Starting as a brand new student in Outlier can be scary! As a former Outlier student, I know exactly how it feels to jump into an online course. I made this article for you, so you don’t have to learn things the hard way!

Tips from an Outlier Alum

1. Make a Schedule

Depending on the course you are taking, you need to spend a certain amount of time on your course each week. Use a time management schedule to ensure that time for study is allotted daily.

Go to this article to learn how to create a schedule that works for you.

2. Read the Syllabus Carefully

It is important to learn what is expected from you as an Outlier student. A course syllabus will lay out the rules and schedules in your course.

Find out where you can access your course’s syllabus here.

3. Know Where Everything is!

This tip is an important one. In order to perform at your best, you have to learn Outlier’s platform, inside and out! Know exactly what resources are available to you and where to access them!

Start here by learning how to navigate your student dashboard.

4. Take Notes & Study Them

Outlier has a great feature called “Guided Notes” that can be found at the top of every lecture video, depending on your course Download or print out this document and take the time to fill in the blanks. You can check your answers by clicking the “Guided Notes - Key” after your lesson.

Explore your course homepage to find where this is!

5. Review, Review, Review!

Review and expand class notes within 24 hours. Fill in any gaps. Expand notes by adding any helpful material you continue learning in each lesson! This will make you more prepared for quizzes and exams.

Go to this article to learn how to best study for exams.

6. If you are in a Course with Writing: Practice, Practice, Practice!

Whether or not you are brand new to writing, you did the “write” thing by joining us at Outlier! It is an excellent opportunity to expand your writing skills. As with anything, to get better at it, you have to practice as much as you can!

Head to this article to learn how to perfect your writing in an Outlier course.

7. Join Your Discussion Group

Part of your grade in Outlier is to participate in the virtual discussion group. Not only is it mandatory for 5% of your grade, but it is also of great use to you! By getting to know other students in the course, you won’t feel so alone.

Read this article to learn where to access your discussion group.

8. Create a Virtual Study Group

A part of having a virtual discussion group is that you can make smaller study groups to prepare for exams or get an extra pair of eyes to read a written assignment!

Go to this article to learn how you can organize a virtual study group.