Successful Students

Students who are successful in these alternative learning environments have usually had the following characteristics:

• Highly motivated

• Independent

• Active learners

• Good organizational and time management skills

• Discipline to study without external reminders

• Can adapt to new learning environments

Are Distance Learning Courses for Me?
How well would distance learning courses fit your circumstances and life-style? To help you decide, answer the following questions and then read the explanations provided.  
 

• Do you have circumstances that prevent you from coming to campus one to three times a week?   

• Do you manage your time well and get things done on time without having to be reminded?

• Are you self-motivated and a self-starter?

• Are you comfortable using technology such as VCR’s, computers, voice mail, email, and the Internet? 

• Do you have reasonably strong reading skills—can you read college-level textbooks and understand them?

• Can you accurately follow written instructions?  

How to Score Yourself  
If you answered YES to all or almost all of the questions, you would probably enjoy taking a distance learning course. These are courses in which you work independently. The instructor will determine the course completion requirements. The student assumes the responsibility to fulfill these requirements. The instructor will be accessible to the student but not in traditional weekly class meetings.  

If you answered NO to all or most of the questions, you would probably prefer traditional classes. These classes meet at certain weekly times and have an instructor present. Some students are more successful in this type of environment.  

Explanations

• Distance learning courses provide an opportunity for today’s busy adult students to continue their education even if, by necessity or preference, they are not able to come to the campus during the specified times of other sections of the same course. 

• Most distance learning courses require some on-campus work--orientations, review sessions, exams, labs—so some student schedule flexibility is important.   

• Some students prefer the independence of distance learning courses; others find it uncomfortable.  Successful distance learning students are usually those who complete their work on time and do not put things off until the last minute.  

• Distance learning courses give students greater freedom of scheduling, but they can require more self-discipline than on-campus classes.

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  Distance learning courses use technology for teaching and communication.

• Written materials are often the primary source of information in distance learning courses.

• While distance learning courses are more convenient to schedule, students who have taken the courses in the past agree that they are not easier.  They require a lot of work, discipline, and self-motivation to keep up with the assignments.

• Students who successfully complete distance learning courses are generally self-motivated, keep up to date with assignments without reminders, and have good reading skills.

If you have additional questions about distance learning courses, consult the Distance learning contact at your host institution.

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