Final answer:
The best example of a student taking initiative in their online course is Nick scheduling every exam on his own, which displays proactiveness and personal responsibility for his learning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The example that BEST describes a student taking initiative in their online course is C. Nick checking and then scheduling every exam of the course on his own. This action demonstrates proactiveness and self-sufficiency, key characteristics of initiative. Nick is not just passively attending classes but is actively managing his schedule to ensure he is prepared for each exam. This contrasts with the other options where either the teacher is being asked for readily available information (A), the attendance is somewhat inconsistent (B), or the activity, while positive, is a fairly standard expectation of a student (D).