With this chapter, you’ll be able to help empower students to become more proficient, effective, and autonomous as learners in a remote course.

In this chapter

• Provide a tip sheet
• Provide a worksheet
• Encourage developing learning skills
• Encourage students to learn more about learning online
• To go deeper

Most students don’t have experience learning in an online format. They may be comfortable but not necessarily proficient online. Students haven’t chosen to work in this remote format and most would have chosen to be in a face-to-face class. You can ask them about their experience using a Google Drive form like this, which can be adapted to your own context. As such, they could use help knowing how to work effectively online. To support them, you could:

Provide a tip sheet

This tip sheet gives a quick, clean starting point; it was adapted from Carleton University. The adaptable version is available in the chapter: “Quick start overview and resource documents“. PDF version here.

Provide a worksheet

While tips can be helpful, they need to be put into action to have an effect. This adaptable worksheet can be used to set goals and make a plan, and includes explanations and examples. The adaptable file can be found in “Quick start overview and resource documents“. PDF version here.

Encourage developing learning skills

The Growth & Goals module was developed to help students become more efficient learners.

Two version are available in English and French:

• a course-integrated version, meant to be linked with the course’s intended learning outcomes, ideal study strategies, and support options
• a course-independent version, which can be used by anyone in any area (e.g., academic, athletic, artistic)

The infographic below gives a brief overview of the module. PDF version of the infographic here.

Encourage students to learn more about learning online

This module from the Learning Portal has a fantastic, systematic set of resources for students to become more proficient online learners.

To go deeper

Develop (and share?) your own methods of supporting students with the education community.

Up next

The next chapter involves supporting students’ wellness, including physical and mental health.

Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions, suggestions, and concerns. In particular, we check this form each semester and will continue to update this guide as the situation evolves.