Usually, the first real activity of class participation is the posting of a message to the class or the instructor using the class messaging system.

Check In
Many instructors require you to log into class and/or post something at least three times a week which is analogous to raising your hand in a face to face class and asking a question or offering an answer. This is a good rule of thumb as it shows the instructor that you are actively participating in class discussions and staying current.

Turn In
The other main aspect of participation in class is posting or submitting assignments and taking tests. Your instructor should spell out the parameters of how these should be done in the class syllabus or other area. Find out how to name your assignment files. It is a good idea to make sure you fully understand what will be required long before it is due.

Back Up
One thing that we always advise is to keep a copy of your work on your own computer. You can do this by typing long messages or assignments in a text editor program or word processor, saving it on your computer as a plain text file (for your records), then copying the text and pasting it into the body of your message. See the Copy/Paste link on the right for step by step instruction.