Getting Ready to Learn Online
Adopting positive behaviors to support your learning can help make a semester involving online learning successful.
Get Started Guide
Follow the steps in our Strategies for Success Online guide to get ready for next semester.
Your Questions About Learning Online Answered
1: Set the Stage
Set up your environment
- Locate a quiet, well-lit, distraction-free place for studying.
- Ensure you have a reliable Internet service and recommended technology for accessing online coursework.
- Evaluate your own study habits to ensure that adopt some successful strategies for online learning.
Find your course online
iCollege has all the courses that are on your course schedule. Each course on your schedule has a corresponding iCollege course.
- Make sure you know your CampusID and password.
- Log in to icollege.gsu.edu.
- If necessary, search and pin your iCollege courses for easy access.
- Review these getting started iCollege tips.
- Identify the technologies that you may need to use, especially those you’ve not used before.
- To learn more about how to use iCollege and available features for learning, study and collaboration with others, join us for an online learning webinar.
Video Resource:
What are the Key Differences Between Online and In-Person Courses?
2: Dig Deeper Into Course Requirements
Read the syllabus
- Locate and review the syllabus. The syllabus is your central sources of course information.
- Review the details of the course’s learning model to understand attendance requirements.
- Note due dates of your assignments, tests, and exams.
- Review assignments to get an understanding of how much time you’ll need to do them well.
- Identify the instructor’s preference for communications including office hours.
Find the location of the content modules
Determine if all of the course modules are available at once or if you can only access a new module after you complete the previous module.
Locate and read course announcements
You will need to log-in to iCollege multiple times per week to check for announcements and updates. Once per week will not be enough to keep up with your courses.
3: Stay Connected
- Identify the instructor’s preference for communications, including office hours.
- Set up automated iCollege text and email notifications to help stay up-to-date, plan effectively, and meet deadlines. Read or watch any messages from the instructor.
- Review the online syllabus for any updates.
- Stay connected with your classmates via study groups, discussion forums, etc.
- Inform your instructor of any technology challenges you are experiencing. If necessary, submit a help ticket.
- Maintain a respectful, professional tone when communicating with faculty, peers, and university support staff.
Video Resource:
How Can I Effectively Connect with My Professors and Classmates in an Online Environment?
4: Take Ownership
- Create and follow a learning plan and schedule for logging to iCollege.
- Determine how much time you will spend in each class each week. Set up iCollege text and push notifications.
- Consider using the Pulse App to get notifications and updates regarding due dates, grades, and announcements in iCollege.
You can learn more about Pulse by watching this YouTube video.
Video Resource:
What Organizational Strategies Can Help You in Your Online Courses?
5: Stay on Track
- Prioritize your schoolwork.
- Give yourself plenty of time to complete assignments and study.
- Space out your study sessions - avoid cramming.
- Adopt and follow through with consistent study strategies.
- Write your own practice questions or quizzes.
- Make flash cards.
- Take notes on all recorded lectures and reading assignments.
- Ask for help when needed.
- Keep your course, program, and career goals in mind.
Video Resource:
What Time Management Tips Can You Share for Managing Your Online Course?
6: Know Where to Go For Help
Technology Support
You can reach out to our Technology Service Center to get help with iCollege or other technology needs. Visit for information about resetting your password, accessing how-to documentation, and submitting a help ticket.
Website: help.gsu.edu | Phone: 404-413-HELP (4357) | Email: help@gsu.edu
Academic Support
Academic Advisement
Connect with academic advising by logging onto the Navigate student mobile app or to the Navigate webpage.
Website: advisement.gsu.edu
Supplemental Instruction
Supplemental Instruction is a series of regularly scheduled review/study sessions for students taking historically difficult courses led by students (SI Leaders) who have already taken the course.
Website: success.students.gsu.edu/si/
University Library
Use the library homepage, lib.gsu.edu, as your starting place for online library support.
Website: lib.gsu.edu
Accommodation and Accessibility
For information on connecting and establishing needed accommodations for your classes, please visit the Georgia State Access & Accommodations Center (AACE; formerly Disability Services) website and click on the How to Connect tab.
Website: access.gsu.edu
Perimeter College Learning and Tutoring Centers
The Learning and Tutoring Center (LTC) offers support for students through the TutorOcean Online Learning & Tutoring Platform. You can find more tutoring information, instructions, and other resources on the LTC website.
Website: success.students.gsu.edu/learning-tutoring-center/
Catalog of Academic Support Services
Georgia State has a variety of Academic Support Services ready to assist you in achieving your learning goals including tutoring, career services, scholarship information and others. Some of these are available for all students, while others might be discipline-specific. Visit this page often to explore more of these services and build up your learning support network.
More Academic Support Resources >
Health, Wellness & Activities
Student Health Services
Website: health.gsu.edu | Phone: 404-413-1930
Counseling and Testing Center
Website: counselingcenter.gsu.edu | Phone: 404-413-1640
Student Engagement
Website: studentaffairs.gsu.edu/student-engagement-online-initiatives/
Recreational Services
Website: recreation.gsu.edu
Books & Supplies
University Bookstore
Visit the campus store website, gsubookstore.com.
Website >
Video Resource:
What resources are available if I need help or do not understand course materials?
Videos
