How to Succeed in Distance Education Courses

Are You Ready for Online Learning?

Online learning isn't for everyone. There are different characteristics that a student needs in order to be successful. Believe it or not, but some students think that online classes are easier than traditional classes. But that is not the case. Online learning is different from traditional learning. It is demanding and it has the SAME requirements as its face-to-face counterparts

What does it take to be an online student?

Anyone can be an online student, but there are characteristics that students need to be successful in the online environment. In the article, “Characteristics of Successful Online Learners,” CSU Sacramento claims that online students need the following characteristics:

• Discipline to complete projects by deadlines instead of waiting until the end of the semester;
• Motivation to read, write, and participate fully in class activities;
• Time to devote approximately 12 hours a week to a 3-credit course;
• Ability to work independently and in teams;
• Flexibility in dealing with technology problems
• [Able to be a] self-starter, does not procrastinate;
• Able to learn from the printed word. Majority of material and communication happens through reading and writing;
• [Able to] set aside specific times on a routine basis to 'participate' in the course;
• [Able to] ask questions when they do not understand;
• [Able to] access a current computer and the Internet;
• [Possess] Good, basic computer skills;
• Possess time management skills.

Self-motivation is probably the most important characteristic for online students to have. The online class is appealing because students can work on it when they want to, but they do have to make time to work on it. It would be easy for students to procrastinate and to fall behind when they do not have to meet for a class on a given schedule.

Students should make their own schedule and plan for when they will work on the class. Students are responsible for attending the online class just as they would have to attend a face-to-face class.