• Buy your books right away and, if possible, start reading before your class starts.  The two time consuming parts of your classes will be the reading and the essays.
• A few days before your course starts, you'll be e-mailed all pertinent info concerning logging in, etc.  Be sure to log in and look around immediately.  If you delay at all, you can easily start to procrastinate and feel behind before you even start.
• E-mail the teacher and introduce yourself.  This will let you feel more a part of a class.
• Many courses will form groups for projects, however, if this is not the case, try to make a friend in the class.  (There will usually be a way for you to email the class to seek out study friends.)  It's always good to have a study-buddy to have read your assignments before you turn them in.  This is also a great way to make friends around the country!  Remember that teachers LOVE sharing ideas!
• Most likely, you'll be participating in moderated online discussions via a message board.  They usually require that you make one post, then respond to one or more other posts.  Be SURE to make your initial post at the beginning of the week, so others (including the instructor) can respond to you.  You'll learn from the feedback and, again, you'll feel more apart of a class.  Once that week is up, no one ever goes back to that thread.
• DON'T GET BEHIND!  The reading and essays can really pile up if you let them.
• Plan on spending anywhere from 8-15 hours a week on your course, depending on the program.
• Apply what you are learning into your classroom right away!  This way, you can discuss concerns and conquests with your instructor for feedback.
• Here's the most important thing:  MAKE THE MOST OF THIS EXPERIENCE!  An education is an exciting thing.  Being involved again with learning has spurred me on to read additional books, etc.  In fact, many of the things I've learned about are included on this site!

Here are some extra issues concerning the district paperwork side:

• Always double check with your district before signing up for any courses you plan to apply towards salary advancement to be sure that the college and courses are fully accredited and acceptable.
• Let your district know that you will be taking courses.  
• If you are planning to jump to the next pay column for the next year, be sure to ask your district for the deadline that you have to have your transcripts in by.
• Districts will often send out a questionnaire in the spring asking for who is expecting to jump a column.  (So they can plan the next year's budget.) Be sure to fill it out and turn it in!  (Ask your district about this.)
• Sometimes a new degree will be enough units to jump you two columns... Many districts will not let you jump two columns at once. If this is the case, be sure to turn in half of the units the first year to get that first jump in.  Then, turn in the rest the second year for the second jump.  
• Some districts and/or schools have an official catalog of faculty and their respective degrees... Be sure to have your new degree added to your listing!
• Be sure to let your principal (or dean) know about your continuing education.  They love this kind of thing and may even want you to share what you are learning with your colleagues.