Back to "Is Online Learning for Me?" Are You Ready for An Online Course?  1. Do you need to take this class? a. Yes, I need to take this class immediately for a degree or job. b. Yes, but I could take it on campus later. c. No, it's a personal interest that could be postponed. 2. It is important to me to see and interact with others in the class face-to-face. a. No, seeing and interacting with others face-to-face in the class is not particularly necessary for me. b. Maybe, seeing and interacting with others face-to-face in the class is somewhat important to me. c. Yes, seeing and interacting with others face-to-face in the class is very important to me. 3. I am a person who... a. Focuses on deadlines and usually gets things done ahead of time. b. Needs reminding to get things done on time. c. Puts things off until the last minute. 4. Face-to-face classroom discussions are... a. Rarely helpful to me. b. Sometimes helpful to me. c. Almost always helpful to me. 5. When a instructor gives assignments, I usually prefer... a. Figuring out the instructions on my own. b. Trying to follow the directions on my own, then asking for help as needed. c. Having the instructions explained by the instructor. 6. I need faculty comments and feedback on my assignments... a. Within a few weeks, so I can review what I did. b. Within a few days, or I forget what I did. c. Right away, or I get very frustrated. 7. When I consider my personal and professional schedule, the amount of time I have to work on an online course is... a. More than enough time for a campus class. b. The same as for taking a class on campus. c. Less than for taking a class on campus. 8. If I need to go to the campus to take exams or complete work... a. I can go to the campus anytime. b. I may miss assignments, meetings, or exam deadlines if campus labs do not offer extended hours. c. I will have a difficult time being able to come to campus anytime for exams, meetings, or lab work. 9. As a reader, I would classify myself as... a. Good, I usually understand the text without help. b. Average, I sometimes need help to understand the text. c. Fair, but I almost always need help understanding a college text. 10. When I am asked to use a computer in a different way or to try a new piece of software, a. I look forward to learning new skills. b. I feel apprehensive, but I try anyway. c. I put it off or try to avoid it.   Your Score:  Feedback based on your score:   Scoring: 1. Distance-learning students sometimes neglect their courses because of personal or professional circumstances. Having a compelling reason for taking the course helps motivate the student to stick with the course. 2. Some students prefer the independence of online courses; others find the independence uncomfortable and miss being part of the classroom experience. 3. Online courses give students greater freedom of scheduling, but online students usually require more self-discipline than on-campus classes. 4. Some people learn best by interacting with other students and instructors. Others learn better by listening, reading and reviewing on their own. It is often more difficult to collaborate with other students in an online environment. 5 . Online courses often requires students to work from written directions. 6. Since most feedback in an online course is written, it is often not as immediate as a face-to-face course. 7. Online courses require at least as much time as on-campus courses. Most students feel that online courses are harder than face-to-face courses. 8. Most people who enroll in online courses find it difficult to come to campus on a regular basis because of their work, family or personal schedules. 9. Web-based materials are the primary source of directions and information in online courses so reading and comprehension skills are very important. 10. Students who do well in online courses are usually comfortable contacting the instructor as soon as they need help with the course.