Strategies for Student Success

Develop a growth mindset

A growth mindset fosters a love of learning, resilience in the face of challenges, and a belief in one's ability to improve over time—all essential for success in college and beyond. Watch the video Developing and Embracing a Growth Mindset (3:12) to learn more about cultivating a growth mindset.

Manage your time effectively

Effective time management can help you prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain a balanced academic and personal life. By allocating time wisely, you can reduce stress, improve academic performance, and cultivate valuable skills that translate into professional success after graduation. Consider using the Pomodoro Technique, a time management strategy developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It involves breaking work into focused intervals (typically 25 minutes), separated by short breaks, to enhance productivity and maintain mental freshness.

Make sure you have a private space where you can study

This will help lend importance to what you are doing as well. Your own space where you can shut the door, leave papers everywhere, and work in peace is necessary. If you try to share study space with the dining room or bedroom, food or sleep will take priority over studying. Learn more from UW student Jeremy Miller on how to setup your study space (2:03).

Participate

Whether you are working alone or in a group, contribute your ideas, perspectives, and comments on the subject you are studying. Your instructor is one of many sources of information in your course - you can gain great insight from your peers, and they can learn from you as well. See your participation in class as an opportunity instead of an obligation as University of Wyoming's Kent Noble, the Bill Daniels Chair of Business Ethics, shares how perspective is everything (3:44).

Read Everything

Much of the information you receive from your instructor will be in text form. Not all information your instructor provides is intuitive, especially regarding course policies and procedures. Please read everything carefully and thoroughly and ask questions when needed.

Log on to your course every day

Alternatively, a minimum of five to six days per week. If you let too many days go by without logging on to your course, you will get behind and find it difficult to catch up.

Utilize the library for support

UW Libraries is here to support you through your research needs. Here are five easy ways you can get help:

Use UW Libraries resources like QuickSearch, the academic version of Google, our numerous scholarly databases, or our amazing collection of books as sources for your classes.
Make an appointment with a librarian or a library coach for personalized research help.
From 10 am – 10 pm, Monday – Sunday, use UW Libraries chat to get immediate help from a librarian for quick questions.
Check out our Creation and Collaboration Spaces to create a podcast, record a video, work with 3D printers, and more.
Attend a library workshop, such as Research 101, APA citations, or UW Libraries Finals Wellness Events, each fall or spring for De-Stressing.

Speak up if you are having problems

Your instructor cannot read your mind, so you must be explicit with your comments and requests. If you need help understanding the course, you MUST speak up. Otherwise, there is no way that your instructor will know that something is wrong. In addition, if you do not understand something, several people might have the same question. Use the discussion boards in Canvas to ask questions about the assignments. If another student is able to help you, they probably will, and if you are able to explain something to your classmates in need, you will not only help them out, but you will reinforce your knowledge about the subject.

Be polite and respectful

Online interactions involve real people, even if usernames provide a sense of anonymity. Treating others with respect and kindness is not just good manners but essential for creating a positive and productive online environment. When you communicate thoughtfully, you contribute to a space where everyone, including yourself, feels valued and appreciated. This approach enhances the quality of discussions and the overall learning experience.

Your instructor and classmates will likely respond more positively to your contributions when you practice good online etiquette. As a result, your work and ideas are received with greater interest and consideration.

To learn more about online etiquette, please explore the video resources in the tabs below.

Internet Etiquette: Netiquette Guidelines for the Online Classroom (5:10)

Online Discourse Etiquette (2:45)

Zoom Etiquette (2:37)

Virtual Learning Video Etiquette (6:31)

5 Do's and Don'ts of Webcam Etiquette (1:51)

Apply what you learn

Apply everything you learn as you learn it, and you will remember it more readily. Use the things you learn in this course in your other courses. Also, connect what you are learning and what you do or will do in your job. Contributing advice or ideas about the real world as they apply to the subject matter you are studying helps you internalize what you are learning and gives valuable insight to your classmates who will benefit from your experience.

Adapted from “Adapting to Being an Online Student“ Illinois Online Network and the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, the University of Wyoming "Grit isn’t given – it’s earned" video found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unflwIqekGQ, and “Tips for How to Succeed as an Online Student," Harvard Extension School.
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