Taking a class online is different from a typical campus
class. Here are some characteristics of online learning:
-
Content is delivered differently. You must do
more than sit in class and listen to a lecture. You must enjoy
being online and reading on-screen.
-
You have to read the material, explore links,
do assignments. No instructor is "in your face" requiring you to do the work.
You must be self-directed and self-motivated.
-
One of the benefits, of course, is the
flexibility, i.e., that you can sign on at any time.
One of the detriments too
is that you can sign on at any time, so it is easy to neglect!
You must have self-discipline and good time-management skills.
-
Most online classes are very interactive requiring
daily discussions between the participants. You can't be shy online.
-
Expect to work hard. Learning online is work,
no doubt about it. It takes energy and perseverance.
Here are some tips for learning online successfully:
- Set aside a specific time of day to participate. Schedule
1-2 hours per day to attend your online class and stick to it. Don't forget
the extra hour a day to work homework problems!
- Come to class prepared by reading the text material before
logging on.
- Learn to be a noisy student! Ask questions and dialog with
your classmates on the discussion board. This is a key learning tool and
advantage to an online course. You can ask more questions than you could ever
find time to in a campus class.
- You can nod online ... react to other's messages
with an "I agree", "Good point", or "Explain further what you mean by". Make
your online learning more valuable by contributing your comments to the
conversation.
- Make this class a top priority. Don't procrastinate
or let deadlines slide! This is an involved college mathematics course. By getting even one
day behind, the result may be irreparable.
If you have the skills necessary to
learn online, and make the class a top priority, you can be successful and reap
the rewards of e-learning -- flexibility, portability, and financial advantages
:) If you have any questions about these tips, please feel free to
email me.
Best of luck in your online ed-venture. Enjoy!
[This information was roughly based on: Draves, William A.
Teaching Online. Wisconsin: LERN Books, 2000.]
Originally written: 2000-04-25
Last revision:
2007-12-14 03:29 PM
