings (like a publisher web site for an online text/homework platform). I’d write that down, too.

Question 2: List any steps you need to take to access your online courses

Do you need a special login or access code? Do you have a plan to remember these steps? If you have plenty of online experience, you may not need to write anything down, but if you’re new to online or juggling multiple systems, keep track of how you’ll access your classes by writing down the steps you take to get there.

Tip: Don’t count on your computer to remember your login and password information. If you need to sign in when you’re away from your own device, what will you do?

Question 3: What type of Learning Management System will your course use?

This might seem like technical information you won’t need, but if you need help in the middle of the term, it’s useful to know. You might be able to find answers on a site like YouTube for common Canvas concerns, for instance. If you don’t know the answer to this, search your college’s eLearning or Distance Learning page to see if they provide the information, or ask your student help desk or your instructor.

Question 4: What are the main types of assignments you’ll be doing in your class(es)?

Course schedules and course syllabi will often list major assignment types. You can also look at the first week of materials to get an idea about what’s coming up.

Question 5: What are the communication expectations in this course? How will I communicate with my instructor and my classmates?

Some instructors will list a preferred method of contact on their syllabus; others may give you many different ways to get in touch. Write down the best method for each class somewhere that you can find it, so that you’re more likely to get a timely response when you need one. If available, note your professors’ office hours, as well, and make note of how you can attend (online, in-person, etc.). This may save you time later in the term!

These questions are available in an online form, linked here^[1] and listed below, that you can save and fill out or print for your own records. To save the document, look for three dots at the top of the page and choose “Download” from the menu. This option is not always available via mobile browsers (unless you request “View Desktop Version.”