What Makes Students Thrive in Online Learning?

Online learning gives students something a traditional classroom cannot always offer: more ownership over how, when, and sometimes where they learn.

For some students, that flexibility can be especially rewarding. They may enjoy taking initiative, organizing their own time, or having more responsibility for their learning. But students do not need to arrive as perfectly organized, highly independent learners to benefit from an online course.

The skills that can help students thrive online can also be developed along the way. Rather than asking whether a student is simply “made” for online learning, it may be more helpful to consider which skills they already have and which ones they are ready to strengthen.

1. Take the Lead

Online learning often gives students more responsibility for keeping track of their work, following through on assignments, and communicating with their instructor. Students who enjoy taking initiative may appreciate having more control over their learning, while others may need time to become comfortable managing those responsibilities. 

A 2024 study of students enrolled in an online secondary charter school examined how students managed their own learning, including skills such as time management and help seeking. These abilities are part of self-regulated learning, which involves taking an active role in planning and managing your progress.

If taking initiative comes naturally: Use that strength to stay engaged with your coursework and seek opportunities to deepen your learning.

If it doesn’t: Start small. Check your course for upcoming assignments before waiting for a reminder, or contact your teacher directly when you have a question. Small steps can help build greater ownership over time. AVLI courses offer students a variety of tools to help them get organized and track their work.

For more practical ideas, explore AVLI’s Online Learning Success Strategies.

2. Make Flexibility Work for You

Flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of online learning, but it works best when students know how to use it. Having more control over when coursework gets done can make it easier to balance academics with athletics, extracurricular activities, or other responsibilities. It also means students need to plan ahead and monitor how they use their time.

A 2024 study on developing self-regulated learning skills in secondary education explored how students could strengthen skills such as planning, monitoring, and evaluating their own learning through intentional instruction and practice. These skills are not simply personality traits. They can improve with experience and support.

If managing your time comes naturally: You may appreciate being able to build coursework around the rest of your schedule.

If it doesn’t: Create structure of your own. Put deadlines on a calendar, establish regular study times, and break larger assignments into smaller steps.

AVLI’s Mastering Time Management for Success in Online Education offers more ideas for building those habits.

3. Keep Going When Things Get Difficult

Every student encounters challenging assignments, confusing material, or weeks when everything seems to pile up. Online learning does not eliminate those moments. Students may simply need to be more intentional about recognizing a problem and deciding what to do next.

A 2024 survey of high school students’ online learning skills found that students’ self-regulation skills varied, with task strategies and time management among the areas needing improvement. This is a useful reminder that managing challenges and adjusting learning strategies are skills students can continue to develop.

If you tend to bounce back from setbacks: Think about what helped you move forward, and carry those strategies into future challenges.

If setbacks tend to throw you off: Break the problem into smaller pieces, identify what is making the task difficult, and try a different approach. If you still feel stuck, reach out for help.

Persistence does not mean pushing through everything alone. AVLI’s Top 5 Challenges for Online Learning and How to Overcome Them explores common obstacles and practical ways to address them.

4. Know When to Ask for Help

Independence does not mean doing everything alone. In online learning, recognizing when you need help and knowing how to ask for it are important parts of taking ownership of your education.

In a 2023 study of online university students, researchers found that help-seeking was positively associated with academic success among students who lacked confidence in their learning. The findings suggest that students do not need to feel confident before reaching out for support. Asking questions and seeking guidance can be especially valuable when they are struggling.

If asking for help comes naturally: Keep communicating with your teacher when you have questions, need clarification, or could benefit from additional feedback.

If you tend to struggle silently: Practice reaching out sooner rather than later. You do not need to wait until you are completely lost. Explain what you have tried and where you are stuck, so your teacher has a clearer idea of how to help.

For more on the role of support, explore AVLI’s Supporting Students in Online Learning.

These Skills Can Grow

Time management can improve. Help seeking can become more comfortable.These are skills that we continue to develop throughout our lifetimes. Students can become more confident taking initiative and learn to adjust when a strategy is not working. 

Research on secondary students' self-regulated learning supports the idea that these skills can be intentionally developed through practice, planning, monitoring, reflection, and feedback. Students do not have to master everything before beginning an online course. They need opportunities to practice, a willingness to reflect on what is working, and support when they need it.

Online Learning Is Not About Being a Certain Type of Student

There is no single personality type that belongs in an online classroom.

Students who are already comfortable with independence, organization, persistence, and communication may find that online learning fits naturally with the way they like to learn. Other students may need more structure or support as they develop those same skills. That is okay.

The flexibility of online learning can give students room to practice those skills while taking greater ownership of their education. With support from teachers, families, and schools, students do not have to have everything figured out before they begin.

They just need to be willing to grow.