Susan Manning - Online Learning For Dummies

Want to look further at online education for K–12 students? Visit the Aurora Institute at https://aurora-institute.org .

Working online isn’t without its pitfalls. One of those pitfalls, especially for kids attending online schools, is cyberbullying; we cover how to deal with this pitfall in Chapter 18. The following sections describe a couple more realities you should consider before enrolling in an online course.

Contrary to popular belief, online learning isn’t easier than traditional education. As we explain earlier in this chapter, most online education is instructor-led and follows a specific schedule. Though you may have the opportunity to choose when and where you study, you don’t get to choose the content. If you’re taking an online history course, you’re going to study the same material that you would if you sat in a traditional classroom. The subject matter isn’t “watered down.” However, there are significant differences in the way you get the information and what you do with it.

Because online learning requires students to take more responsibility for their own learning, it can be more challenging! You may have to work a little harder to understand the concepts, and chances are, you’ll be asked to do more than read a chapter and take a test. You’re required to use critical thinking, to share your ideas in writing (not just by talking), and to demonstrate that you understand the material in ways other than by taking tests. We talk more about this topic in Chapter 16, but you should be prepared to prove that you’re learning!

Also, online learning is more challenging for those who struggle with time management and study skills. Some students find it easier to attend a face-to-face class because the teacher’s physical presence motivates them to complete assignments. If that describes you, you may struggle with an online course. (We show you later in this chapter how to assess your own discipline and determine your chances of online success.)

If you’re considering enrolling in an online course because you think it will be an easy, independent study, think twice! Read the course materials carefully before enrolling. Chances are good that your course will require a substantial amount of dedicated time and that you will have to adhere to definite deadlines.

Earlier in this chapter, we talk about asynchronous learning — accessing course materials and completing assignments on your own time. When this term is applied to discussions — a common feature of online courses — one learner may post a comment at 1 A.m. and another may not respond until 5 P.m. That means discussion takes longer and isn’t spontaneous. As an online learner, you have to learn to be patient in these circumstances. (Later in this chapter, we discuss the importance of patience and tolerance for online success.)

Given the time delay, it can be more difficult to sustain a conversation in asynchronous settings. Absent body language and immediacy, misunderstandings can also take on a life of their own. If you read something John posts and don’t understand what he means, you may inadvertently take the discussion off course at 1 A.m.! By the time someone notices and you all get on the same page, valuable time is lost. The focus may be lost as well.

So, do you think you’re a good candidate for online learning? In the following sections, we review some of the characteristics and qualities that will make you successful. See how you measure up!

One of the first areas you need to assess is the quality of your self-discipline. Some of us have more discipline than others. Ask yourself the following questions to assess your level:

Are you a self-starter? When it comes to completing a task, whether or not you think you’ll enjoy it, are you one who starts without a lot of prompting? If you are, you’re more likely to succeed online. When you receive assignments from your instructor, you will have to establish a personal schedule for getting those assignments completed. The first step is starting! Procrastinators don’t do well in online education.

Are you persistent? What if your computer crashes and you can’t complete an assignment as instructed? What if it’s supposed to be done on a word processor and you break four fingers? How likely are you to give up when tasks are challenging or things don’t go as planned? There are times when technology fails, group members disappear, and documents get lost. Persistence and addressing problems creatively and expediently can carry an online student through these challenges. Just be sure to communicate with the instructor early in the problem stage. Let them know what you’re prepared to do to remedy your calamity. (By the way, in the case of broken fingers, ask whether you can record assignments in an audio file.)

Do you manage your time well? What tools and strategies do you use to manage your time? Do you utilize a personal calendar? Do you schedule times or routine activities? Managing your time online will make you a successful student. You will need to dedicate study time and follow through with regular logins. You may also be juggling work and family. Online education requires effective time management skills.

Can you work alone? Even though a lot of online work is done in groups or collaboratively with other students, the majority of your time online is independent. Can you follow through with tasks by yourself? Or do you need others to be present? To succeed in an online course, you need the ability to work alone and to think independently. For example: When a problem has you stumped, it’s important to try to find answers independently before asking the instructor. It shows that you have an independent spirit that solves problems without whining — no one likes a whiner! It also shows a great deal of initiative — a quality that’s always valued.

Think back to how you learned in traditional school. Individuals access and process information in a variety of ways. In this section, we talk about how people learn. Knowing how you learn best can help you select the kinds of classes that best match your learning style — as well as help you target those study skills that are most effective for you.

Learning strategies can be described most simply by three preferences: visual, auditory, and tactile or kinesthetic. This means that you prefer to take in information using your eyes or ears or by physical movement. Your brain then helps you process information using your preference. That said, please be aware that not everyone agrees that learning styles make a significant difference in the quality of learning. It’s more an indicator of your preference .

Here are a couple online learning style inventories you can take to help you determine how you best learn (you can find others in a traditional web search of learning style inventories):