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Is Distance
Learning Right for You?
Find out if you are prepared to take advantage of Distance
Learning opportunities at Darton College.
Taking courses online differs
significantly from the experience of traditional face-to-face
instruction. Many students are still learning the norms and
expectations of the online classroom. This introduction explains
issues you should consider, and how you can take full advantage of
this learning opportunity.
Students who perform well in face-to-face classrooms should adapt
easily to Distance Learning courses. It is not advisable to enroll
in distance learning courses in subject areas in which you have
experienced difficulties in the past. Distance learning
classes require fully as much time and effort as traditional
classes, and require some new ways of thinking and learning. Before
enrolling in a distance learning class you should review the
minimum recommended hardware requirements
and the Welcome to Distance Learning web
page. Then ask yourself these questions:
- Are you
comfortable working independently?
- Do you
feel comfortable requesting clarification when you need more
information?
- Are you
comfortable using a computer? Can you use e-mail, a word
processor, and 'cut' & 'paste' content between programs?
- Do you
have experience using a web browser and navigating the
Internet?
- Are you
comfortable learning from a text-based medium?
- Would you
be comfortable contacting your instructor by phone, fax or
e-mail if you experienced difficulty with the course?
If you answered "yes" to most
of those questions, then distance learning may be the right option
for you! If you felt less confident about some of these
questions, you may need to strengthen some of your technology
communication skills before attempting a distance learning course.
TIPS
Research indicates that most students benefit from familiarity
with distance learning environments. Here are some suggestions for
enhancing your learning experience :
- Do take
time to review the online help resources.
- Do spend
some time exploring the class web pages and making sure you
understand what the buttons are for.
- Do manage
your time. Along with the greater convenience and flexible
schedule of distance learning, you'll find greater
responsibility for maintaining the pace of your learning. Make a
commitment to the time you will spend working on the class. Stay
up to date with the assignments and with the participation
required in the course.
- Download
or print out course web pages needed for reference and review
when you are not on the Internet.
- Pay close
attention to the priorities established by your distance
learning instructor. Set goals for yourself and work toward
completing them.
- If you
are experiencing difficulty, whether it's a technical problem or
a learning issue, communication is critical. Help is available
by phone at (229) 317-6923 (local), 1-800-861-8318(long
distance) or by e-mail at:
webhelp@.darton.edu
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