Student Guide to Asynchronous Online Course Success

What is an online asynchronous course?

An online asynchronous course is a fully online class with no scheduled meeting days or times. All course announcements, materials, assignments, and communication are provided in Blackboard and accessed through Webcampus.

Communication with your instructor happens through Webcampus or FDU email, and there is typically no in‑person, face‑to‑face interaction. If the instructor offers virtual office hours, students are encouraged to attend the virtual office hours to ask questions, get clarification, and receive support.

While online asynchronous courses are designed to be entirely online and self‑paced within weekly deadlines, some instructors may schedule one or two optional or required live (synchronous) sessions for specific types of assignments (e.g., presentations). When this happens, those sessions are always announced well in advance and are held remotely (e.g., through Zoom).

Is an online asynchronous course right for you?

FDU’s fully online courses are designed to deliver high‑quality learning with maximum flexibility. Online courses are just as rigorous as in‑person classes, and staying on track is essential for success.

To decide whether an online asynchronous course is a good fit, ask yourself:

  • Am I self-motivated? Do I take initiative without external reminders?
  • Do I work well independently? Can I learn without regular face-to-face interaction?
  • Do I have strong time-management skills? Can I meet deadlines without scheduled class meetings?
  • Do I have reliable access to a computer and internet? Will I be able to log in regularly to complete coursework?

If you answered “yes” to all of these questions, an online asynchronous course may be a good option for you. Research shows that students who succeed online tend to be self‑motivated, comfortable working independently, organized, and effective at managing their time.

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, an online asynchronous course may not be the best choice for you. Students who struggle with new technology, feel frustrated in technology‑heavy learning environments, or tend to ask frequent questions often benefit more from learning experiences that include in‑person components and more immediate support.

Pros of Online Asynchronous Learning

1. Flexibility

Asynchronous courses allow you to learn at the times you’re most focused—morning, night, or in between. This is especially valuable for working adults or students balancing multiple responsibilities.

2. No Commute

Eliminating travel time reduces stress and frees up hours each week for studying, work, or personal commitments.

3. Personalized Learning Styles

Online courses often use video, audio, text, and interactive tools—making the modality a stronger fit for a variety of learning styles.

4. Community and Networking

Contrary to assumptions, online courses can foster strong communities through discussion boards, peer groups, and shared projects. If you fully engage in your course, you may form lasting study groups and networks with the other students in the class.

 

Cons of Online Asynchronous Learning

1. Less In‑Person Interaction

You typically will not meet classmates or instructors face‑to‑face, which some students may find challenging.

2. High Self-Motivation and Self-Direction is Required

Without scheduled class meetings, you must create your own routine and stick to it. Experts note that students who struggle with structure may find online learning difficult.

3. Technology Requirements

You’ll need a reliable computer and internet connection—and a backup plan for technical issues. No matter how advanced your smartphone is, it will not be enough to complete an online asynchronous course successfully. You need a computer.

4. Potential Distractions

You must create a focused workspace and manage interruptions proactively.

5. Fewer Spontaneous Networking Opportunities

While online communities exist, they differ from on‑campus interactions.

Keys to Success in an Online Asynchronous Course

Tip: these are keys to success in any course, whether online or in-person!

Start strong – log into the course on or before Day 1!

Log into the course on or before the first day. Click around and get comfortable in it. See where everything is. Review the course materials, assignments, and other information. Find your instructor’s contact information and reach out if you have any questions—or just to connect and let your instructor know you are excited about the course!

Keep in mind that “attendance” for an online asynchronous course is determined in various ways, but at a bare minimum it is determined by whether you log into the course on time and regularly. That said—you need to do more than just log in to succeed in an online course—you need to submit the assignments and participate!

Keep up with your coursework and participate in required activities.

Online courses have the same high quality and standards as regular on-campus courses. Although the course has some flexibility in terms of reading the course material, participating in required activities and completing the exercises, you need to make the commitment to log into the course regularly and keep up with your coursework, which may include readings, videos, recorded lectures, discussion boards, and more.

Submit assignments on time.

Make sure that all of your discussion posts, papers, and other assignments are submitted by the due date AND time specified on your syllabus or in the assignment. Do not wait until the last minute to submit an assignment—give yourself extra time in case you have any submission problems or questions. If you have any questions about an assignment, email your instructor as far in advance of the assignment due date/time as possible.

Complete assignments only after reading the required lesson.

Review the syllabus carefully. Put all of the assignment due dates on your calendar. Pace through the course using the course materials, unit lessons, or modules in the sequence your instructor has set up.

If multiple unit lessons or modules have been posted in advance, do not jump ahead in the course—the materials are sequenced to help you learn and retain information gradually. You will be more successful with each assignment if you complete it as planned, doing all preliminary readings and assignments first.

As with face-to-face classes, it is important to complete assigned work in the order your instructor has presented it. If your instructor has assigned readings or other activities that lead up to an assignment, make sure to complete that preparatory work first. Completing an assignment without doing the preparatory reading or other work will place you at a significant disadvantage.

Be sure to submit assignments in the format required by your instructor.

When submitting your assignments, use the formats set by your instructor. This can usually be found in the syllabus. For example, you may be told to only use Microsoft Word or a word-processing program that can save your work as a PDF. If instructors receive a file they cannot open, it is impossible for them to grade its contents. If you have any trouble with the required format for an assignment or submitting an assignment, email your instructor as far in advance of the assignment deadline as possible to get help.

Manage your time and follow course instructions defined by your professor.

Do not let the course get away from you. Work smart – not hard. This is a distance education course.  Both your reading skills and time management skills are vitally important to your success. Like you, your instructor is at a distance; therefore, your instruction is given with written instructions.  Remember to read those instructions very carefully.  Do not wait until last minute – your professor may not be available to answer questions right before a deadline.

Check your FDU email daily and check course announcements regularly to stay on track.

You need to log into the course often, checking the course outline or syllabus, and watching for any announcements. Make it a habit to check your FDU email daily. FDU email and course announcements is the only way your instructor has of contacting you. 

Clear communication will get your questions answered more quickly.

Use email effectively to get the most out of your learning. Time lags between when you ask your question and get a response can be minimized if your question is very specific and if you have already read any assigned materials related to the question. For example, a question like “Professor, will you please explain impression management?” will get a detailed answer. Conversely an email that says, “Professor, I’m lost … please help!” will begin several email messages, using up precious time as your instructor tries to understand and respond to the problem at hand.

Plan a daily schedule to focus on your coursework.

Time management: There are standard requirements for colleges and universities from the State of New Jersey for a 3-credit course.

Traditional 15-week semester. You will have three “hours” (contact hours) per week over 15 weeks, equaling 45 hours. You should expect 5-6 hours (twice the credit hours) per week, on average, of outside-the-classroom work (readings, assignments, etc.). Total = about 120-135 hours each semester for each course, averaging about eight to nine hours each week for each course.

Traditional 6-week semester (such as summer session). Take the same number of hours but divide them by six: 20-22.5 hours each week.

Three-week summer session. Take the standard hours and divide them by three: 40-45 hours per week. 

Review project due dates and make a plan to complete your work.

The good news: Because this is distance learning with moderately flexible scheduling, you generally have a lot of choice about when to put in those hours. Assignments, quizzes, and exams will often have dates/times work is due by, but they will be posted in advance, allowing you to schedule exactly when to work on them to get them done by the due date. 

Remember, review the syllabus at the start of class and put all assignment due dates on your calendar! It’s also a great idea to designate time on your calendar to work on those assignments to ensure you will complete them by the due date.

Have a back-up plan if you encounter an unforeseen technical issue.

Each student must have a well-defined backup plan in the event they experience computer or Internet problems. It is very important that an alternative system or location be identified in advance for use, e.g., one of the university’s open labs, a local library, or a friend’s computer.

In addition, if you experience a significant technical (or other!) challenge to getting an assignment submitted, remember to email your instructor to let them know what is happening.

Know your University Resources

As an FDU student, you have full access to all FDU support including: