Who is the Right Student for Online Education?
Which Kinds of Students Are Most Likely to Succeed?
A wide variety of students enroll in online courses and programs. Students find themselves learning with classmates from all over, from every walk of life. Those who design and support e-learning are quick to mention that it is a great equalizer, that students of all ages, races, nationalities, and ethnic groups learn together, bringing to the classes a richness of experience seldom found on the traditional campus. The students work together on group projects, they communicate back and forth, they enjoy an equality in the class that is a secondary benefit to all involved. It’s democratic.
Retired or stay-at-home people also find online education a convenience. Whereas they are not motivated by a need to learn for the sake of employment, they find the time to explore subjects they have been interested in but unable to pursue because of job and family considerations. These students might be unwilling to drive and hour each way to a college but are eager to participate in a convenient online course.
Students who enroll in these courses must be comfortable using a computer and with using the internet. Courses usually require using email, including attaching files and downloading files. You don’t need to be an expert but comfortable with these activities. You will get better at them throughout the course.
Before signing up for an online class or program, however, an individual really needs to think over a few vital considerations. Online education does not work for everyone! There are a number of things to consider:
• Personal learning style
• Importance of the course or program
• Convenience
• Degree of self-motivation
• Special situations such as a physical disadvantage, ESL.
Each is discussed below.
Personal Learning Style
One of the main things to think about is your personal learning style: do you learn better from looking at information (visual learner) or from hearing information (auditory learner).
Online courses and programs are designed for the visual learner, one who learns easily from books, diagrams, and the internet will be comfortable with the online approach. Such students can learn at their own pace, moving quickly through the material or taking more time in order to understand what is required.
On the other hand, if you are an auditory learner, that is, you learn best from a lecture, a face-to-face situation, online education is probably not for you. You know you are that kind of learner if you require eye contact, voice inflection, or spoken questions and answers to hold your attention. Without that kind of communication, you may feel lost and isolated, hence the statement about “the loneliness of the long-distance learner.“ A traditional college approach with conventional classrooms may be a better match with your learning style.
Another consideration is shyness—students who hesitate to speak up in class often find it much easier to key in a comment or the answer to a question. In online courses, students often work in teams or groups which, although online, may contribute to increased confidence.
But, even though it is on a visual level, online learning provides a wealth of opportunities for student and teachers to interact throughout the course. Far from being like a correspondence course, online learners participate constantly in an engaging and active learning environment. What replaces class discussions is an excited and exciting exchange of ideas and comments that might not happen in the traditional classroom.
In the Complete Book of Distance Learning Schools, Drs. Jerry Ice and Paul Edelson point out that, although some students find it a problem to be isolated from other students and their instructor, many enjoy getting to know their classmates via the email exchanges that are part of the classes. They enjoy the interaction with others and know their contributions are critical to their success in class. If, however, they used to be in the habit of absorbing the content through listening to others talk, the new types of participation may represent a bit of a learning curve. If they fail to contribute to class discussions, the teacher is sure to notice.
Importance of the Course or Program
Those who have clear goals such as, “When I pass this course, I will qualify for a raise…” are most likely to succeed. Similarly, those who can’t afford to waste energy, time, and money traveling to and from traditional schools are very likely to succeed because of the importance of these considerations.
Some online students want to pursue high studies and advance their knowledge in order to be eligible for promotions, salary increases, more challenging assignments, or increased responsibility. Others are required to keep current on technological advancements or get certified in a new or updated programming language. In these competitive times, both the employee and the employer benefit. And the student who is employed can start to use the new information on the job, thereby absorbing more of the information because it is immediately utilized in a real-life situation.
If the course is not important to you, you must ask yourself what will motivate you to keep abreast of the assignments.
Convenience
Those whose work involves travel find online education a great advantage. Whether they are in Boston, Seoul, or Paris, they can log on, follow the course, complete the assignments, and perform the jobs. Those who choose to spend time with their children or spouse in the evening may find themselves logging onto their course late in the evening or early in the morning. Everything they need is available.
Location, location, location—but with online education, it means not only that students can log on to their course while traveling, their location no longer determines which courses or programs they can take! If a student wants to take a course or earn a degree that is not offered at the local college, online education is the solution. Want to study with an internationally renowned expert? Online education may provide the solution.
Ease of juggling your career, family’s needs, and your education may also make online education an attractive option. You can set your own schedule, study at your convenience, and even use the internet to select your school, course, and apply. And convenience also includes the use of email, bulletin boards, and chatrooms, which are often part of the class activities.
Degree of Self-Motivation and Responsibility
Most of those who enroll in online classes and programs are working professionals who have chosen to combine education with staying home with family and with working full time. Learn while you earn is a compelling motivator. Single mothers are among those highly motivated to learn online: they can still care for their children, advance in their chose fields, and stay within budget.
Self-motivation may not be a strong enough word; perhaps “drive” or “total commitment” can be used to describe those who earn degrees online. This not only covers the reason for taking the course or program, but also the motivation to be self-motivated to log on, do the assignments, take the tests, and so forth.
According to Drs. Ice and Edelson, students must be disciplined and responsible for their studies. The type of student who is accustomed to waiting until the last week of the course to begin the work will not succeed in the online environment. A three-credit course, for example, may require 10-15 hours of participation each week. Although the student has the flexibility to schedule the required time to participate, they must be scheduled and the commitment must be there. Successful online students are those who have mastered the ability to organize their time and to stay on target, who know how to pace themselves, ensuring their work is always up to date. Although all education favors students who have mastered these skills, online education demands this kind of focus.
Special Situations
For some students, online education offers advantages sometimes not found on the traditional campus. Students for whom English is a second language can take more time to understand content and learn vocabulary. Those with physical disabilities or who are recovering from an accident or medical procedure can take advantage of online study programs and avoid the trouble of traveling to and from a physical campus. They may be able to take more classes and learn more quickly because they are relieved of the tasks of getting themselves around.
A wide variety of students enroll in online courses and programs. Students find themselves learning with classmates from all over, from every walk of life. Those who design and support e-learning are quick to mention that it is a great equalizer, that students of all ages, races, nationalities, and ethnic groups learn together, bringing to the classes a richness of experience seldom found on the traditional campus. The students work together on group projects, they communicate back and forth, they enjoy an equality in the class that is a secondary benefit to all involved. It’s democratic.
Retired or stay-at-home people also find online education a convenience. Whereas they are not motivated by a need to learn for the sake of employment, they find the time to explore subjects they have been interested in but unable to pursue because of job and family considerations. These students might be unwilling to drive and hour each way to a college but are eager to participate in a convenient online course.
Students who enroll in these courses must be comfortable using a computer and with using the internet. Courses usually require using email, including attaching files and downloading files. You don’t need to be an expert but comfortable with these activities. You will get better at them throughout the course.
Before signing up for an online class or program, however, an individual really needs to think over a few vital considerations. Online education does not work for everyone! There are a number of things to consider:
• Personal learning style
• Importance of the course or program
• Convenience
• Degree of self-motivation
• Special situations such as a physical disadvantage, ESL.
Each is discussed below.
Personal Learning Style
One of the main things to think about is your personal learning style: do you learn better from looking at information (visual learner) or from hearing information (auditory learner).
Online courses and programs are designed for the visual learner, one who learns easily from books, diagrams, and the internet will be comfortable with the online approach. Such students can learn at their own pace, moving quickly through the material or taking more time in order to understand what is required.
On the other hand, if you are an auditory learner, that is, you learn best from a lecture, a face-to-face situation, online education is probably not for you. You know you are that kind of learner if you require eye contact, voice inflection, or spoken questions and answers to hold your attention. Without that kind of communication, you may feel lost and isolated, hence the statement about “the loneliness of the long-distance learner.“ A traditional college approach with conventional classrooms may be a better match with your learning style.
Another consideration is shyness—students who hesitate to speak up in class often find it much easier to key in a comment or the answer to a question. In online courses, students often work in teams or groups which, although online, may contribute to increased confidence.
But, even though it is on a visual level, online learning provides a wealth of opportunities for student and teachers to interact throughout the course. Far from being like a correspondence course, online learners participate constantly in an engaging and active learning environment. What replaces class discussions is an excited and exciting exchange of ideas and comments that might not happen in the traditional classroom.
In the Complete Book of Distance Learning Schools, Drs. Jerry Ice and Paul Edelson point out that, although some students find it a problem to be isolated from other students and their instructor, many enjoy getting to know their classmates via the email exchanges that are part of the classes. They enjoy the interaction with others and know their contributions are critical to their success in class. If, however, they used to be in the habit of absorbing the content through listening to others talk, the new types of participation may represent a bit of a learning curve. If they fail to contribute to class discussions, the teacher is sure to notice.
Importance of the Course or Program
Those who have clear goals such as, “When I pass this course, I will qualify for a raise…” are most likely to succeed. Similarly, those who can’t afford to waste energy, time, and money traveling to and from traditional schools are very likely to succeed because of the importance of these considerations.
Some online students want to pursue high studies and advance their knowledge in order to be eligible for promotions, salary increases, more challenging assignments, or increased responsibility. Others are required to keep current on technological advancements or get certified in a new or updated programming language. In these competitive times, both the employee and the employer benefit. And the student who is employed can start to use the new information on the job, thereby absorbing more of the information because it is immediately utilized in a real-life situation.
If the course is not important to you, you must ask yourself what will motivate you to keep abreast of the assignments.
Convenience
Those whose work involves travel find online education a great advantage. Whether they are in Boston, Seoul, or Paris, they can log on, follow the course, complete the assignments, and perform the jobs. Those who choose to spend time with their children or spouse in the evening may find themselves logging onto their course late in the evening or early in the morning. Everything they need is available.
Location, location, location—but with online education, it means not only that students can log on to their course while traveling, their location no longer determines which courses or programs they can take! If a student wants to take a course or earn a degree that is not offered at the local college, online education is the solution. Want to study with an internationally renowned expert? Online education may provide the solution.
Ease of juggling your career, family’s needs, and your education may also make online education an attractive option. You can set your own schedule, study at your convenience, and even use the internet to select your school, course, and apply. And convenience also includes the use of email, bulletin boards, and chatrooms, which are often part of the class activities.
Degree of Self-Motivation and Responsibility
Most of those who enroll in online classes and programs are working professionals who have chosen to combine education with staying home with family and with working full time. Learn while you earn is a compelling motivator. Single mothers are among those highly motivated to learn online: they can still care for their children, advance in their chose fields, and stay within budget.
Self-motivation may not be a strong enough word; perhaps “drive” or “total commitment” can be used to describe those who earn degrees online. This not only covers the reason for taking the course or program, but also the motivation to be self-motivated to log on, do the assignments, take the tests, and so forth.
According to Drs. Ice and Edelson, students must be disciplined and responsible for their studies. The type of student who is accustomed to waiting until the last week of the course to begin the work will not succeed in the online environment. A three-credit course, for example, may require 10-15 hours of participation each week. Although the student has the flexibility to schedule the required time to participate, they must be scheduled and the commitment must be there. Successful online students are those who have mastered the ability to organize their time and to stay on target, who know how to pace themselves, ensuring their work is always up to date. Although all education favors students who have mastered these skills, online education demands this kind of focus.
Special Situations
For some students, online education offers advantages sometimes not found on the traditional campus. Students for whom English is a second language can take more time to understand content and learn vocabulary. Those with physical disabilities or who are recovering from an accident or medical procedure can take advantage of online study programs and avoid the trouble of traveling to and from a physical campus. They may be able to take more classes and learn more quickly because they are relieved of the tasks of getting themselves around.
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