I started distance learning my sophomore year of high school as a way to take AP classes as a homeschooler. I initially took three online classes while the rest of my classes were traditional. Let me just say, distance learning is a wild ride but I have enjoyed every second of it!
I took a Spanish class with a kooky old professor who loved to speak of his lofty opinions about anything from whether or not animals have emotions to what he thought about self-driving cars. In this Spanish class, I began Skyping another girl also in the class to complete homework assignments together. Needless to say, ever since then we’ve been close friends! We even got to meet in person and we continue Skyping and texting very often. The social aspect of distance learning is very unique yet exciting!
As for the academic part of distance learning, my advice to newcomers would be this: pace yourself and don’t procrastinate! It’s easy to ignore homework if nobody is getting on your back about it and you don’t have reminders. Choose to make a schedule and stick to it! I love that I can set my own schedule and choose when to do my homework, which technically it’s all "home"work 
Anyways, enjoy the ride. You’re now going through something that most students have never gone/will never go through! We’re making history as so many students are turning to distance learning. Make the most of this time and enjoy it. I know I sure have for the past three years!