Web Design and Development Degree Online: How Can I be Successful?
If you’re a prospective web design and development student, you might be wondering if choosing to study online could hurt your chances of success. The real risk is in how students approach online classes. Those who fail to study responsibly may founder before they even realize what’s happening. These four core practices will give you the best chances of making it through this unfamiliar environment with the strong final GPA you want.
Study Every Single Day
Part of the allure of online classes is that they give you ultimate control over your schedule. You don’t have to go to class at a certain hour – class can be at any time you want! For some, that freedom can mean the difference between getting an education and not being able to attend school at all. However, it can also be grievously misused. Procrastination is a key factor in why some online students struggle; if there’s nothing stopping you from just putting off class until tomorrow, many people will just keep doing that right up until exam day.
If you force yourself to at least open the books every day, however, the obligation keeps studying at the front of your mind without making too much of an imposition on your daily life. If you’ve had a really long day and all you can handle is a few minutes of reading, that’s fine. When you have more time and energy, though, try pushing yourself a little harder. Every minute adds up – stay persistent enough throughout the week and you’ll be done by the weekend.
Practice What You’ve Learned
Lectures and textbooks are useful and necessary parts of the higher education system, but web design and development is a hands-on program, not a purely academic one. The information you learn is useless unless you can apply it properly.
You’ll probably get some practice when doing projects and assignments, but don’t wait until there’s a graded opportunity to do it. Get started as soon as you finish each lesson and you’ll be able to reinforce what you’ve learned and be primed to build on it during next week’s sessions. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate – just a few sketches in the back of your notebook will do – but the act of trying things out for yourself will give you a clearer idea of your personal weaknesses and will give you a process to think back to come test time.
Ask Questions When Needed
Getting clarification on some tricky point in the course content might seem hard when you have a video or written lecture in front of you instead of a person, but that’s a matter of perspective. While you can’t just raise your hand and have your thoughts addressed immediately, online courses always make sure that students have some way of contacting instructors. It’s often as simple as sending them an email.
Don’t be worried about getting a chilly reception, either. Most of your instructors will be thrilled to help you out – your confusion shows that you were trying to pay attention! You can also try asking your peers about things to get another take on the subject.
Take It to the Next Level
All the tips above will produce a great student, but not an exceptional one. This one is different. Starting with the foundational knowledge you’ve learned at school and independently taking it further is how you can really stand out from the crowd.
If there’s something you’re curious about, look it up. Try to engineer more complex designs using the basic concepts you already know. Work on websites on your own and save them to create a portfolio for job interviews later. Collaborate with your peers on some more ambitious designs. Take on internships. Do freelance work. Ask your professors if they can introduce you to someone in the industry. All these things demonstrate an exceptional commitment to the field that will serve you well not only in your class, but beyond it as well.
Interested in the field of web design and development? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Software Development - Web Design and Development Track, ECPI University offers this course of study at an accelerated rate. For more information, connect with a knowledgeable admissions counselor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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