7 Insider Tips for Online Social Work Students

by Nicole Wong, MSSW, and Matthea Marquart, MSSW

     With many transitions to remote learning, we asked seven 2019 graduates from the Columbia University School of Social Work online master’s degree, who now work with our Online Campus as Associates (similar to teaching assistants for large courses) and Live Support Specialists (similar to virtual event producers who are part of course instructional teams), to share their perspectives on online learning. Their advice fell into seven insider tips.

1. Connect with the instructional team.

     Attend office hours, arrive early or stay after class, and share your aspirations.  

     Régina Nguyen, MSSW, Staff and Lead Language Resource Specialist/Instructional Support Assistant at SUNY Binghamton, says, “I wish that I had taken advantage of each opportunity to connect with the instructional team for support, information, and academic/social exploration. Each member wants to help students succeed. Multiply that by however many courses you are taking in any semester, add in the student support and advising teams, and those are the people who are directly and immediately interested in your success.” 

     Patricia M. Desert, MSSW, President of Savesouls, Inc., says, “A lot of students stay after class to speak with their professors and create that relationship. I was surprised by the receptiveness of my instructional team to these students. I see the empowerment that students feel after these chats, and I wish I [had taken] advantage of that as a student. There might be a lot of students like me who feel that the extra minutes of staying back after class or attending office hours might be a bother. But go for it - there’s no shame in reaching out.” 

2. Make connections with students.

     The connections online students make can naturally be more permanent after the program ends (e.g., group chats, social media). 

     Andi Snyder, MA, LMSW, Director of Social Service Ministries for Greater Philadelphia at The Salvation Army, says, “Treat your online learning experience and how you build relationships with your peers just as if you were in a physical classroom. The virtual experience may feel different, but the work, participation, grading, and engagement with your classmates are the same. Having a community to share my experience in real time made the journey to my online degree enjoyable, and as a member of an instructional team, I love seeing the friendships developing among students.” 

     Kameron Mims-Jones, MSSW, Policy Advocate for California Food Policy Advocates, says, “Connect with your classmates all over the globe. Growing your network is important as you transition from student to employee and begin to search for opportunities. Networking is critical and a unique aspect of an online campus, because students are spread out geographically. You’ll have access to a wealth of perspectives while in school and lifelong colleagues that you continue to support. I saw classmates find their jobs through networking, and now, I see instructors intentionally supporting community-building that will continue after graduation.” 

3. Establish the time, space, and technology you’ll use while working.

     COVID-19 may make this more challenging, but do the best you can to set up your space to facilitate focus, especially when distractions may be abundant. 

     Nicole Wong, MSSW, Director of the Support, Advocacy, & Violence Prevention Office at Vassar College, says, “When I first started online, setting up a routine and designated space helped me feel like I was ‘in’ school. While my class space was my dining room table in the living room, establishing that space allowed me to focus. If you’re like me and a private space isn’t possible, let your instructors know when things are happening in the background. Communicate about issues with technology. Technology has the power to make or break an online learning experience, and as an employee within an online campus now, I can see how frustrating it can be to students who aren’t able to fully participate in class. In order to be successful in your online courses, loop in your instructors if you are having challenges with technology, but also commit to working on your technology on your own, so it can be a tool and not an obstacle or a hindrance!”

     Kristina Moore-Jager, MSSW, Health Program Manager II for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, says, “One of the benefits I’ve been most surprised to utilize is your on-camera image! To work on online courses, we were taught how to present ourselves professionally on camera by reviewing proper lighting, distance from the camera, camera height and angle, and your background. The instructional team’s strong webcam setups help students learn from example and present themselves professionally.” 

4. Use institutional resources.

     Find out what resources you can access virtually: the library, writing support, career services, and/or counseling, for example. Resources may look different from a physical campus, but may still provide valuable support. 

     Mary B. Downs, MS, MSSW, Case Manager at Binghamton Rescue Mission, says, “Take advantage of the resources that are available. Writing centers provide an extra set of eyes to look over assignments and help with brainstorming, outlining, grammar, focus, and flow. I always took the time to make an appointment with someone before turning in an assignment to ensure I was turning in my best work. It was comforting to know that I wasn’t alone in the process. Now that I work with online students, I see that students are sometimes reluctant to use the writing center. I encourage everyone to go, and after overcoming their reluctance, students say the consultants were really helpful.” 

     Wong says, “As someone who didn’t utilize the resources available to me as a student, I’m envious of the students I work with now who are more confident in reaching out for support from different offices. I remember feeling like the resources might be unhelpful, but as an employee with the Online Campus now, I see the impact of these connections on student assignments, participation, and perspective. These resources refine your work and enhance your communication skills. Also, research what virtual resources are available after graduation, especially professional development opportunities offered to alumni. I would not have been able to work for the Online Campus if I didn’t learn about additional courses I could take as an alum. And if your institution doesn’t have additional courses that you can enroll in, you might still be able to utilize their career services or library.” 

5. Appreciate that online education builds professional skills.

     If you’re worried about missing something, use a strengths-based approach and try shifting your perspective to how completing your degree online makes your education possible while balancing multiple responsibilities. 

     Nguyen says, “Reframe the concept of ‘the university and its schools.’ You don’t have to stroll the halls of buildings on campus to be part of the university. Keep an open mind; different does not mean inferior.  It’s another tool in your educational toolbox – one that you will be able to deftly wield when needed down the road because a multi-faceted way to approach problems and goals is always in demand. I was thrilled that I was able to study at CSSW while tending to my life and responsibilities in my city of residence, and working on online courses, I see many students doing this, too.”

     Mims-Jones says, “As a member of a teaching team, I have a new perspective on the amount of work and thought that goes into assignments and lessons. When I was a student, I didn’t really understand the need for weekly reflection assignments or other weekly homework. It felt like busywork. However, I learned that assignments support engagement with course material, connections with other students, and interactions with the teaching team. I made it through the program juggling assignments and other responsibilities, and refined my time management skills. As someone who now works behind the scenes, it’s evident that building the skills to complete assignments provides the foundation to continue learning even after your online degree.” 

6. Enhance your digital skills.

     Online courses develop valuable skills - for example, how to use a variety of platforms, communicate virtually, and collaborate with remote colleagues.  

     Desert states, “The greatest benefit of graduating from the Online Campus is my knowledge of technology. I never saw myself as a tech person, but I learned to use different forms of media for my presentations, recorded and edited posts, and became familiar with the technology required for class. Being an online student is like getting a dual degree in your major and in media. As a student, I was promoted at my job, because I came up with creative ways to complete staff evaluations and write proposals. That creativity came from my newfound love of technology. Technological skills are in high demand in our current climate - they can even set you up to work in online education after you graduate.” 

     Snyder says, “Since the pandemic, I've definitely realized how valuable it is to be comfortable operating in a virtual environment. In my job, the learning curve for me when we moved to remote work was pretty much nil, so my advice is to get comfortable with the tech aspects of learning online and test things out now as a student when mistakes are lower stakes, because it will help you in the workplace. As someone on an instructional team, I’ve seen how students are encouraged to learn from mistakes because it’s part of learning.”

7. Schedule time for self-care.  

     Downs says, “I found it important to practice regular self-care, to balance life, work, field, and school so I didn’t feel overwhelmed. While it can be challenging to find time for self-care, put it on your calendar, set an alarm for it, just do it! It doesn’t have to take up a lot of time. During COVID-19, we are all carrying the burden of uncertainty and added stress. It is more important than ever to evaluate our own mental health and practice self-care, or even explore new methods. Take the time to find what works best for you, and use your instructional team to support your well-being. This might include asking for extensions or utilizing office hours. We’re here to help you.” 

     Moore-Jager says, “Allow yourself some grace. It’s important to establish a balance of attending classes, engaging with your course material, and being present for yourself and your loved ones. This means establishing a day and time when you will study or complete assignments. We are all experiencing mental and emotional overload, so balance is critical for success. Don’t hesitate to ask for help, as there are many folks that want to help you succeed!” 

Additional Advice 

     For more tips, check out this advice from Columbia’s Center for Teaching and Learning. You may also be interested in marketable skills you can develop as an online student and the professional benefits of taking online courses. In this already stressful and difficult time, we wish you well. 

References

Alzuru, M., & Marquart, M. (2015, July 6). Online students develop marketable professional skills. EDUCAUSE Review. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2015/7/online-students-develop-marketable-professional-skills

Columbia University Online. (n.d.) Maximizing student learning. https://online.columbia.edu/students/

Columbia University School of Social Work. (n.d.) Online MSW. https://socialwork.columbia.edu/academics/online-msw/

Creswell Báez, J., Marquart, M., Garay, K., Chung, R., and Ryan, D. (2019, April 11). Increasing faculty satisfaction and student access to online education via dedicated technical support specialists. Columbia University’s Academic Commons. https://doi.org/10.7916/d8-ft0c-g896

Marquart, M., & Ryan, D. (2019, January 15). Taking online social work courses - 7 professional benefits. Social Work Today. https://www.socialworktoday.com/news/enews_0119_1.shtml

Nicole Wong, MSSW, is the Director of the Support, Advocacy, & Violence Prevention Office at Vassar College and a Live Support Specialist at Columbia University’s School of Social Work (CSSW). 

Matthea Marquart, MSSW, is the assistant dean of online education and a lecturer at CSSW.