Just like climbing a mountain, learning anything new always seems difficult at first. To see if we have the potential to be successful with online courses, it is important to stop and think about our skills and learning styles. Two areas are important to consider: technical readiness and learning style compatibility.

Think about the following questions to assess your technical readiness to take an online course.

1. Are you comfortable using a computer?

2. Are you comfortable writing and sending e-mail?

3. Are you comfortable searching the Internet?

4. Are you familiar with the different features of your Internet browser, such as how to get back to web pages previously visited?

5. Do you have access to a computer that has an Internet connection and an Internet browser?

6. Do you know how to download, extract, and install programs off the Internet?

7. Do you know how to browse for files on your computer?

8. Are you comfortable working by yourself?

 

Think about the following questions to determine whether your learning style is compatible with the instructional delivery method of an online course.

1. Are you comfortable communicating with others without physical presence?

2. Can you set aside time to learn on your own?

3. Would you consider yourself self-motivated?

4. Are you comfortable with written communication?

5. Are you organized with your time?

6. Do you feel comfortable asking for help?

7. Are you comfortable in new learning situations?

 

 

If you answered "yes" to most of these questions, you are a good candidate for online learning and have a higher chance at succeeding in this instructional delivery mode.

 

Go to Test Preparation and Test-taking: Online Exams

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