Online students engage with peers and instructors asynchronously via text-based discussion questions (DQs) that can be worth 20-25% of the overall grade. Like real-time seminar discussions, DQs serve several purposes: they allow you to assimilate, synthesise, and apply new concepts and ideas; they help you understand course material; they increase your expertise in the subject; they allow instructors to assess your understanding and offer targeted advice and assistance; and, of course, they earn marks. In sum, when approached thoughtfully, discussion posts are a great way to learn and master material. They are also a great way to connect with instructors and classmates as you build on ideas.

To get the most out of asynchronous discussions, be sure to:

• Review the grading rubric for the DQs in your course to ensure you understand when posts are due and what is expected in each contribution. Do not hesitate to ask your instructors for specific advice or about their preferred approach to DQs.
• Come to discussions prepared. Read the required course materials for the week, critically, and make notes about key ideas.
• When making a new contribution in response to a DQ, read the discussion question carefully and determine which readings cover that subject. Use your notes to prepare a substantive contribution to the discussion. When contributing to an ongoing discussion, use the readings and your notes to ensure your contribution is well founded. Always strive to add something of value to the conversation. Although “cheer” posts may help build camaraderie, they do not add to meaningful dialogue.
• Proofread your posts carefully, paying attention to spelling, grammar, and overall style of writing. Carefully attend to citation/references; in most programs, you will be expected to properly cite your sources in DQs.
• Remember to always be professional and courteous. Respectful discussion does not mean agree with everything that has been stated. It is okay to disagree, as long as that is done in a respectful manner. Remember . . . what is considered inappropriate behaviour in a face to face learning environment also applies online.

On-campus students engage with peers and instructors in real time and face-to-face. Each class will be a mix of lecture, discussions, activities, and hands-on demonstrations and practice. Interactive and participatory aspects of the course may be worth 20-25% of your overall grade, often divided throughout the term based on the number of classes. This often means that participation in a particular discussion or activity is worth only 2-3% of the course grade. But it is critically important that you attend every class and actively participate in every discussion and all activities. You may think you are merely sacrificing a few marks by not participating, but in fact you are missing course content and, what is more important, the opportunity to learn and develop important skills and to understand, synthesise, and apply new knowledge and competencies. 

To make each class a valuable experience, be sure to:

• Come to class on time and properly equipped. This includes bringing needed materials such as a tablet or laptop, pen/pencil, paper, and course text.
• Know in advance what will be important. Review the syllabus and grading rubric to discover what the instructor expects and what grade value has been established.
• Come to class prepared to participate. Review readings and other materials. The more prepared you are, the more confident you will feel.
• Actively engage in discussions and activities. Demonstrate to your instructors you are interested in learning the material.
• Ask for the help you need. Although it can be scary to ask questions, this is the only way to get clarity on a topic or clear any confusion. Instructors want to hear from students.
• Remember to always be professional and courteous.

As a student, you are provided with a number of resources to help you succeed.  Many students do not become familiar with these resources and, so miss important opportunities. Here are a few resources that students often are unaware of or do not use effectively.

• Office 365 includes a set of powerful tools that help you organize your work and collaborate with others. It is not limited to just Outlook, Excel, and Word but includes many other apps such as OneNote, which is an online notebook system, and MS Teams which is fantastic for collaborating with peers and includes group text and video chat. 
• Faculty office hours are a valuable resource that is underutilized by all students. Whether meeting on-campus or via Zoom, these times are your opportunity to speak to your instructors outside of class.
• Workshops and webinars are offered to students across a wide variety of subjects including math, writing, career services, and health and wellness.
• Every student has access to 3 hours of one-on-one tutoring via Smarthinking.
• Learning Success Centre provides informative content on a wide variety of topics, with material added regularly yet tracking shows the LSC remains an underutilized service.

Group work is a challenge for most students. It is often unclear how best to form groups and the logistics of when and how to meet can be difficult. Ensuring that everyone does their part is a large issue for all students, but group work offers learning opportunities that are unsurpassed by other types of course work.

• Potential for improved performance as each member brings a unique set of skills and knowledge that can be applied to the group’s activities. These differences can help enhance understanding of the subject being studied.
• Development of skills that employers value and look for in new employees such as communication, critical thinking, conflict resolution, and leadership.
• Increased understanding of your strengths, along with areas in need of improvement. Whether you learn that you excel at the “big ideas” but struggle to take action or you discover unrecognized leadership potential, this enhanced self-awareness can improve your experience as a student and make you more employable upon graduation.
• Readiness for the workplace where the ability to work effectively in teams is becoming increasingly important. Employers need workers who can work together to solve problems and accomplish critical tasks.
• Expanded network and an opportunity to build new relationships.

Critical thinking transforms you from a passive receiver of information to an active learner. It is an essential skill that allows you to think rationally and question ideas and assumptions, rather than take things at face value. Critical thinkers are
dedicated learners who actively participate in classroom activities and do not hesitate to ask questions. They truly embrace the phrase “there is no such thing as a stupid question.” Critical thinkers form their own ideas and opinions, supported by
research and evidence, allowing them to deepen their understanding of the subject matter and engage in more meaningful discussions with instructors and peers.

It can be challenging to criticize ideas that are presented in readings or during lectures. It can seem quite disrespectful to disagree with instructors or challenge their ideas. However, it is important to critique what you are learning. You do this
by analyzing the ideas and arguments being made, exploring the evidence being presented, and making an informed decision about whether the information makes sense. Where you have doubts, do your research, and ask questions.

Like learning to ride a bike or play a musical instrument, it takes practice to develop your critical thinking skills. To begin, as you read course materials, listen to lectures, and participate in activities consider the following questions:

• What is the main point being made?
• Who is making the point (author, instructor, classmate)?
• Is the information being presented supported by research/evidence? Is that current?
• Do you agree with the information being presented? If not, why not? Do I agree or disagree for good reasons based on evidence and logic?
• How is this information useful to you?
• What questions emerge?

An important part of developing your critical thinking skills, is becoming a reflective learner. Reflecting learning is thinking with purpose and questioning and probing to understand yourself better. This approach can lead to better planning and prioritizing of your work and improved ability to set study goals and manage anxiety. Being a reflective learner helps you deepen your experience as you take time to contemplate the material you’ve learned and how it connects to other courses, lessons, and experience.