1. Read How to be a Successful Online Student
How to Take an Online Class
(taken from Pasadena Community College)
In many ways, learning online is similar to learning in the classroom. Your instructor will provide quality readings, exercises, assignments and quizzes; as with regular classes, what you get out of it is related to how much you put into it. Expect to spend the same amount of time and energy on an online class; in fact, online classes can take more time and energy than regular classes.
However, it is also different in several distinct ways. Click on each to learn more:
Online classes are convenient and flexible but students have to be disciplined enough to make time to study and participate. Successful online students:
Online interactions are often an essential element of the learning experience. Be willing to share your ideas, carefully consider your responses to others, and be prepared to have your ideas challenged occasionally.
Online learning is best for those who learn by reading and writing; if you learn better by hearing lectures or making presentations, an on-campus class might be a better fit. Successful online students:
Two important qualities of a successful distance learner are flexibility and adaptability. Learning online is an adventure that will expose you to some entirely new - and not always comfortable - experiences. The ability to be flexible and remain open minded is critical to having a positive experience as you move into uncharted territory.
(from University of Illinois)
What Makes a Successful Online Student?
Like the facilitator, the online student possesses unique qualities. The online students of today consist primarily of working people who are trying to better their opportunities. This however is changing, as more and more young and older people become aware of the online model. The traditional school will never go away, but the virtual classroom is a significant player in today’s educational community. Corporations are using the online model to train technical professionals while private and public universities redefine the world as their markets. The market for students is expanding rapidly. In general, the online student should possess the following qualities:
Introverts as well as extroverts find that the online process requires them to utilize their experiences. This forum for communication eliminates the visual barriers that hinder some individuals in expressing themselves. In addition, the student is given time to reflect on the information before responding. The online environment should be open and friendly.
In the Virtual Classroom, nearly all communication is written, so it is critical that students feel comfortable in expressing themselves in writing. Many students have limited writing abilities, which should be addressed before or as part of the online experience. This may require remedial efforts on the part of the student.
With the freedom and flexibility of the online environment comes responsibility. The online process takes a real commitment and discipline to keep up with the flow of the process.
Many of the non-verbal communication mechanisms that instructors use in determining whether students are having problems (confusion, frustration, boredom, absence, etc.) are not possible in the online paradigm. If a student is experiencing difficulty on any level (either with the technology or with the course content), he or she must communicate this immediately. Otherwise the instructor will never know what is wrong.
Online is not easier than the traditional educational process. In fact, many students will say it requires much more time and commitment.
The requirements for online are no less than that of any other quality educational program. The successful student will view online as a convenient way to receive their education – not an easier way.
The learning process requires the student to make decisions based on facts as well as experience. Assimilating information and executing the right decisions requires critical thought; case analysis does this very effectively.
The communication medium is a computer, phone line, and modem; the student must have access to the necessary equipment.
Meaningful and quality input into the virtual classroom is an essential part of the learning process. Time is given in the process to allow for the careful consideration of responses. The testing and challenging of ideas is encouraged; you will not always be right, just be prepared to accept a challenge.
If the student feels that a traditional classroom is a prerequisite to learning, they may be more comfortable in the traditional classroom. Online is not for everybody. A student that wants to be on a traditional campus attending a traditional classroom is probably not going to be happy online. While the level of social interaction can be very high in the virtual classroom given that many barriers come down in the online format, it is not the same as living in a dorm on a campus. This should be made known. An online student is expected to:
The online learning process is normally accelerated and requires commitment on the student’s part. Staying up with the class and completing all work on time is vital. Once a student gets behind, it is almost impossible to catch up. Basically, the student needs to want to be there, and needs to want the experience. The instructor may have to contact students personally to offer assistance and remind the student of the need to keep up.
Just as many excellent instructors may not be effective online facilitators, not all students possess the necessary qualities to perform well online. In your online course, you may want to include reference links to resources and tips for your students to use to help them be more successful online learners. Clearly outline your expectations and the necessary characteristics of a successful online student so your students can understand if the online environment will be a productive learning environment for them. Provide a questionnaire for prospective students to fill out to assess whether they are good candidates for online learning.
2. Many students believe online classes are easier or take less time than a face to face class. Both beliefs are wrong. Because online classes have the same requirements as traditional classes, the amount and time spent on the class should be the same, or may in fact take longer (from Pierce College)
3. Each unit of lecture is equal to 18 hours of “seat time” in a normal classroom. Each unit of lecture should be accompanied by an additional 2 hours of study time. If a 3 unit lecture class is taught in 18 weeks, it would require 3 hours per week of “seat time.” If that same class were taken during a 5-week Summer or Winter term, itmwould require 10.4 hours per week plus the additional 21 hours of study time or a total of 31.4 hours per week, or 4 hours per day per week. These are good rules for scheduling yourself to work on classes you take online. (from LA Trade Tech)
4. You are expected to read everything on the class home page and follow the links and directions on it.
5. You are expected to drop any online class you do not want to complete. Do not rely upon the instructor dropping you for lack of participation or attendance. You are expected to log into the virtual classroom each week as needed to read new announcements from the instructor, read assignments, and submit work on time. In classes that are short-term, you should log in daily. In the event you have technical problems, you are expected to locate another computer to continue logging into the virtual classroom. If work is lost on a home computer, you need to contact the instructor to discuss the issue. Thus, a printed copy of the course syllabus and other pertinent information should be kept for emergency situations when technical difficulties develop.
6. You can expect to have your instructor respond to your email questions and phone calls within a couple of days. If you do not get a response, try again. When leaving a phone message, speak slowly and give your name, class and phone number twice at the beginning of your phone call. If you can’t reach your instructor within 3 days, you can contact Prof. J, the Director of the Paralegal Studies Program at (cell) 818-415-2015 or email: abogado@pacbell.net
7. Don’t assume your first email or phone call reached your instructor and was read by him or her. If you don’t get a response, contact your instructor again and politely ask for assistance. Give at least 24-48 hours for your instructor to respond. He/she will probably be receiving hundreds of emails and calls each week. He/she is trying to help everyone, but sometimes that task is impossible. Therefore, be understanding and continue to try to reach him/her in multiple ways to get the help you need. (from LA Trade Tech)
The best way to learn depends on a person. Recognizing and understanding one's learning style can help improve the quality of learning. Several studies have developed different categories of learning styles. Below is a learning style model developed and used by North Carolina State University. The model assesses four dimensions (active/ reflective, sensing/ intuitive, visual/ verbal, and sequential/ global) of learning styles.
LEARNING
STYLES
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CHARACTERISTICS
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STRATEGIES
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Active Learners
vs.
Reflective Learners
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Active Learners
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Reflective Learners
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Sensing Learners
vs.
Intuitive Learners
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Sensing Learners
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Intuitive Learners
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Visual Learners
vs.
Verbal Learners
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Visual Learners
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Verbal Learners
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Sequential Learners
vs.
Global Learners
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Sequential Learners
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Global Learners
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To find out if online learning is a good fit for your learning style, please take a few minutes to complete the student skills and technical skills quizzes below. These short quizzes will provide you with valuable feedback on whether online learning is right for you!
Online Learning Success - See Lessons (from Valley) - http://www.lavc.edu/virtualvalley/ols/Welcome_Main_Menu.html - note: disregard any reference to Etudes course platform. We use the Moodle Course platform in our Paralegal Studies Program at Mission