Successful online learners are characteristically:

Self-directed, and they take personal responsibility for their learning.
Disciplined learners. Their studies are a priority and an intentional part of their daily lives.
Good managers of their time. Their studies are planned commitments.
Able to advocate for themselves when they need help. Since the instructor is not able to observe them directly, online students must take the responsibility to reach out when they have questions.

Adapting to the Online Learning Framework

Online courses function differently than traditional courses. Traditional courses are often driven by instructors presenting material to students. In your online course, lecture is atypical, since course material is presented in books, articles, and other media. The course focus shifts away from lecture presentation and onto discussion boards, individual learning activities, and group projects, with your instructor coaching and facilitating. In this learning framework, your success depends heavily on your level of motivation, engagement, and personal learning strategies.

Utilizing Social Learning Skills

Discussion forums and other interactive tools are vital to learning online. They allow you to apply the ideas you have learned from the text or developed prior to the course. You can then refine and combine them with other ideas, creating something entirely new. Connecting with your peers and testing your understanding in a discussion forum is key to your program's learning design. Take advantage of your community of learners. Reach out to your peers, ask questions, and offer constructive feedback. Ask your instructor for direction and clear feedback on your assignments. The social dimension of the online learning experience is extremely important and must be actively practiced by students and faculty alike.

Engaging in Independent Reflection

Online learning requires you to work independently. To get the most out of your studies, reflect on what you are learning while you are learning it. Ask questions like, "What does this mean to me?" and "How is this information related to what I already know?" As an adult learner, you bring a wealth of knowledge from prior experiences, schooling, and your professional career, which you can draw upon to test the new information and build a refined sense of the material that is uniquely yours. Creating time for focused reflection helps integrate new concepts into your understanding. Consider keeping a learning journal or collecting samples of your work to help monitor your progress over time.

Practicing Sound Study Habits

As a graduate student learning online, you will need to exercise highly developed personal organizational skills and habits. Many online students juggle multiple responsibilities, such as work and family, in addition to their studies. Because your time and attention can easily be drawn away by other priorities when studying at home or the workplace, learning online may require you to practice more self-discipline than attending in a traditional classroom. Plan ahead to give yourself the time and space you need to achieve your educational goals. Make a conscious effort to develop new organizational skills, and practice what you know consistently. This applies not just to typical learning activities such as note-taking, but also to organizing your time and your physical study space.

Recommended Reading

Alan R. Roper's 2007 article in Educause Quarterly, "How Students Develop Online Learning Skills."