Are you ready for Distance Learning?

Online learning gives you the flexibility to learn when and where you want. It can save you hours of driving time and challenge your thinking in new ways, but online education is not for everyone. Answer the following questions honestly to determine how well distance learning suits your talents and circumstances.

Respond YES or NO to each question.

I. Motivation and Learning Style Factors.

1. Do you need to take this course now?

2. Is coming to campus for class difficult for you?

3. Do you like the freedom to choose, day-to-day, when you attend class and where you study?

4. Do your family and friends support your decision to take DL classes?

5. Do you feel face-to-face interaction is not necessary for high quality learning?

6. Are you self-motivated and self-disciplined?

7. Do you think a distance education course is more work than a face-to-face class?

8. Do you have an average of 8 to 12 hours to study each week?

9. Are you comfortable communicating in writing?

10. Is the thought of doing a lot of reading OK for you?

If you answered YES to most of these questions, it is a good sign that you have the learner characteristics needed to succeed in an online course.

If you answered NO to most of these questions, it’s possible that taking a fully online course may not be your best option.

II. Technical Factors.

1. Do you have regular access to a computer with an Internet connection?

2. Do you know how to use a keyboard and a mouse, save and open files, navigate the file systems and install software?

3. Do you know how to open and close browsers, bookmark WebPages, input URLs into the address bar and navigate the Web?

4. Do you know how to create, send, read, replay, save and organize emails, as well as send and open attachments?

5. Do you know how to participate in an online chat or bulletin board discussion?

If you answered YES to most of these questions, it is a good sign that you satisfy the technical requirements needed to succeed in an online course.

If you answered NO to most of these questions, it’s possible that taking a fully online course may not be your best option. You may wish taking an online course after developing the computer skills mentioned in the questions above.