Student Distance Learner's Guide

Benefits

Flexibility in scheduling work for class
Flexibility to study in any convenient location
Ability to skim over materials already mastered and to concentrate time and effort in areas containing new information and/or skills
Within the framework of the class, flexibility to study materials at a personal speed and intensity
Flexibility to join "conversations" in the bulletin board discussion areas at any hour, and to catch up on everything that has been "said" by others since the previous visit

Challenges

The ease to procrastinate; to wait until later
Difficulty of staying on track without the structured classroom
Feeling of isolation without the direct interaction with classmates
Occasional difficulty to immediately reach other classmates and/or instructor
Technology not working appropriately

Recommendations for Success

In addition to reading the helpful information below, be sure to take the "Are Distance Learning courses right for me?" self assessment survey to determine how well a Web-based course fits your needs and lifestyle.

Good time management is the most significant factor for success!

We strongly recommend that you work out your typical weekly schedule on paper so that you will have a general guide for participating in the course along with your other activities.

A typical plan for scheduling:

Set up a grid with 1/2-hour time slots down the side, from waking to closing the mind for the night, and with all 7 days of the week across the top.
Fill in your nonflexible times (work hours, scheduled classes, etc.) with specific information.
Fill in your flexible times related to those nonflexible ones (travel time to work or school, lunch, break, etc.).
Fill in your other activities; hula, paddling, meetings, etc. that happen weekly.
List "DEDICATED to study time." This will be time that you will reserve for study, and nothing less than a major emergency will be allowed to disturb it. We suggest dedicating this time in half hour increments.
List "TRY to study time." This will be time that you are planning nothing but study, but recognize that it may be interrupted. If interrupted, remember to grab some catch-up time.

Tips in scheduling study time:

Use a calendar to lay out your deadlines. Web courses include videos and watching lectures in the WebClassroom. If your instructor did not provide specific deadlines, set your own and meet them.
Arrive a bit earlier to work and use that 20 minutes for study.
Have your lunch hour away from the "gang" with the textbook and syllabus.
Review the syllabus, study guide, or notes while waiting for the kids at the dentist (school, dance lesson, etc.).
Get up a half hour before the kids and use that time for the "heavy" or new stuff.
Set mind to work solidly for 1/2 hour; keeping to that 1/2 hour limit as close as a reasonable stopping point occurs.
Using a timer set for half hour increments can be very useful and productive (you don't have to guess or keep looking at the clock but can fully concentrate on the assigment).

Do not puzzle for days on difficult concepts or assignments. Ask for help from your classmates or the instructor right away to avoid frustration.

Use of Technology

In order to fully concentrate on the material and concepts being learned, you must be fairly confident in your equipment and related technical skills. Our online courses are delivered using the course management web-based software WebCT which will integrate videos, PowerPoint presentations and discussions utilized by the instructor.

An orientation period is built into the schedule of each course to enable the students to verify the competence of their hardware, internet connection, software and computer skills.

See our page regarding technology and computer skills requirements. Meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements will enhance the opportunities for a successful and enjoyable experience with our courses.