OnlineProfessor

So many online students hand in their semester or term final projects and then disappear to go on vacation or simply relax. Too often, this means that they fall out of touch with any e-mail updates or instructor communications that might come through.

The issue with “checking out” too early is that if a problem or issue arises, and it’s too tough for an instructor to reach you, it could cause some major headaches down the road.

Typical end-of-term issues:

• Your files did not upload properly. These things happen, and most reasonable instructors will give you a short window to resubmit work. But if you don’t respond in time, you could get a zero. It is assumed that students will continue to check e-mail and phone messages, and if you don’t, you do so at your own risk.
• You submitted your document in the incorrect area of the course. It is a student’s responsibility to put material in the proper place, but if you don’t, and you get a second chance to do so, you need to grab it. If you miss the window because you got lazy, then an instructor might already move on and not really look back.
• Illness. If you get really sick, you should absolutely make sure someone informs the school. They can really work to give you some options and file the proper paperwork. If you don’t inform anyone, your options for making up work will be severely limited.

Keep in mind that instructors usually teach multiple courses with many students in each section. It is easy for one student to slip through the cracks, and if you do not do your part to check messages and follow up, no one else will do it for you. But if you do your best to stay in touch and be professional, then most instructors will go that extra mile for you.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS