Do you have self-discipline and motivation?
In the on-ground courses you meet with
the instructor and your classmates face-to-face at least once a week. In
the online classrooms most of the learning activities and communication
in an online course are asynchronous. This means that class members
participate and complete their assignments at different times throughout
the day and the week. You do not have to be at the same place or work
at the same time. This makes it possible for you to complete your class
work when it's most fitting for you. The flexibility of online learning
requires self-discipline and responsibility. It is up to you to pace
yourself and ensure that all of your work is done and turned in on time
without the structure of regular class meetings.
Do you have enough time to complete your online coursework?
Online courses require as much time and
commitment as traditional courses. Finishing course assignments and
other learning activities takes a large amount of time. You will work on
assignments, and you will also be preparing and responding to
discussions. You may need to be online almost every day. Before
enrolling make sure that you can set aside enough time to be able to
succeed in the course.
Do you have good communication skills?
In an online course, most communication
is written. It is necessary for you to feel comfortable expressing
yourself in writing. Work on improving your writing skills and seek
additional resources course before enrolling if you feel that you are
weak in this area.
Are you comfortable with technology?
The computer is the main learning and
communication tool in online courses. You do not need to be an expert
user, but basic technology skills will be needed. You will need to be
able to use a word processor and a Web browser. You also must have
regular access to a computer with an Internet connection. You may want
to consider taking a computer training course before taking enrolling in
online courses if you are not familiar with this type of technology you
at this time.
