5 Tips for Summer Travel During Online Courses

Being on the go while completing an online course has its challenges—from Internet connection, to time zone changes, to jet lag. The University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) eCampus offers tips for taking an online course while traveling for work or summer vacation.

1. Talk to your instructor. Online coursework can be completed from anywhere, but it’s a good idea to let your instructor know if you’ll be away for an extended period. Look ahead at assignments that will be due while you’re traveling, particularly those that involve group work with other students. Ask your instructor any questions you may have ahead of time, and keep in mind that your assignment submission deadline may differ if you’ll be in another time zone.
2. Hunt for hotspots. Before you book any reservations, check for locations that offer free Wi-Fi near your travel location. Your hotel, local eateries, layover airports, or other places could help you connect to your coursework in between or during travel. Be mindful of time limits that may be in place for free Wi-Fi so you don’t incur unexpected costs or lose your connection before you’re finished with a task.
3. Plan for offline study. No matter how much planning goes into ensuring Internet access, sometimes things just don’t connect. Prior to travel, prepare a few tasks you can do without a connection, including reading a chapter from a print textbook or writing an outline for a paper. The main goal is to be able to make progress any time you have a free moment to spend on coursework.
4. Protect your devices. Travel can take a toll on laptops or iPads, both physically and digitally. Be sure to keep your devices safely packed for travel, and stay current with computer virus or data protection software. Never leave your electronics unattended or visible through the windows of an unattended vehicle. Above all, save your work frequently and keep your documents backed up just in case.
5. Enjoy the moment. In the midst of multitasking your online courses with work obligations or family vacation time, remember to unplug and unwind. Set a few times to study and other times to focus on travel activities without worrying about coursework. By fitting in a few course tasks during your travel, you can avoid being overwhelmed with coursework as soon as you return. Resting up after the trip home makes all the difference for the rest of the semester.

Need a summer course? UNK’s online courses have different start dates during the summer, including those beginning in June or July. Contact UNK Online for a list of upcoming online summer courses that still have open seats for enrollment.