Is Online Learning for You?

Distance learning may not be appropriate for everyone. Some students find distance learning a positive experience.  Others have more difficulty succeeding in this type of class.  Possessing certain qualities may increase your chance of success in the distance learning environment. Answer the questions below to determine if distance learning is for you.

When you have answered all the questions, click the Score button at the bottom of the page.

Having face-to-face interaction with my instructors and fellow students is  not particularly important to me    somewhat important to me    very important to me   I would classify myself as someone who   has good organizational skills and often completes assignments ahead of time   has weak organizational skills, needs reminding about assignments, and often procrastinates   has poor organizational skills and sometimes forgets to complete assignments     When an instructor provides directions for an assignment, I prefer   figuring out the directions myself   trying to follow the directions on my own, then asking for help as needed   having the instructions explained to me     When it comes to assessing my own progress, I   feel as if I can keep tabs on my progress, even without immediate or frequent feedback   prefer to receive regular feedback, but it need not be immediate   need feedback immediately and often     My need to take a distance delivered course is   high - I need it immediately for a degree, job advancement or other important reason   moderate - I could take on campus or substitute another course   low - it’s a personal interest that could be postponed     Considering my professional and personal schedule, the amount of time I have to work on a distance learning course is   7-9 hours per week   4-6 hours per week   1-3 hours per week     When I am asked to use software or technologies that I haven’t used before (such as e-mail, voice mail, a VCR)   I look forward to learning new skills   I feel apprehensive, but try anyway   I put it off or try to avoid it     If I had to describe my learning style or preference, I would say it is   visual - I learn best when I can read the course materials or view graphics   auditory - I learn best when I can listen to an explanation of a concept   tactile - I learn best by “doing” (for instance conducting an experiment)   My personal and professional schedule is   always predictable; I can generally plan, well in advance, blocks of time to devote to classwork   usually predictable; but sometimes last minute meetings or events come up that cannot be rescheduled   kind of crazy; I rarely know when I’m foing to have free time that I can set aside for class work     My reading and writing skills are   excellent; I understand most of what I read and can express myself clearly   average; I sometimes need assistance understanding what I have read or writing clearly   poor; I often have difficulty understanding written materials or expressing myself clearly     Your total score is        Total score > 21: Distance learning is a good option for you. Total score between 15 and 20: Distance learning may be a possibility for you. Review the explanation of the questions to determine more about whether distance learning is appropriate for you or whether you may experience difficulty with online course work. Total score < 14: Distance learning may not be the best option for you. Read the explanation of the questions and see if you agree with why distance learning may not be your best choice.