For many people, an on-line degree can be an effective and efficient way of advancing their educational goals. But an on-line degree program may not be for everyone, as some learners may need the structure of a traditional classroom setting. Before you sign up for classes on-line, you should take an honest assessment of how you learn best.
To help you do so, consider the following questions:
- Are you self-motivated? One of the advantages of taking on-line classes is that “classes” don’t meet at set times. While there will certainly be due dates you have to complete your work by, you won’t have set times to meet with the instructor and go over the reading material. While this may be arrangement may be great for a student who is already employed full-time and travels a lot for business, it may not be good for an easily-distracted student who procrastinates. Instead, such students may find they work better in a classroom setting with an instructor applying a thumbnail of pressure on them.
- Are you able to “speak up” when you don’t understand the material? It is a common misconception that on-line classes are for introverts who don’t want to be called on during a class discussion. But in fact, on-line learners will have to take the initiative to contact their professor if they don’t understand something. In a classroom setting, good professors can tell whether or not their students understand the material by looking at them and seeing if they have looks of understanding or blank stares. But in the on-line environment, it is up to the student to contact the instructor (usually by phone or e-mail) if they have a question.
- Do you learn well from reading and writing? Different students learn things differently. Some read and comprehend dense texts and volumes of material. Others may be overwhelmed and need an instructor to verbally flesh out the most relevant information.
If you answered “yes” to most of the questions above, you will probably thrive in an on-line program.
By David Plowman