Motivation
1. Why are you considering taking a distance learning class?
A. Because I need it immediately for a degree, job, or other important reason.
Your answer suggests that you will be motivated to complete your online course(s). This makes you a good candidate for online learning!
B. Because the on-campus course I needed was already full (or canceled).
Your answer indicates that you may be a good candidate for taking an online course. Let’s make sure that online learning is the best alternative for you. Answer the rest of this questionnaire carefully.
C. Because I think it will be easier than an on-campus course.
Your answer indicates that you are taking an online course for the wrong reason. Did you know that the amount of work you do in an online course is the equivalent of that in a face-to-face course? Students who think online courses are easier than traditional courses are usually surprised, and many do not complete the course.
Time Management and Study Habits
2. Which of the following statements is most true about your time management skills?
A. I manage my time very well. I make study schedules and I follow them. My assignments are always on time.
Wonderful! This is a great skill to have when taking an online course.
B. I manage my time pretty well. I usually get my assignments done on time.
Good. It is very important to manage your time well when taking an online course. You must try to be punctual in all of your assignments and adhere to submission deadlines, since professors often remove the assignments from the course after the deadlines have passed.
C. I tend to put things off. I often wait until the last minute to get my assignments done, and sometimes they are late.
This could be a very serious problem in an online course. Check with the professors of the courses you plan to take to see what their policies are for late assignments. Also, review the Time Management tutorial within the Student Orientation Course for hints on how to become better organized as a student.
3. How are your study habits?
A. I often get things done ahead of time and I even do extra work in order to study the material.
Great! This shows that you manage your time well. That is an excellent quality for a student taking an online class.
B. I need reminders and reinforcement to get my studying done.
Just remember that there may not be a professor reminding you about your homework assignments and/or test dates other than through an online calendar or syllabus that YOU must check. Be sure to review the Time Management Tips section of this tutorial to learn how you can manage your study time in such a way that you can succeed in your online class.
C. I sometimes forget to complete assignments.
Knowing how to manage your time AND being responsible with your assignments and test dates are two essential qualities of online learners. These are skills that you can develop. It is good that you recognize this characteristic about yourself. Review the Time Management section of this tutorial to learn how you can be a successful online student.
Essential Skills
4. How well do you read and follow instructions?
A. I can almost always figure out written instructions on my own.
Wonderful! Since the instructions for using the technology for online learning as well as the instructions for all assignments within the online courses you take at EWU will be written, it is crucial that you know how to follow written instructions.
B. I usually understand the directions on my own, but often ask the teacher just to be sure.
It is good that you usually understand directions on your own. You need to be aware that in an online course, faculty may take a day or so to get back to you with the answers to your questions. You might consider beginning each assignment early to compensate for this.
C. I frequently find instructions confusing.
Be careful here. Most (if not all) of the instructions in online courses are in written format. If you feel frustrated with trying to understand written instructions, you might want to consider a course that is not completely online.
5. Do you enjoy reading?
A. Yes, I read books for pleasure. I understand the textbooks I read in my classes.
Good! If you enjoy reading, you are probably a good reader. This will make your online course experience enjoyable.
B. I read when I have to, and I understand most of my course textbooks.
OK. Usually, most of the content of the online course is in written format and therefore requires more reading than classroom-based courses where teachers stand and lecture to the class. You might want to consider using the Bulletin Board to ask classmates for help in understanding parts of the class with which you have problems.
C. I do not like to read in my free time. Some of my course textbooks are confusing or boring.
If you do not like to read and find textbooks confusing, online learning will be a struggle for you. Unless you have a true need to learn in non-traditional environments, you should reconsider taking an online course.
Learning Style
6. Do you consider yourself to be an independent learner?
A. Yes, I don't need to hear a teacher lecture on assignments I have already read.
Great! This indicates that you learn well from reading, which will make online learning easier for you than for students who learn best through hearing lectures.
B. Yes, but I like having the instructor lecture on the material after I have read it.
It’s good that you are an independent learner. Sometimes faculty will conduct a review of the material in chat sessions with the students. You might consider checking with the professors of your online courses to see if they plan to do this. If not, some profs allow their online learners to visit their traditional classes to hear lectures that cover more complicated topics. Check with your professors about their policies.
C. No, in fact for most subjects, I need the instructor to review the material in class the next day.
Your answer indicates that you would be more comfortable in a traditional classroom than in an online class. Online courses are designed so that students can learn at their own pace and the course materials are available at all times to students without actual lecturing from their instructors.
7. Do you seek help when you need it?
A. I don't mind asking questions when I need information or have a problem.
Good. If you are not afraid to ask questions, you will be able to progress smoothly through your online courses.
B. I don't like to ask questions, but I will if I cannot figure it out by myself.
OK. But don’t be shy about asking questions. You can ask your classmates through the bulletin board, or your teacher through e-mail.
C. I usually am not comfortable asking questions.
Hopefully, you can overcome this discomfort if you decide to take an online course. Asking questions is often the only way you can progress through your assignments and lectures online.
Computer Skills
8. How good are your computer skills?
A. I have excellent computer skills, and I use the Internet regularly.
Good answer! This means you will be able to concentrate on learning the lessons within your course instead of worrying about how to use the technology to access the material. Sounds like you are a good candidate for this type of course.
B. I am somewhat familiar with the computer and the Internet.
OK. The good news is that by taking an online course, your computer / Internet skills will get better quickly. You can use the QuickSteps in the Student Orientation program to learn the computer skills you will need for your online course.
C. I am not very familiar with the computer or the Internet.
You should consider taking a basic computer and Internet skills workshop or class in a face-to-face setting before you begin any online class. It would be very frustrating to have to learn the technology involved in taking an online course at the same time that you are trying to learn course content.
9. How easy is it for you to use new computer skills?
A. I have little or no difficulty learning computer technology skills.
Good. This indicates that you should be able to handle the technology in most online courses.
B. I do not like to experiment with computer technology but can learn it if I have to.
As long as you can learn the computer and Internet skills you need to take your online courses with a minimum of frustration, you should be OK in online learning. However, your answer indicates that you might be more comfortable in a traditional classroom setting. Unless you have a specific need for non-traditional classes, consider taking a campus-based class.
C. I am uncomfortable using computer technology.
Oops! You should really reconsider taking an online course if you are uncomfortable with computer technology. It can be frustrating having to deal with unfamiliar technology while trying to learn a subject, and students who are uncomfortable with computer technology frequently drop out of online classes.
10. How much do you use computers?
A. I am computer literate. I run applications, install software, and can manage files.
Great! Then you should have no trouble with the technology of the online courses here at EWU. You will be free to concentrate entirely on the content!
B. I am somewhat comfortable with computers. I can run most programs and manage files, but I haven't downloaded or installed programs from the Internet.
OK. At the EWU Distance Learning Web site, you will find step-by-step instructions on how to download/install the programs you might need for some of your classes.
C. I haven't used computers much.
Then you should consider taking a basic computer and Internet skills workshop or class at EWU before you begin an online class. It could be frustrating for you to have to focus on the technology instead of on the content of what you are trying to learn.
11. What is your experience with the World Wide Web?
A. I am very comfortable looking for information and doing research on the Web.
Great! These are skills that will serve you well in your online courses.
B. I have primarily used the Web to communicate with friends and family.
That’s a good start. Your answer indicates that you have some basic Web experience. As you go through your online course, you will learn to use the Internet for more academic purposes.
C. I haven't surfed the Web very much at all.
Since your online course is presented over the Web, this might be a problem for you. You might consider taking a workshop to learn how to use the World Wide Web before your online class begins.
12. What is your experience using e-mail?
A. I can send and open e-mail. I know how to attach files to e-mail messages and to open attached files that I receive.
Good! A lot of the assignments in online courses are submitted as attachments, so it is good that you already have that skill.
B. I only know how to send and open e-mail.
That is a start! Be sure to visit the lesson pages in the Student Orientation Course at EWU’s Distance Learning Web site. There you can how to attach documents and to open attachments.
C. I have not used e-mail much at all.
This could be a problem. Most of your written assignments in an online course are submitted through drop-box, e-mail, and bulletin board attachments. If you are not familiar with even the very basics of e-mail, you may have problems in an online environment. Visit the lesson pages in the Student Orientation Course at EWU’s Distance Learning Web site to learn to go to send and open e-mail within an online course. You might also want to review how to attach documents to assignments and to bulletin board entries.
Access to Technology
13. Do you have access to a VCR, an audiotape player, a TV and a computer?
A. I have this technology available to me.
The variety of Distance Learning courses at EWU might require one or more of these technologies. It is good that you have all three.
B. I have access to a portion of this technology.
Then you should be sure to check the Distance Learning Web site at EWU to learn the technology requirements for the course you plan to take.
14. Which answer best describes your computer access at the present time?
A. I have an Internet-ready computer available to me either where I live or work, any time I need it.
Good. This means that you will be able to do your work at home at times that are convenient to you.
B. I will need to use a computer at a facility away from my primary place of residence, but I have access to one at times that are convenient to me.
OK. If you do not have a computer at your home, be sure to manage your study time well — especially at the end of the semester and when major projects are due. If you need to be on a computer after your access facility is closed to finish your work on time, you may become \&”stressed out\&”. Perhaps you can arrange for backup access for crunch times.
C. I will need to use a computer at a facility away from my home, but I do not know where one is located.
If you do not have access to a computer, check to see which of the courses at EWU require online access. We recommend you do not take a fully online course if you do not have easy access to the technology. If the courses you need require that you have easy and convenient access to a computer, ask where students can have such access at your campus. Learn the hours of operation and plan your study time around their schedule, if possible.
