Is Distance Education for Me?

Technical Considerations

Can you create, save and manage files on your computer?
Do you know how to install software on your computer if you need to?
Do you currently have an e-mail address?
Do you know how to send and receive e-mail attachments?
Can you access e-mail and the web several times per week?
Do you know how to “paste” text from a word processor into an e-mail message?
If you do not have your own computer, can you get to campus to use the computer labs or arrange to use some other computer several times per week?

Learning Styles Considerations

Do you stay on task without direct supervision?
Can you prioritize your own workload?
Are you good at assessing your own progress?
Do you enjoy learning new computer or technology skills?
Do you usually understand written instructions?
Do you learn best from reading text and assignments?
Are you planning to allocate as much time in your schedule for your online course as you would for a more “traditional” classroom course?
Are you willing to initiate calls or e-mails to instructors for assistance?

Evaluating Your Answers

If you answered “No” to any of the “Technical Consideration” questions, you may want to consider improving your technical skills before taking a course online (see below for some suggested websites that might help). At the very least, you will have some technology to learn in addition to the curriculum of the course(s) you take, and you should make extra time in your schedule accordingly. All of the skills mentioned above are used in most of our online courses.

If you hesitated to answer “Yes” to any of the “Learning Styles Considerations” questions, you may find the distance learning environment more challenging. Online courses make use of a classroom discussion area which allows interaction between students and instructors as well as among students. However, online-based interaction can be less satisfying than face-to-face communication for some learners. The online classroom requires you to structure your own schedule, balancing your time around the assignments/requirements of the class. Without the need to show up in a particular place at a designated time each week, some learners find it all too easy to put work off until the last minute. Much of the material covered in a typical online class will require you to learn from reading. This may include textbooks, Internet-based materials and written “lectures” or notes from your instructor.

Introduction to Computers

This tutorial presumes that you have little or no computer experience. Hopefully, this resource will aid you in some of the basic terminology of computers. It covers the topics such as the parts of a computer, computer terminology, disk drives, using the mouse, purchasing a computer, and care and feeding of your computer.

Jan’s Illustrated Computer Literacy 101: Computer Basics: Explains a lot of the techno-babble that you hear about computers. It covers the topics of computer types, applications, input and output devices, processing, storage and programming with hands-on practice and quizzes.