Is Online Learning For You?
More and more college students are taking classes online, according to a new survey by the College Board and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. About 3.2 million people took at least one college course online during the fall of 2005 term, compared to 2.3 million in the fall of 2004. Online courses can be a terrific way to both pick up the education you need and still be able to work, parent, or juggle the many commitments that define most adult lives. But is it right for you?
One way to find out is to think through some of the issues you may confront as an online student. eLearners.com®, the leading resource for connecting students with online education, provides the following questions for guidance:
• How important is it to have face-to-face interaction with your teacher and classmates? Some students find that they learn much better in the social dynamic of a physical classroom, and for them, a campus-based course is a wiser choice. Many others, however, find that they are comfortable learning independently, or enjoy the virtual camaraderie that develops among online students. These are the students who most enjoy online learning.
• What’s your access to the key learning technologies? Most online course providers recommend students have access to a computer (preferably one less than five years old), a fast Internet connection, and their own e-mail account from home. The next best option is the same set-up from work.
• How good are your computer skills? The best-case answer is that you’re comfortable using word-processing software and the major Internet browsers, and you easily share information electronically. This will often include zipping and uploading files, unzipping and downloading files, and dealing with attachments. Although many online students are able to fix technology issues on their own, most online providers assume students may need a bit of coaching when learning new computer skills. The key for students is to not become frustrated by occasional technology glitches or challenges.
• How willing are you to ask for help when you need it? In a classroom-based course, your instructor can usually recognize when students understand a lesson by simply reading the expressions on their faces. In an online course, it’s necessary for you to let your teacher know immediately when something is confusing or needs further clarification – otherwise you can quickly lose your forward progress. It’s important that you’re able to ask for the help you need, as soon as you need it.
• How much time will you have to devote to your coursework? Most online students find that committing at least twelve hours a week to coursework and study time works best. Although some online learners can succeed with an average of eight to ten hours a week, these are usually individuals who have taken a number of online courses and have learned how to maximize the effectiveness of every hour spent on coursework.
• How good are you at organizing and managing your time? Online learning works best for those who are well-organized, self-motivated, and able to manage their time well. If these skills don’t come naturally to you, you can still succeed as an online student, but you might want to pick up a few books on how to improve these skill areas as part of your learning plan.
• How do you handle project deadlines? Part of managing your time well is developing and following an action plan for completing your assignments. You’ll need to set a realistic timeline that reflects both the amount of work to be done and the time you have available to complete it. Most of us procrastinate some of the time; the important thing is that “deadline pressure” isn’t your primary means for completing assignments on a regular basis.
• Do you enjoy (and are you good at) reading and writing? Online courses are based on students’ ability to read, reflect, reflect, analyze, and write. You may write about course lecture notes, assigned articles and research materials, you’ll provide written comments about classmates’ comments and contributions, and test questions will often require essay-length answers. In addition, you’ll have online “conversations” with your teacher, your classmates, and your virtual project team members. Since generally all communications take place through writing, the stronger your skills in this area, the easier it will be.
• Do you feel comfortable voicing your opinion? While it’s possible to sit in the back of a traditional classroom and avoid having to come up with a brilliant insight for weeks on end, online instructors expect you to contribute meaningful comments to the class discussion on a regular basis. Although this means that it’s a lot tougher to be invisible, many previously silent students discover the value of their own voices in the relative anonymity of an online classroom.
• What are your expectations about online courses? A well-done online course can be fun, stimulating, engaging, and a great learning experience, but rarely is it going to be easier than a classroom-based course. Online instructors expect a high level of participation and lots of hard work from their students, but they also tend to reciprocate with an equally high level of responsiveness and engagement.
These questions should serve as a good place to start when considering pursuing online education. For a more personalized assessment, you may want to check out the eLearners Advisor, which will give you comprehensive results on whether online learning is right for you, including feedback and suggestions about how you can be more successful as an online student, access to resources to help you, and assistance in finding an online degree that meets your needs.
Source: eLearners.com - College search for 2000+ online degrees, online colleges & online universities.
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