Top 10 Tech To-Knows for Online Student Success

Looking for secret ways to impress and influence your online teachers? When I entered Pepperdine University's Master of Arts program at 50 years old, I was, too. Despite the fact that I wrote about cyber-life for a living, I worried that my "3-P safety net" -- participation, personality and performance -- responsible for bolstering many an average test score and lackluster report written in the 1970s -- would not work in today's technology-driven courses. I was wrong.

Today, with degree in hand and a new career as the just-hired academic director of a program called Sober College, I can share a secret: You don't need to know much about computers to be a successful cyber student. In fact, by following these 10 simple tech tips and tricks, you, too, can be a better online student, turn in smarter papers, leave more constructive feedback and go the "distance" as an exceptional eLearner. Here's how.

1. Sharpen your typing skills. The best way to prepare for school -- and life afterward -- is to improve your typing speed and accuracy with a $19 program like Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. This dramatically reduces the time it takes to conduct Internet searches, write papers and take notes. You'll also amp up in-class concentration because you'll no longer be dividing your attention between the keyboard and the lecture going on in front of your eyes on the monitor. To see how fast or slow you go, take the free speed test at TypingTest.com. (Note that you can get results on the site, but they will not e-mail results to AOL e-mail accounts.)

2. Learn shortcuts. You only need to know less than a dozen basic commands to write most papers and create presentations: open, save, close, print, change fonts, adjust formatting and check spelling. Must-have software for student success like Microsoft's Word and PowerPoint are chock-full of helpful tutorials and keyboard shortcuts, generally accessible with a right-mouse click. And, most user-friendly programs offer you multiple ways to complete the same task (e.g., you can print a document from Microsoft Word from the drop-down File menu, or by using the shortcut keys ctrl+p).

3. Create charts and diagrams. In less than an hour, you can learn to do so, and then insert them into a document. This simple trick -- along with using digital pictures and short one- to two-minute videos -- pays monster dividends. Artwork and video breaks up the text, makes reports look more professional and subliminally helps teachers build a positive mental image about you. Of course, you should always follow an individual assignment's guidelines, so only add the bells and whistles when it will enhance your grade.

4. Templates rule. Don't reinvent the wheel. Templates inside Word, PowerPoint, and Excel can quickly create presentations, charts, and diagrams. You'll find more -- along with clip art and media -- free on Microsoft's Web site. My caveat: Keep special effects like spinning graphics and music to a minimum. Simple presentations are often more effective, and some professors may even prefer text-only submissions. For additional tips, check out Microsoft Student 2006.

5. Become noteworthy. Nothing is more frustrating than taking furious class notes and not being able to decipher them later. For free, the Cornell Note System helped me get organized, keep track of my thoughts and create study sheets for easy review for tests and assignments. The basic idea is to learn how to place information on a page in such a way as to separate it into a main topic, notes, questions and a summary, as opposed to a messy block of text.

6. Find it on the Web. Chances are you know how to find information using a search engine. But you can get better, faster, more targeted results by learning two or three simple search secrets buried in every search engine's help section. For example, on Google, you'll discover how to use quotation marks for names and phrases, as well as power-connecting words like "and," "or," and "no" that let you find documents by playing two keywords off each other. If you use AOL Search, you can save your search using a feature called "clip it," to avoid those "where-did-I-see-that-again?" moments. Here's a cool one to try: In the AOL Search box, type "link:" followed by a Web address, and you'll get a listing of pages that link to the specified Web page. For instance, "link: www.amazon.com" will list Web pages that link to the Amazon.com home page.

7. Find it on your PC. "I know it's in here somewhere." I can't tell you how many times I've uttered those words while desperately searching my hard drive for a file. Free desktop search toolbars can track down anything on your PC. Comes in handy when it's time to dig up old lecture notes about a topic that needs refreshing.

8. Master Blackboard. Most colleges' distance learning divisions use the Blackboard Learning System, an electronic bulletin board that allows teachers and students to share content, post and respond to lesson plans and assignments, and leave feedback. Uploading files and attachments in the cyber class version of passing assignments to the front of the room, so it must be second nature. If your school offers an orientation at a remote location, take it. Also, get the e-mail addresses of your professor and a student in your class who's comfortable with the technology, just in case.

9. Refine feedback responses. Most distance learning courses require you to read and access work (aka as "posts" in the eLearning world) from fellow cyber-students. On Blackboard, the format lends itself to on-the-fly responses, similar to responding to e-mail or instant message. As tempting as it may be to use Net shorthand like "brb" or "lol," remember you're still technically in class and should craft responses carefully and scholarly. Check grammar, spelling and punctuation before posting anything. Shoot for a 100-word maximum response and never leave scathing negative feedback.

10. Prepare a "Plan B." One thing I've learned writing hundreds of tech articles is bad things happen to good technology at the worst possible times. Save schoolwork often. E-Mail copies to yourself or better yet, save files to a USB flash drive or CD. Scout local Internet cafés, just in case your ISP goes down and you're facing a deadline. It's better to be safe than a PC patsy especially when your grade -- and future career success -- depends upon it!