Carroll Community College

How well-suited are you for distance learning courses?

We know that it is tempting to skip this step and assume that an online or television course is manageable in your schedule and what you need right now.  But, please take a few minutes to complete the following self-assessment.  Answer each question - then consider the factors associated with each choice.

1. Considering my  personal and professional schedule, the amount of time I have to work on an online course is:

(a) 8 to 16 hours per week.
(b) 5 to 7 hours per week.
(c) 1 to 4 hours per week.

Many people who have never taken a distance-delivered course before mistakenly assume that it will take less time than a traditional, on-campus class. This is certainly NOT true. A distance-delivered course is just as demanding as any other courses. The only "time savings" you can expect in a distance-delivered course is the time you would have otherwise spent commuting to and from the class. On the other hand, a distance-delivered course does make it much easier for you to choose WHEN you spend your available time doing coursework. With most courses, it doesn't matter whether you do your coursework at 2:00 a.m. or 6:00 p.m.

Your answer depends on a number of considerations.  For example, a course taken during a summer term will require more concentrated time than one taken during the typically longer spring or fall semester.  If you answered (a) or (b), (depending on the course), you probably have the time necessary to complete a typical three-credit distance-delivered course. (Remember, a four-credit course, summer, or winter course, will require even more time.   If your answer is (c), you do not have the necessary time to take a course right now. 

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2. Having face-to-face interaction with my instructors and fellow students is:

(a) not particularly important to me.
(b) somewhat important to me.
(c) very important to me.

By its very nature, distance education is education that occurs via methods other than face-to-face interaction. However, that does not mean that distance education doesn't rely on interaction. In fact, some distance-delivered courses are even more highly interactive than some courses that occur on campus!  Through e-mail, discussion groups, telephone conferencing and video conferencing, distance education courses provide ample opportunities for students to interact and their instructors and other students.  But, if immediate or face-to-face interaction is very important to you, think carefully before enrolling in a distance-delivered course.

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3.  I would classify myself as someone who:

(a) is good at prioritizing tasks and often gets things done ahead of time without  being reminded by my instructor.
(b) is sometimes poor at prioritizing, needs to be reminded of assignments once in a while, and often does assignments at the last minute.
(c) is poor at prioritizing and sometimes forgets to complete assignments if I'm not reminded about them frequently.

If you answered (a), then you're a very good candidate for a distance-delivered course.  You must be fairly self-directed and conscientious about completing assignments to succeed in a distance-delivered course because you won't be sitting in a classroom on a regular basis and won't have your instructor or classmates nearby to remind you of assignments.

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4. Classroom discussion is:

(a) rarely helpful to me.
(b) sometimes helpful to me.
(c) almost always helpful to me.

There is no "wrong" answer to this question because distance education can work for you no matter what your answer. Still, it's useful to think about how much you depend upon immediate classroom discussion when it comes time to choose the type of distance-delivered courses that works best for you. "Discussion" does occur in distance learning courses in a variety of ways. It can be discussion that occurs by e-mail with your instructor or fellow students via a discussion board or chat. Discussion can also take place via telephone conference. 

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5. When it comes to assessing my own progress, I:

(a) feel as if I can keep tabs on my progress, even without immediate or frequent feedback from my instructor.
(b) prefer to receive regular feedback from my instructor, but don't mind if I can't get that feedback immediately after turning in a test or assignment.
(c) need feedback from my instructor immediately and often.

If you answered (a) or (b) to this question, a distance-delivered course will probably be fine for you. If you answered (c), however, you may be dissatisfied with some delay in feedback in a distance-delivered course. Because of the distance, and sometimes, time, separating you from your instructor, it can be difficult for instructors to provide immediate feedback. On the other hand, some instructors use automated feedback on testing so that you will get instant feedback on tests.  Of course, the amount of feedback you receive ultimately depends on your instructor's personal style (just as it does in any kind of course). An instructor who places a high priority on giving students feedback quickly can accomplish that regardless of the distance separating you.

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6. My need to take a distance delivered course is

(a) High -- I need it immediately for a degree, job advancement or other important reason.
(b) Moderate -- I could take it on campus or substitute another course.
(c) Low -- It's a personal interest that could be postponed.

As with all things, the greater your motivation to do something, the greater the chance that you'll succeed at it. This is certainly true with distance education. Since you will (in most cases) be on your own, rather than in a classroom surrounded by other students, there could be times when you will be tempted to put things off. A high level of motivation will be important at those times.

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