Before
enrolling in an online course, review the minimum recommended computer specifications for college computing from
Academic Computing Services to be sure the computer you'll be using conforms to
these requirements. Then take the self-assessment below.
Online
learning is different than face-to-face learning. However, online courses
require at least the same amount of your time as a face-to-face course.
The benefit, though, is that you can put in the hours at your own pace with an
online course. Here are some questions that you can use to gauge whether
you would do well in an online course.
1.
Do I keep up with my reading assignments in my face-to-face courses?
The majority
of interaction in online courses is through reading and writing. If you tend to
put reading off or aren't much of a reader, online classes probably aren't for
you.
2. Do I complete my assignments on time for my face-to-face courses?
In most online courses, if you don't post in the
course, you are considered absent and will face grade penalties for not being
present. And deadlines tend to be a bit less
negotiable in online courses.
3. Is my computer equipment reliable?
If your computer fails you, your grade in the course
could be placed in jeopardy.
4. Do I have access to the Internet from wherever I will take this course?
You should use your college email account. If necessary, you can also use
the dial-up Internet service from the college. See information on how to use a PPP connection to the college.
5. Can I perform basic computer functions such as creating, saving, and managing files on a computer, navigating the
Internet, downloading files, attaching files to an email message, and saving and
opening attached files from incoming email? Am I very comfortable using Blackboard?
You don't have to know everything about computers to take an online course, but
you do need to perform simple functions. If you are uncomfortable with
your computing skills, you might want to consult with the TIPS program.
6. Do I have the time to fit the work for an online course into my schedule?
Summer classes are intensive because 16 weeks' work is done in just five weeks.
Not attending a classroom-class does not mean that the course will be less
intensive. You'll need to have a sufficient amount of time available to
complete 16 weeks' work in those five weeks.
7. Do I expect the assignments for online courses to be about the same as
the assignments for face-to-face courses?
Again,
summer classes are intensive. You should expect about the same amount of work
in your online summer course as you would complete in 16 weeks if you took the
course during a "regular" semester.
If you answered "yes"
to most of the above questions, then an online course may be the right option
for you! If you answered no to any of the questions, you should think
very carefully whether online learning is the right choice for you.
The successful online student must be
an independent, self-motivated learner. Online courses are not suited for the
student who learns best by having frequent face-to-face interaction with the
instructor and other students. |
