Online Student Success
Online learning offers great flexibility, but staying on track without a physical classroom requires a deliberate strategy.
This page brings together the strategies and resources that research shows make the biggest difference for online learners. Whether you are balancing coursework with a busy job and/or other responsibilities, returning to school after a break, or looking to maximize your study efficiency, you will find evidence-based strategies to support your academic journey toward success.
Research consistently points to seven skills at the core of online learning success: self-regulation, motivation, time management, focus and attention, effective study strategies, communication, and technology. The frequently asked questions below address each one.
How do I stay on track without the structure of a classroom?
Self-regulation means setting clear intentions before you study, checking your own understanding as you go, and adjusting your approach when something isn’t clicking, without waiting for a nudge from your instructor.
Try the Self-Regulated Learning Lab, an interactive tool that helps you assess your current habits and build stronger ones. It covers goal-setting, managing your environment, and knowing when and how to ask for help.
How do I stay motivated when I’m juggling work, family, and coursework?
Staying motivated in an online course takes more than willpower. It means knowing why you’re here, building habits that work with your life, and learning to bounce back when things get hard.
How do I manage my time when no one is setting my schedule for me?
Online courses give you flexibility, but they don’t manage your calendar for you. The students who struggle most in online programs are often the ones who underestimate how much structure they need to create for themselves.
Not everything on your to-do list deserves equal attention. The Eisenhower Matrix is a simple four-quadrant tool for sorting tasks by urgency and importance, so you can put your best energy where it matters most.
Work in 25-minute focused intervals, then take a short break. This rhythm helps you maintain concentration and makes a long study session feel manageable. Learn more about the Pomodoro Technique.
Procrastination isn’t laziness — research suggests it’s often a response to feeling overwhelmed or uncertain. Understanding the pattern is the first step to changing it. Watch this TED Talk on procrastination and this video on the Procrastination Equation for helpful perspective.
How do I concentrate when I’m studying at home?
Focused attention is a limited resource, and the online environment is full of things competing for it. Protecting your focus isn’t about willpower — it’s about setting up the right conditions.
Most people have about four peak hours of mental energy per day. Identify when yours are and schedule your hardest work then — difficult readings, problem sets, writing. Save low-effort tasks like reviewing announcements or organizing files for when you’re running low.
A brightly lit room, a clear desk, your phone in another room, and unnecessary browser tabs closed. Small environmental changes have a measurable effect on how long you can concentrate.
Your brain needs recovery time — this isn’t optional. Step away after each synchronous session. Pause after a lecture video before moving to the next one. Brief breaks between tasks actually improve overall output.
Sleep, nutrition, and movement directly affect cognitive performance. These aren’t lifestyle suggestions — they’re some of the most evidence-backed things you can do to improve focus. This video on improving focus and attention covers the research in an accessible way.
What study strategies actually work?
Rereading your notes, highlighting, and reviewing slides feel productive — but decades of cognitive science research show they’re among the least effective ways to learn. The strategies below take a bit more effort up front and pay off significantly more.
The act of pulling information from memory strengthens the memory itself. Instead of rereading a chapter, close it and write down everything you can remember. Take practice tests. Explain a concept to someone else from memory. The Learning Scientists’ guide to retrieval practice is a great starting point.
Five hours of studying spread across two weeks will produce better retention than five hours the night before an exam — every time. Build regular review sessions into your weekly calendar from the first week of class. Learn more about spaced practice.
If you want a user-friendly, engaging overview of how to study smarter — covering note-taking, memory, exam prep, focus, and more — the Crash Course Study Skills video series is worth your time.
How do I stay connected to my instructor and classmates online?
Online learning can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to. The students who do best are the ones who stay connected — to their instructors, their classmates, and the rhythm of the course.
Read your syllabus carefully at the start of the semester and refer back to it regularly. Log into Brightspace daily and check announcements. Subscribe to discussion boards. Knowing what’s coming is one of the simplest ways to avoid last-minute stress.
Check your syllabus for office hours and preferred contact method. Go to office hours even when you don’t have a specific problem — it’s easier to ask for help later when you already have a relationship. If you’re struggling with something, reach out early. Don’t wait until a deadline is looming.
A weekly check-in with one or two classmates is one of the most effective ways to stay accountable and reduce isolation. You don’t need a formal group — even informal peer contact makes a measurable difference in consistency and motivation.
If your course includes group projects, exchange contact information and agree on communication norms before an assignment feels urgent. Clear expectations at the start save significant friction later.
What technology do I need, and what do I do when something breaks?
You don’t need to be a tech expert to succeed in online courses, but knowing your tools — and knowing what to do when something breaks — will save you a lot of stress.
- Brightspace — Your home base for course materials, assignments, announcements, and grades. Log in daily and enable notifications.
- Zoom — Used for synchronous sessions and office hours. Test your audio and camera before the first class.
- Microsoft 365 — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and more. Free to you as a Stony Brook student, installable on up to five devices.
- Google Workspace — Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Docs, and more. Your SBU email lives here.
For a full overview of student technology resources, visit the DoIT Student Technology Guide.
Try these steps before reaching out for support:
- Refresh the page, or close and reopen the browser.
- Try a different browser — Chrome and Firefox work best with most SBU platforms.
- Clear your browser cache and cookies.
- Restart your device.
- Check your internet connection. Move closer to your router, or use a wired connection if possible.
- Disable browser extensions — ad blockers can interfere with course platforms.
If none of these resolve the issue, contact the DoIT Help Desk at 1-844-673-6786 or submit a support ticket online.
Having ongoing device issues? Students currently enrolled with a valid SBU ID may be eligible to borrow a laptop through the Student Laptop Loaner Program.
Additional Resources
For help with papers, essays, and written assignments at any stage including brainstorming,
drafting, or revising. Online appointments are available.
More About the Writing Center →
For technical issues with Brightspace, Zoom, email or any other technology.
Access DoIt Support →
If you have a documented disability or think you may benefit from academic accommodations,
reach out to learn about available support.
Visit SASC →
For questions about loans or financial emergencies that may affect your ability to
continue your studies.
Visit the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships →
More About CAPS →