You should keep in mind that e-learning courses are not for everyone. While e-learning courses offer greater freedom in when and where they participate in the instruction, e-learning courses require more self-discipline and involvement than the traditional campus-based courses.

You must constantly be involved in the learning process. It requires dedication, motivation, and self-discipline. No one will remind you of deadlines.

So the question now is how well will e-learning courses fit your circumstances and lifestyle. It is important to remember that students who are self-directed and self-motivated in their learning and study habits tend to be the most successful in e-learning classes. 

Below is a list of other characteristics you will need to be a successful e-learning student:

1.        You are an independent learner.

2.       You have specific days and times to work on your course work.

3.       You are organized.

4.       You budget your time well.

5.       You are willing to take responsibility for requesting help before you fall behind.

6.       You enjoy working independently.

7.       You are highly motivated.

Still not sure if e-learning is right for you? Take the e-learning readiness quiz to help you decide if you fit in one of the categories above.

TAKE THE e-learning QUIZ

Choose an answer for each question and score as directed below.  Answer as honestly as possible.

1.        My need to take this course now is

a.       high—I need it immediately for a specific goal.

b.       moderate—I could take it on-campus later or substitute another course.

c.       low—It could be postponed.

2.       Feeling that I am part of a class is

a.       not particularly necessary to me.

b.       somewhat important to me.

c.       very important to me.

3.       I would classify myself as someone who

a.       often gets things done ahead of time.

b.       needs reminding to get things done on time.

c.        puts things off until the last minute or doesn't complete them.

4.       Classroom discussion is

a.       rarely helpful to me.

b.       sometimes helpful to me.

c.       almost always helpful to me.

5.       When an Instructor hands out directions for an assignment, I prefer

a.       figuring out the instructions myself.

b.       trying to follow the directions on my own, then asking for help as needed.

c.       having the instructions explained to me.

6.       I need faculty comments on my assignments

a.       within a few weeks, so I can review what I did.

b.       within a few days, or I forget what I did.

c.       right away, or I get very frustrated.

7.       Considering my professional and personal schedule, the amount of time I have to work on a e-learning course is

a.       more than enough for a course held on campus.

b.       the same as for a class held on-campus.

c.       less than for a class held on-campus.

8.       Coming to campus on a regular schedule is

a.       extremely difficult for me. ­ I have commitments (work, family or personal)   during times when classes are offered.

b.       a little difficult, but I can rearrange my priorities to allow for regular attendance on-campus.

c.       easy for me.

9.       As a reader, I would classify myself as

a.       good. ­ I usually understand the text without help.

b.       average. ­ I sometimes need help to understand the text.

c.       slower than average.

10.    When I need help understanding the subject,

a.       I am comfortable approaching an instructor to ask for clarification.

b.       I am uncomfortable approaching an instructor, but do it anyway.

c.       I never approach an instructor to admit I don't understand something.

SCORING

Add three points for each "a" that you chose, two for each "b," and one for each "c." If you scored twenty or more, a e-learning course is a real possibility for you. If you scored between eleven and twenty, e-learning courses may work for you, but you may need to make a few adjustments in your schedule and study habits to succeed. If you scored ten or less, e-learning currently may not be the best alternative for you; talk to your counselor.

EXPLANATIONS

1. e-learning students sometimes neglect their courses because of personal or professionalcircumstances. Having a compelling reason for taking the course helps motivate the student to stick with the course.

2.    Some students prefer the independence of e-learning; others find the independence uncomfortable and miss being part of the classroom experience.

3.    e-learning courses give students greater freedom of scheduling, but they can require more self-discipline than on-campus classes.

4.    Some students learn better by interacting with other students and Instructors. Others learn better by listening, reading and reviewing on their own. e-learning courses provide less opportunity for group interaction than most on-campus courses.

5.       e-learning requires students to work from written directions.

6.    It may take as long as two to three weeks to get comments back from the Instructor in e-learning classes.

7.    e-learning requires at least as much time as on-campus courses. Students surveyed say that e-learning courses are as hard or harder than on-campus courses.

8.    Most people who are successful with e-learning find it difficult to come to campus on a regular basis because of their work, family or personal schedules.

9.       Printed materials are the primary source of directions and information in e-learning courses.  

Students who do well in e-learning courses are usually comfortable contacting the instructor as soon as they need help with the course.

You must be familiar with the basic operation of your computer and your computer's operating system (i.e., Microsoft Windows).

You should also have some experience and familiarity with navigating and using the Internet as an information and communication resource. Knowing how to download files, attach document files to Email, and use word processing software are necessary skills to achieving academic success in an online course environment.

TEST YOUR READINESS FOR THE TECHNOLOGICAL PART OF ONLINE COURSES                     

Answer the following questions to evaluate your readiness for the technology involved in an online course.

1.        Do I have access to a computer for an entire academic semester?

2.       Can I download files to the local hard drive?

3.       Can I browse to find files on the local hard drive?

4.       Do I have a reliable Internet Service Provider (ISP)?

5.       Does my computer hardware meet the minimum requirements?

6.       Does my computer software meet the minimum requirements?

7.       Do I know how to send and/or receive files (attachments)?

8.       Do I have basic computer literacy skills?

If you answered “yes” to the above questions, e-learning classes may work for you.