Who said long distance relationships can’t work?
Online classes can be difficult for students who are accustomed to face time with their professors, but it’s not impossible to form relationships online.
So, how do we embrace and develop relationships with our professors from our long-distance learning experiences? The truth is it doesn’t matter if you’re in a traditional classroom setting or a virtual classroom; the bridge to connecting with your professor requires the exact same tool – communication.
As a graduate of the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership program, I enjoyed a smooth journey with ACE, and I want to share three tips I have used to leave a lasting impression on my professors.
Tip #1: Initiate a discussion with your professor.
In most of ACE’s courses, you’ll find that your professors will post responses in the discussion board. It’s always a good idea to respond to any direct replies from your professors on your initial post or even on a peer’s response.
In addition, I encourage you to pose questions to your professors on the discussion board to get a deeper understanding of the content being covered that week. Your professor has a wealth of knowledge to give and you are trying to gain that knowledge, so why not ask them as many questions as possible?
Tip #2: Never let a graded assignment be the end of a module.
As your professors grade your papers and provides feedback, it’s always a good idea to take their feedback into consideration and email them any questions, concerns or comments you may have regarding your graded work as soon as possible. This shows your professor that you are invested in the learning process and not just fixed on ending a module of discussions, assignments and quizzes.
It’s also important that you fully understand the expectations of your professors. Using the feedback to make your next assignment better than the previous one is a great way to show your strength and growth as a student.
Tip #3: Saying ‘thank you’ to professors goes a long way.
At the end of the course, you should strive to email your professors a thank you note for all the knowledge you have acquired during the course, and for the time they’ve invested in you throughout the course. Not only does it show your appreciation, but it leaves a positive impression. Remember, throughout your journey with ACE, you may have the same professor more than once!
Beginning an online program can be nerve-wracking, but if you follow the above steps during your course, you’ll be off to a great start. What’s more, your professors will remember you as the student who took the extra steps to make sure they fully understood the content and classroom expectations.
Learn from a community of faculty members dedicated to helping all their students succeed. Explore American College of Education’s graduate-level programs to find the one that fits your career path.
