Is Online Learning Right for Me?

Our online classes provide students greater flexibility in scheduling, but they also require time management skills and self-motivation for successful completion. Online courses may not fit every student's needs, expectations or learning style.

If you are considering enrolling in an online program or just taking one online class, we suggest reviewing the following information. These resources will give you a better indication of your aptitude for online education and help you decide whether online learning is right for you.

Technical Skills Checklist
To see if online courses are a good choice for you, please answer the following questions with a yes or no. Give yourself one point for each of the yes answers that you have and then read the discussion that follows to determine if you are a good candidate for online learning. Our checklist is meant to give you a general understanding of the knowledge and skills needed to ensure a successful and positive experience with our online courses.

Computer Operations/Concepts:

Internet/World Wide Web:

Email Basics:

1. Can you start, restart and shut down a computer?
2. Do you know how to click, double-click and right click the mouse?
3. Can you open, close, minimize and move windows and menus on your computer’s desktop?
4. Do you know how to create folders and navigate a directory to locate files?
5. Can you save and retrieve files from storage devices, such as a hard drive, disk or external drive?

Word Processing Skills:

1. Can you create, save, delete and print a word processing document?
2. Do you know how to cut, copy and paste text in a document?
3. Can you change text formatting, such as font style and size, paragraph alignment, etc.?
4. Do you know how to use the spell check feature of your word processing program?
5. Can you rename, copy or save a document to a disk, hard drive, etc.?
6. Can you distinguish between a website URL and an email address?
7. Given a URL, can you access the Internet and go to that website?
8. Do you know how to use the "Bookmark" or "Favorites" feature of your browser?
9. Are you familiar with using Internet search engines, such as Google or Yahoo?
10. Can you download and install browser plug-ins for common software applications, such as Adobe Reader, Windows Media Player, Real Player, etc.?
11. Do you know how to acquire a free, personal email address, or have you already established an email account of your own?
12. Do you know how to send, receive, forward and reply to email messages?
13. Can you save and delete email messages?
14. Do you know how to attach a file to an email message and open an incoming email attachment?
15. Can you use the address book feature of your email to create and send group mailings?

How did you do? Are you a good candidate for online learning?

If you scored from 20-16: Your technical skills and experiences are suitable to make online learning a good choice for you.

If you scored from 15-12: Your familiarity with computers and the level of your technical skills may cause you some difficulty in successfully completing an online learning course. You might want to brush up on a few of these skills before starting your first online class. For additional help in any of these areas, please contact us.

If you scored 11 or fewer: Before registering for an online learning course, you should develop your computer and electronic literacy skills to increase your level of participation and success in online learning courses. For additional help in any of these areas, please contact us.