Online @ RiderAre Online Courses Right for You?

Taking courses online works well for many students, but the truth is that they are not right for everybody. If you are an independent learner, self-motivated, and have decent computer skills, you're a good candidate to succeed in an online course. Conversely, if you are a procrastinator who relies heavily on the instructor for motivation and can't use a computer too well, you should take a moment to consider whether or not an online program is right for you.

Why enroll in an online program?

Students who choose to enroll within an online program tend to have many similarities in their decision-making. Some of the common themes for one deciding on an online modality include:

Lifestyle. Many students juggle work and family, and they just can't get to campus at specific times. Students in these situations who are organized and disciplined do well online. Students who are not, tend not to do well.
Format. Many students like the interactive nature of online courses. For example, students can feel more confident participating in class discussions because they have adequate time to organize their thoughts and post something they feel proud of. Some students just enjoy using technology. Others, who are more passive learners and don't enjoy technology, have a hard time.
Convenience. Students don't have to deal with traffic or parking problems. But if you are only taking an online course for convenience, please make sure you fit the profile of a successful online learner.

10 Facts You Need to Know About Online Courses

Online courses require at least as much dedicated time by the student as face-to-face courses. Typically, successful students report spending more time, not less, than for a face-to-face class.
Textual materials presented on the internet are the primary source of directions and information for online courses; therefore, strong reading skills are very important for success in an online course.
You should be able to complete the following tasks to be successful in an online course: navigate the internet; use email, including attaching a file to an email message; download a program and install it; and do a search on the web.
Online courses require frequent and diverse uses of technology for accessing information and assignments; therefore, you need to be comfortable working with various types of technology to be successful.
Online students sometimes neglect courses because of personal or professional circumstances, unless they have specific and compelling reasons for taking the course. Procrastination is the most common pitfall in taking an online course.
Some students prefer the independence of online courses; others find it uncomfortable. Online courses offer students greater freedom of scheduling, but they can require more self-discipline than face-to-face courses.
Some people learn best by interacting with others. The individual student must take responsibility for regularly contacting other students and the instructor.
Online courses require more self-direction since face-to-face instructions are sometimes not available.
In online courses, instructors are not able to respond to questions immediately like they are in face-to-face classes.
Technology has a good way of acting up when you need it most. Don't wait until the last minute to submit assignments as "my internet connection dropped" will never be an acceptable excuse for missing a due date.

Quick Check

True or False: Students in an online program who tend to need a lot of direction and motivation from their instructor tend to find online programs easy to succeed in.

True

Unfortunately this is not true. In fact, it tends to be the opposite. If you are a procrastinator who relies heavily on the instructor for motivation and can't keep track of deadlines for deliverables, online programs aren't for you.

False

That's right! Online programs actually require the student to be much more self-motivated than a traditional face-to-face program.

Online @ RiderAre Online Courses Right for You?

Why enroll in an online program?

10 Facts You Need to Know About Online Courses

Quick Check

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