Is Online Learning Right For Me? Are you thinking about taking an online course? Before you do, take a few minutes to work through the questions that follow to find out if online learning is the best option for you. We can t see your answers. In fact, there are no right or wrong answers, but your selections and the feedback you receive will help you identify areas that may need your further attention before signing up for an online course. Answer each question honestly and choose the option that best fits you. Carefully listen to the feedback for each question, taking note of areas where your further attention is needed or where the feedback indicates that online learning may not be the best fit for your educational needs. After each answer option is read, one of three responses will appear next to each answer: Great, Attention may be needed, or Online may not be for you. The Great response means that in that particular area, you seem well suited to online learning. The Attention may be needed response means, well, just that. You may need to give some attention to improving in that area, before signing up for an online course. It doesn t mean you wouldn t do well in an online course just that some adjustments may be necessary to avoid your being frustrated. The Online may not be for you response doesn t mean that you should forget about taking online courses. However, it does mean that you should pay close attention to the feedback in the response and consider whether this is an area in which you could make adjustments. If not, then it could significantly hinder your success in online courses. Numerous responses of this type may be a sign that you would do better in face-to-face courses. Note: the Great, Attention may be needed, and Online may not be for you designators only appear in the educast, not in this transcript. We provide this tool because we want you to succeed in reaching your educational goals and to help you find the options that are best for you. Let s get started! Questions 1. Which of the following best describes how you study and work on assignments? o I am always on time and often get things done ahead of schedule. o I put things off until the last minute and sometimes need extensions on due dates. o I need occasional reminders to get things done on schedule. Page 1 of 7
Online courses require a high degree of self-discipline on the part of students. Most online courses are NOT self-paced. Students are expected to plan ahead, submit assignments on time, and follow the course schedule on their own. Instructors seldom remind students of due dates and late assignments may not be accepted. If you have trouble keeping up with a schedule, online learning may not be the best option for you. 2. Which of the following best describes you as a student? o I like having a lot of interaction as I am working through materials. I learn new concepts best by listening to lectures and talking things out with others. I usually have a lot of questions. I need my instructors to remind me of due dates and motivate me. o I like working through materials on my own. I often work ahead and don t need a lot of interaction. I take ownership of my learning and prefer that my instructor acts as a coach/guide, whom I ask for help when I need it, rather than always checking up on me. Successful online students are self-motivated and take ownership of their learning. Although there are opportunities to interact with instructors and fellow students through online discussions and they are always welcome to ask for help, online students must be able to confidently and competently work through materials on their own and keep up with course schedules. If you need more hands-on attention from your instructors, then face-to-face courses may be a better fit. 3. Which of the following best describes your approach to assignment instructions? o I dislike reading and following detailed assignment instructions. I find I can usually wing it. o I enjoy having detailed directions, because they help me to know what is expected. I carefully read and follow all assignment instructions. o I read enough to get a good idea of what s expected, but I don t sweat the details. Because online students are not physically in class, assignment instructions usually require reading. They are often more detailed than those given in class, because instructors try to anticipate student questions and to be clear in order to avoid confusion. If you don t take the time to carefully read and follow all instructions, then you may do poorly on your assignments. Details matter. Page 2 of 7
4. Considering my personal and work schedule, the time I expect to work on an online course is: o Less than for an on-campus course, because it s online (maybe 3 hours a week). o More than for an on-campus course (about 9 hours a week). o About the same as I would spend on homework for an on-campus course (3-6 hours a week). A common mistake students make is thinking that an online course will be easier than an oncampus course or that it will take less time. In reality, online courses are usually more difficult and require greater self-discipline from students. All the work you would have completed in class, you now complete online (for example: online discussions, group work, and listening to lectures) in addition to your homework. You should be prepared to devote as much or more time to an online course, as you would a face-to-face course (at least 9 hours a week for a 3 credit course). It is definitely not the easy path. 5. Which of the following best describes your reading ability? o I don t really enjoy reading and do it only when I must. I usually need someone to explain assigned articles and textbook readings. o I am comfortable reading, but sometimes I miss the main point of an article or textbook passage and need to read it a few times before I feel like I understand. o I enjoy reading and read quickly. I look up words I don t understand on my own to make sure I have a good grasp of concepts. I usually understand articles and textbook readings without help and can often explain them to others. Although online courses often include multimedia elements, like audio and video, they generally require much more reading than face-to-face courses. Keep in mind that the interaction that would normally happen in an on-campus course, now takes place through written online discussions and other online tools. If you usually need help understanding articles and textbooks that explain new concepts, read slowly, or don t enjoy reading, then online learning may not be the best option for you. 6. Which of the following best describes your writing ability? o I can express my thoughts in writing, but it s not really my preference. o I feel comfortable and enjoy expressing my thoughts and discussing issues in writing. o I have difficulty expressing my thoughts in writing. Online courses generally require more writing than face-to-face courses. While in an on-campus class, you would raise your hand and speak to answer a question or make a comment, in an online course, you will usually have to type it. This allows you more time to consider your answer, but it also requires you to use proper grammar and spelling, and to be able to express yourself well in writing. Also, keep in mind that it s harder to hide in an online course, where everyone is expected to participate. Page 3 of 7
7. When I have a question, problem, or need something explained: o I take the initiative in contacting the instructor to get help. o I put it off and just try to figure it out by myself. o I expect the instructor to contact me first to see if I need help. Successful online students take ownership of their learning. If they are confused about a concept in the reading, need help with an assignment, or have a question, they take the initiative and contact the instructor. Students should also follow-up to ensure their questions are answered by setting up phone appointments, responding to emails, etc. Instructors are here to help you and you should not hesitate to ask for help, but don t expect them to be checking up on you to ensure you understand everything. 8. Which of the following best describes your home Internet access? o I have a high-speed (e.g., cable, DSL) connection. o I have a dial-up (e.g., 56K) connection. o I do not have home access to the Internet. A high-speed Internet connection is STRONGLY recommended for all students taking online courses. Although, dial-up connections can work, the extra time it takes to navigate to different pages in online courses and to download and interact with course content can be frustrating for students. A reliable home Internet connection is expected for all online students. Just as your car gets you to classes in face-to-face courses, your Internet connection is what gets you to class in your online courses. 9. Which of the following best describes your home computer? o I have a home computer or laptop that is no more than three years old. o I have a home computer or laptop that is more than three years old. o I do not have a home computer or laptop. I plan to use someone else s computer (examples: library, college, friend, work, etc.) First, online students are discouraged from relying upon someone else s computer for their online learning. This includes, libraries, college computer labs, friends, work, and even family members. This is because such computers may not be available to you when required by your online courses (e.g., for online group work, assignment deadlines, etc.). Your computer is essential. It is your classroom. Without it you cannot complete an online course. Second, your computer must meet the requirements described in the Computer Standards for Online Courses, available on the Indian Hills website. Usually (though not always), computers built in the last three years will be fine, but compare yours to the standards to be sure. Page 4 of 7
10. Which of the following best describes your experience with using a library s online services for research? o I am comfortable using the library s online catalog, finding journal articles using the library s online databases, ordering books through Interlibrary Loan, and have used these for research. o I know what these services are and how they work, but I ve never used them before. o What is Interlibrary Loan? I use Google or Wikipedia to find what I need for research projects. Online students are expected to do research for some of their courses, just as in face-to-face courses. This means making use of library resources. Because online students who are not near campus cannot easily drop in to pick up books, etc., they must plan well in advance to ensure they have the required resources necessary to complete assignments. Last minute cram sessions in the library aren t an option for online students writing research papers. Wikipedia articles and websites accessed on the general Internet via Google Search are generally not acceptable as sources for college research papers. You will need to become comfortable making use of the many services provided to online students by the Indian Hills Community College Library and/or a public or college library near you. 11. When I am asked to use new technologies, like computer programs, email, web site tools, etc.: o I look forward to learning new skills and am usually able to figure things out myself by following the instructions. o I feel apprehensive, but try anyway. I usually need someone to talk me through how to use it. o I put it off or try to avoid it altogether. Learning to use new technologies is essential for online students. Students are expected to be able to use the tools found in their online courses to complete and submit assignments and to communicate with instructors and fellow students, as required by their instructors. Computer Tutorials are provided on the Indian Hills website and the IT Help Desk is also available for students who need help. Not knowing how to use the technology will not be an excuse that is acceptable to instructors. If computers are a challenge to you, you may need to take an introductory computer course on campus before attempting an online course. 12. When I am assigned to work with others on a group project: o I usually wait for others to schedule meetings, etc., and tend to be somewhat quiet, but I do my part. o I jump in right away, encourage my teammates, and make sure the work gets done well and on time. o I don t really like group projects, so I put it off and let others do most of the work. As pointed out earlier, successful online students take ownership of their learning. This includes group work. Because of the physical distance between students in online courses, it is all the more important for online students to take the initiative in connecting with their teammates and working together to ensure assigned projects are finished and submitted on time. Page 5 of 7
13. Which of the following best describes your thoughts about doing schoolwork at home? o I can probably do my schoolwork at home, but I have to make sure I don t get distracted (e.g., by children, friends, web surfing, TV, video games, texting, email, etc.) o I have my own space at home where I can easily concentrate on my schoolwork without interruptions or distractions. This is an ideal setup for me. o There is no way that I can do schoolwork at home - there are too many distractions. The best studying is done in a quiet place that is free of distractions. If you find it difficult to concentrate at home, because of distractions created by others, your family responsibilities, or simply the temptation of TV and the Internet, then a face-to-face classroom and an on-campus study area (like the library) may be a better fit for you than taking courses online. 14. Which of the following best describes how often you are able to be on the Internet? (Note: The time of day doesn t matter.) o I check my email daily and would use online tools, like live chat and discussion postings, to contribute to online discussions nearly every day. o I check my email about every other day and could contribute to online discussions maybe one day Monday through Thursday, and more on weekends. o I don t check email very often and could only contribute to online discussions on weekends. Online students are expected to check their email from the college daily to ensure they are aware of and can respond to information from their instructors and fellow students. Also, while in a faceto-face classroom, exchanges in a discussion can occur quickly, the back-and-forth of discussions online usually requires more time to develop. This means students must read new messages and post replies regularly throughout the week for Discussion Forum assignments. Be sure you can reserve some time each day to be online. 15. How much does the following describe you? I can download and install programs like Adobe Reader and Flash Player on my computer. I can use online Instant Messaging programs to send text messages over the Internet or my phone. I read blogs and can post replies. I can edit photos on my computer. I can use MS Word to write and format papers. o I can do all of these and more, even in my sleep. o I can do most of these things already. I would have to investigate some of them, but I m confident I could figure them out on my own. o I don t know what any of these things are and/or don t think I could figure them out on my own (but I really enjoy the cool cup holder that pops out when I press the little CD/DVD button on the front of my computer). Being able to perform these tasks or to easily teach yourself how is a good indicator that you will be able to learn and use the technology required by online courses. If you find that you have difficulty, then you may need to receive some face-to-face computer training before attempting an online course. Page 6 of 7
You should now have a better sense for whether online learning is the right option for you. You may need to give attention to some areas to improve your success as an online student or you may have discovered that face-to-face courses are a better fit for your needs. Keep in mind that no matter what your results in this exercise, students can improve their results in nearly every area being addressed. Some, by simply taking a more active role in their learning or adjusting their schedules or study environment. Others by taking an on-campus course or two, perhaps in computers or writing, depending on their needs. And still others by investigating services, such as those provided by the Indian Hills Library. Before you decide, listen to the Online Learning Survival Guide presentation to find out more about the skills you ll need to succeed in online learning. Then, you ll have an even clearer understanding of what s involved. If you have questions or need more help, please contact the Indian Hills Academic Advising Office. For technical questions, contact the IT Help Desk. You can find links to both of these in the Online Learning area of the Indian Hills website. Indian Hills Community College Page 7 of 7