CDLI @Home

Many students feel like they have become better students, and have learned important skills after doing courses with CDLI. While they may have learned better listening skills, and learned to make good use of their time, they also have (hopefully) learned better study habits. Work at home is important, but doesn't need to take a great deal of time. A little bit daily will make the difference in the long run.

First of all, look in Webct for important postings, such as deadlines for assignments and when quizzes are planned for. Not reading the calendar correctly isn't an excuse for not having an assignment done, or for missing a class. Get yourself a daily planner, whether it be online or in a book. Keep track of when things are due, and make a plan for how much time you are going to spend doing your work. It's important to set aside a time for homework, even if you don't have a test or assigned work to do. This will help you meet your deadlines and get the most out of each day. It's also a good idea to use your planner to set yourself some realistic goals. Take a moment and think. What would you like to achieve this year, what will it take to achieve these goals? A planner can also help you get organized. It's also important to organize your study materials (some use binders, some use folders, etc) and keep your school materials in the same place. At the end of the year, when you have a stack of work, you will thank yourself that everything is in its right place. It's important to keep up with your school work as it happens, and to not fall behind. Many subjects are cumulative, and it doesn't take long to get lost. Pay attention in class and take good notes.

It's important to review these notes nightly. It's much easier to take 10 minutes a night, when the lesson is still fresh in your mind, than to cram the night before the exam, a couple of weeks down the road. To help you understand better, use the resources provided for you. You can use your text book, multimedia learning objects (MLOs), whiteboards, recorded classes and problem sets/answer keys to help you understand. Also, read ahead! Be prepared for your next class by skimming through the next section of your text book or notes.

If you're having trouble with some material, get help A.S.A.P. You can e-mail your teacher, or post a question in the discussions section of Webct for your fellow classmates to see. Also, CDLI provides free tutoring services for its students with the program "Tutoring for Tuition". Whether it be completing homework, or preparing for an exam, these students are here to help you so make use of this free service to ask questions, to get help or confirm your ideas.