You know, I think that if you really have nothing else really planned right now that doing a little extra is not a bad thing. When you get deep into student teaching, you will have a lot less time. Well if you spend as much time making lesson plans and such as I did, you will. My husband... not so much.
I would actually get a little ahead, but when you start feeling anxious about it back away. Online classes are great allowing you to work at your own speed. My brother in law finished a few of his really early. He got two different master's degrees online.
If you really want to stay on track. Set aside a scheduled time to work on that class every week, and try to stick with it. Try your best not to think about it except at that time. : )

You know that is a very good point. I know that soon I will be very busy. I was thinking maybe I could do the work and just save it and then post it when the week comes up that it is due.

I'm kind of trying to treat is like a regular class and sit down to do the work around the same time each week, but it's just driving me crazy that ALL of the work is there and I'm not doing it. Knowing I have work and not doing it causes me to be really anxious. So I guess it would only be beneficial time-wise and sanity-wise if I just got some of it done when I have the time. Thank you :)

I completely understand! When I first started taking online courses I used to look at the whole syllabus and get very overwhelmed at the amount of work I would need to do. After a while though, I learned to only look at what I absolutely needed to for the week (sometimes that meant that I did need to look a week or two ahead as well if the assignments connected somehow) but it really helped cut down on the stress. If you do have the time to work on other assignments, that's great! But, don't bog yourself down unnecessarily. :) Each week will keep you busy enough, so take each day one at a time and enjoy the journey. :)

I earned an AA in psychology online. I took two classes per recommended and I found it to be quite stressful. I went through the University of Phoenix and both classes assigned tons of homework, research.....and a "project" (2,000 word) essay due at the end of the 9 weeks. One class would have been plenty, but they set it up and when I tried to go down to one class.....they told me I couldn't.
I found it took tons of time management and hours of research for two classes which didn't leave me much time for anything else becuz I am totally anal retentive and the fact that I had to work twice as hard at algebra.
I earned a 3.88 GPA......would have received a higher GPA but stressed badly over algebra and tried to CLEP it and fell on my face.
No matter....I survived it and earned my degree.
I say there is nothing wrong with getting ahead if you can.
I would think it would be less stressful to be ahead than be behind :)

I have studied online before, and it's a really weird way to study. Its so isolating...really, I wouldnt do it again.

My advice to you would be to treat it like a regular classroom class. Set aside a time each week when you will do your work for that class. Also, call your teacher / lecturer and ask them whats due when and how much you should be doing, how many hours per week should I be spending on this class. That's what I did. I finished my course but I hated the whole thing!

Hi Mae, I guess my first question is whether this is a class you're doing for your own learning or if it's required for your degree. If it's just for your own learning, you can pick and choose what you'll do. I take a lot of classes this way and see students who are also doing it for their own enjoyment totally stressing out about not getting everything done. My feeling is that I will get what I need out of the class and it'll be okay.

If it's a required class, use the syllabus as information. Are there certain weeks heavier than others. If so, you may need to arrange a lighter schedule during those weeks. Or perhaps do a bit of work ahead of time. The syllabus just allows you to plan so you don't get overwhelmed.

Second, is all the work required? Sometimes we get worked up when we don't have all the information. Some of the work may be optional or extra credit so if you don't have time, you don't need to do it.

Crispy has some great ideas too - setting aside a specific time each week or each day so you don't get behind will be helpful.

Also, always remember there's an "out" because schools recognize people are human. That's why they have "withdraw by" dates and professor's hours and tutoring centers or help/discussion boards.

Don't beat up on yourself. Instead, just use the resources offered.

Thanks for the advice everyone! I am taking this class as an elective for my MAT program. I do not have to take this class specifically, but I have to take electives eventually, and I was told this class was relatively easy so I thought it would be a good class to take while I am student teaching.

Yesterday I actually ended up completing the work for weeks 2, 3, and 4. I just had nothing do to and my friends were doing work so I decided to just get some of it done. The good thing is though now it is done and when it comes time to submit it I can just copy and paste my work into the discussion post. I'm just going to continue working through the weeks so that I stay caught up and don't have to stress about getting things done each week, especially once I get busy with lesson planning. For weeks when the work isn't done ahead of time though, I'm going to have a specific time to sit done and get it done if I need to.

I feel less stressed about it now though knowing that I have some of it done!