• Learn about the course.
• Read the course syllabus.
• Purchase the textbook and skim through it.
• Establish a specific place to study.
• Check your my.smccd.edu student email account or follow the directions at http://my.smccd.edu/tutorials.asp to have messages forwarded to your personal email account.

The first week:

• Contact the instructor by email so he or she has a record of how to reach you and to make sure you can make contact.
• Create a schedule with assignments, quizzes and exams noted.
• Print out a copy of the syllabus and the first few lessons (primarily for online courses).
• Join discussion groups in WebACCESS (http://smccd.mrooms.net) to communicate with other students or work in a study group.

As you take the course:

• Check the course calendar to see what you should be doing this week.
• Read any online course announcements.
• Watch the assigned video segments (primarily for telecourses).
• Read the assigned textbook pages: take written notes, identify the main points, summarize in your own words.
• Follow any online links provided by the teacher.
• Participate in the assigned discussion group or your study group.
• Work on the current lesson or assignment.
• Stay in touch the your instructor.  Evaluate your own progress.
• Reflect, relax and enjoy!