Distance programs help you fit school into your life. The faculty and staff at UNL will help with whatever we can in order to keep you moving towards your goal.
Time management and prioritization are a #1 priority for success as a distance learner. Many students studying at a distance have multiple commitments including work, family, home, community engagements, and other demands that pull on the time available to devote to learning. Being able to focus and meet deadlines is critical for both on-campus and distance students; however, this becomes even more challenging when juggling multiple roles and responsibilities. Below are some tips for being a good distance student:
- Confirm technical requirements and be sure you have access to the right equipment and software before class starts.
- Connect with instructors early.
- Create a schedule and stay organized.
- Review the syllabus early, create a weekly schedule with assignment due dates, plan in advance and set aside more time than anticipated to complete projects and papers. Working full time, balancing family and personal commitments as well as distance learning requires revisiting priorities regularly.
- Stay on top of the week’s reading.
- Log in often and look for new information posted throughout the week.
- Have a consistent workspace.
- Know what kind of learner you are, and plan how you will use your strengths to help you accomplish the class outcomes.
- Ask questions.
- Ask for help before things become emergencies, be proactive in self-advocacy.
- Pose quality questions and engage in dialogues.
- Utilize all the resources available—Get your books early and know how to access the library resources.
- Apply concepts and material from your class in your job.
- Keep your eyes on the goal — remember why you’re in school, and yet, set realistic expectations for yourself.
- Self-direction and internal motivation are requirements. Be accountable for your actions (such as participation, group work, assignments).
And most of all celebrate the small wins and accomplishments along the way!
Pedro Londono
My today started after working internationally for the past 25 years with Fortune 500 companies. Despite all of my experience, I knew I had to continue to find ways to be up to date with business trends and have credentials to be able to move forward in the marketplace. I needed to have skills to keep learning, to keep thinking and rethinking, because that’s the new business norm. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Masters of Business Administration program had the three components I was looking for: budget, flexibility and ranking. My education is not finished with my MBA, I guarantee it; but I definitely believe that with it I have the credentials to keep moving up the ladder.
Christine Marvin, Ph.D. Professor
In 1999 in order to explore technology solutions to the challenge of teaching statewide SPED 863 Medically Fragile Infants, Dr. Marvin moved this course to a combined online and video conferencing format. Since then, she has designed, developed, and taught five courses in Early Childhood Special Education, utilizing a Learning Management System, desktop video conferencing, screen captures, narrated PowerPoints, TechSmith Relay, captioning, and numerous other technologies in her quest to reach out to students throughout the state and beyond.
Dr. Marvin’s willingness to integrate evidence-based innovative teaching and learning strategies into her online courses and to explore emerging technology solutions is the quality that has made her an outstanding instructor and mentor for students learning at a distance as can be seen by her numerous teaching awards, a few of which are listed below:
- 2005-present, Academy of Distinguished Teachers, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- 2015, Charman Outstanding Professor Award, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- 2014, Faculty-Student Mentoring Award, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln