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Do you have
self-discipline and motivation? |
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Unlike traditional courses in which the students and
instructor meet face-to-face once or several times a
week, most of the learning activities and communication
in an online course are asynchronous, meaning that class
members participate and complete their assignments at
different times throughout the day and week. This
arrangement can make it possible for you to do your
class work when it's most convenient for you. However,
with this increased freedom and flexibility comes
responsibility. Without the structure of regular class
meetings, it will be up to you to pace yourself and keep
up with assignments. |
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Are
you able to commit time each day or week to your online course(s)? |
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Online courses often require at least as much, if not
more time and commitment than traditional courses.
Completing course assignments and other learning
activities can take from five to fifteen hours or more
per week. And you may find that you need to be online
almost every day. So before enrolling, be sure you can
set aside enough time to keep up with your daily or
weekly assignments. |
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you have good communication skills and enjoy expressing your
ideas in writing? |
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In online courses, nearly all communication is written,
so it is critical that you feel comfortable expressing
yourself in writing. If you feel that you are weak in
this area, try to brush up on your writing skills and
find out how much writing is required for the course
before enrolling. |
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you feel comfortable discussing problems with your instructors? |
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If you are having problems with the technology or the
course content, you need to let your instructor know as
soon as possible. Without this feedback, your instructor
will never know what is wrong. Remember that many of the
nonverbal cues that you use in the classroom to show
frustration, boredom, or confusion (such as a yawn or a
look of bewilderment) are not possible in an online
class. |
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| Will
you miss the experience of sitting in a classroom? |
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While the level of interaction can be very high in
online courses, it is not the same face-to-face
interaction. Some online students miss having the
opportunity to see and listen to their instructor and
classmates. If you feel that a traditional classroom is
essential for learning or you want to experience campus
and dorm life, online classes may not be right for you. |
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Are you
comfortable using computers? |
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The personal computer is the primary learning and
communication tool in most online courses. You don't
need to be a computer guru or a geek to succeed, but you
do need to have some basic technology skills, such as
word processing and using a Web browser. Needless to
say, you will also need regular access to a computer
with an Internet connection. If you find computers scary
or intimidating, you may want to get some computer
training at a local community college before taking an
online course. |
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