What Makes a Successful Online Student?*

 

Online students possesses unique qualities. The online students of today consist primarily of working people who are trying to better their opportunities. This however is changing, as more and more young and older people become aware of the online model. The traditional school will never go away, but the virtual classroom is a significant player in today’s educational community. Corporations are using the online model to train technical professionals while private and public universities redefine the world as their markets. The market for students is expanding rapidly. In general, the online student should possess the following qualities:

  1. Be open minded about sharing life, work, and educational experiences as part of the learning process.
  2. Introverts as well as extroverts find that the online process requires them to utilize their experiences. This forum for communication eliminates the visual barriers that hinder some individuals in expressing themselves. In addition, the student is given time to reflect on the information before responding. The online environment should be open and friendly.

  3. Be able to communicate through writing.
  4. In the Virtual Classroom, nearly all communication is written, so it is critical that students feel comfortable in expressing themselves in writing. Many students have limited writing abilities, which should be addressed before or as part of the online experience. This may require remedial efforts on the part of the student.

  5. Be Self-motivated and self-disciplined.
  6. With the freedom and flexibility of the online environment comes responsibility. The online process takes a real commitment and discipline to keep up with the flow of the process.

  7. Be willing to "speak up" if problems arise.
  8. Many of the non-verbal communication mechanisms that instructors use in determining whether students are having problems (confusion, frustration, boredom, absence, etc.) are not possible in the online paradigm. If a student is experiencing difficulty on any level (either with the technology or with the course content), he or she must communicate this immediately. Otherwise the instructor will never know what is wrong.

  9. Be willing and able to commit to 4 to 15 hours per week per course.
  10. Online is not easier than the traditional educational process. In fact, many students will say it requires much more time and commitment.

  11. Be able to meet the minimum requirements for the program.
  12. The requirements for online are no less than that of any other quality educational program. The successful student will view online as a convenient way to receive their education – not an easier way.

  13. Accept critical thinking and decision making as part of the learning process.
  14. The learning process requires the student to make decisions based on facts as well as experience. Assimilating information and executing the right decisions requires critical thought; case analysis does this very effectively.

  15. Have access to a computer and a modem.
  16. The communication medium is a computer, phone line, and modem; the student must have access to the necessary equipment.

  17. Be able to think ideas through before responding.
  18. Meaningful and quality input into the virtual classroom is an essential part of the learning process. Time is given in the process to allow for the careful consideration of responses. The testing and challenging of ideas is encouraged; you will not always be right, just be prepared to accept a challenge.

  19. Feel that high quality learning can take place without going to a traditional classroom.

    If the student feels that a traditional classroom is a prerequisite to learning, they may be more comfortable in the traditional classroom. Online is not for everybody. A student that wants to be on a traditional campus attending a traditional classroom is probably not going to be happy online. While the level of social interaction can be very high in the virtual classroom given that many barriers come down in the online format, it is not the same as living in a dorm on a campus. This should be made known. An online student is expected to:
  • Participate in the virtual classroom 5-7 days a week
  • Be able to work with others in completing projects
  • Be able to use the technology properly
  • Be able to meet the minimum standards as set forth by the institution
  • Be able to complete assignments on time
  • Enjoy communicating in writing.

The online learning process is normally accelerated and requires commitment on the student’s part. Staying up with the class and completing all work on time is vital. Once a student gets behind, it is almost impossible to catch up. Basically, the student needs to want to be there, and needs to want the experience. The instructor may have to contact students personally to offer assistance and remind the student of the need to keep up.

Just as many excellent instructors may not be effective online facilitators, not all students possess the necessary qualities to perform well online. In your online course, you may want to include reference links to resources and tips for your students to use to help them be more successful online learners. Clearly outline your expectations and the necessary characteristics of a successful online student so your students can understand if the online environment will be a productive learning environment for them. Provide a questionnaire for prospective students to fill out to assess whether they are good candidates for online learning.

*Adapted from University of Illinois Assessment by Margie Geasler

 



3. Lesson 3: Course Layout

LESSON # 3

1. SUBJECT: Course Layout

2. OBJECTIVES: Describe contents of different areas in the course management system.

3. ACTIVITIES:

A. Areas within WebCT:

Meet the Instructor- provides an overview about the person teaching the course.
Introduction/Syllabus- important information about the course including:

Course Information
Instructor Information

Course Description
Course Goals
Learning Objectives
Course Materials
Technology Tools

Help with Coursework
Instructor Guidelines
Student Responsibilities
Policies/ Academic Honesty

Assignment Details
Evaluation and Grading

Assignment/Planning Schedule- list of all assignments and due dates, (self instructional courses use this tool as a planning schedule.)

Note: The following WebCT areas can not be linked use the navigation bar or homepage icons to access.

Content- links to lessons, assignments, quizzes and other requirements
Quizzes/Tests/Surveys: Online quizzes, tests and surveys
My Grades- location of grades for course

Discussion/Bulletin Board- threaded discussion area where you can participate in class discussions, interact with peers and instructor.
Chat Area- Real time chat area for participation and discussion.
Whiteboard- Real time drawing board for demonstrating concepts graphically.

How To- helpful tips on how to attach assignments, use WebCT, etc.
Compile/Print- allows you to print assignments
Search- allows you to search the course
.

Instructor may not utilize all areas/tools within WebCT

4. ASSIGNMENT #3:

View the different areas in this course.

Department of Distance Education, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5231
Telephone: (269) 387-4216, Fax: (269) 387-4226

Contact: dde-online@wmich.edu
Copyright© Western Michigan University

 



4. Lesson 4: Content

LESSON #4

1. SUBJECT: Contents

2. OBJECTIVES: Access course lessons/assignments details

3. ACTIVITIES:

A. Accessing Content: Click on Content located on the navigation bar or icon on the homepage. A list of Lessons/assignments will be displayed with links to the actual assignment.

If there is BLUE arrow on the Content page, the arrow must be pointing down to view all of the contents.

Content Hidden
Content Showing

Click on Lesson/Assignment to access details of assignments.

Click on listed quiz when you are ready to take the quiz.

B. Lesson Layout: instructors may vary the lesson layout. Lessons may have the following layout:

LESSON #

  1. Subject: What lesson is covering.
  2. Objective: learning objective for the lesson.
  3. Resources/ Materials: Additional resources the learner may want to explore to gain additional information, in addition to actual activity.
    • Website Address- URL’s
    • Videos
    • Textbook Chapter/Pages
    • Articles/Other Sources
  4. Activities: What the student needs to do for this lesson to accomplish objective of assignment.

    Reading Assignment:
    • Textbook Chapter/Pages
    • Articles/Other Sources

    Additional Material:
    • Video Tape(s)
    • Audio File/Tape(s)
    • PowerPoint Presentations
    • Graphics
    • Internet Links (URL’s)
    • Handouts
    • Other Material

  5. Assignment: (Performance measures- what needs to be turned in and how)- if more then one part all note if all parts must be submitted together or separately.
    • Developed Material
      • Written/Report/Term Paper
      • Journal
      • Form/ Project
      • Other
    • Quiz/Test – Online (may be proctored)
    • Discussion/Bulletin Board

4. ASSIGNMENT #4:

View the Content area of this course. Hide and Unhide the Pre Assessment Quiz link.

Department of Distance Education, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5231
Telephone: (269) 387-4216, Fax: (269) 387-4226

Contact: dde-online@wmich.edu
Copyright© Western Michigan University

 



5. Lesson 5: Drop Box

LESSON # 5

1. SUBJECT: Drop Box (submitting assignments)

2. OBJECTIVES: Submit an document/file to the Assignment Drop Box and view assignment feedback.

3. RESOURCES/MATERIALS:

4. ACTIVITIES:

A. Submitting your assignment using the WebCT Drop Box:

B. Reviewing Assignment Feedback:

5. ASSIGNMENT # 5:

A. Submit Document to Lesson 5 - Drop Box.

B. View Feedback for assignment (allow at least a week for feedback on this course.)

Department of Distance Education, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5231
Telephone: (269) 387-4216, Fax: (269) 387-4226

Contact: dde-online@wmich.edu
Copyright© Western Michigan University

 



6. Lesson 6: Quizzes and Surveys

LESSON #6

1. SUBJECT: Quizzes-Surveys

2. OBJECTIVES: Successfully take an WebCT online quiz.

3. ACTIVITIES:

A. Taking a Quiz- for step by step directions view the "How To" Quiz Basics All quizzes and surveys are located under Quizzes. Contents may also have links to individual quizzes and surveys.

B. View Quiz Results-

Immediately after taking quiz- Click on View Results button

Viewing Quiz results and instructors feedback later (unless instructor has turned off this option.) see directions "How To" View Quiz Results

C. Taking a Survey in WebCT is similar to taking a Quiz. Survey results can not be viewed by students. Surveys are submitted anonymously. An instructor can tell if a student has taken a survey but not the individual students results.

4. ASSIGNMENT #6:

A. Take Sample Quiz (automatically graded)

B. Take Sample Essay Quiz (not automatically graded)

C. Take Sample Survey

Department of Distance Education, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5231
Telephone: (269) 387-4216, Fax: (269) 387-4226

Contact: dde-online@wmich.edu
Copyright© Western Michigan University

 



7. Lesson 7: My Grades

LESSON # 7

1. SUBJECT: My Grades

2. OBJECTIVES: Review Grades for course online.

3. ACTIVITIES:

A. WebCT provides an online grade book. Click My Grades on navigation bar or icon on homepage.

If quiz grades are not automatically updated or assigments are not listed contact the instructor or Department of Distance Education.

5. ASSIGNMENT #7:

A. View My Grades

Department of Distance Education, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5231
Telephone: (269) 387-4216, Fax: (269) 387-4226

Contact: dde-online@wmich.edu
Copyright© Western Michigan University

 



8. Lesson 8: Discussion Board

LESSON # 8

1. SUBJECT: Discussion Board (also known as Bulletin Board)

2. OBJECTIVES:

3. RESOURCES/MATERIALS:

4. ACTIVITIES:

A. The Discussion Board is a communication tool used in an online course that allows students, instructors, and teaching assistants to send, read, and search for messages. Students can post and read messages when it is convienient for them, the Discussion Board is not in "real time" and messages are available throughout the course.

"Discussions is divided into different topics which allow your instructor to create discussion groups around particular subjects. Topics can be public or private. Everyone in your course can access public topics, while private topics are available only to the set of students and teaching assistants that the instructor chooses."(WebCT Help)

B. Directions for how to use Disscusson Board.

C. An additional feature of the Discussion Board is Search, provides the ability to find postings. Click on Search in the Discussion Board.

Search can look for keywords or other criteria. Select the criteria interested in searching for and type in the keyword under value. Example Criteria: Last Name Value: Lillis--- this search would list all of the postings made by Lillis.

 

5. ASSIGNMENT #8:

A. Post a message to the Discussion Board under Introductions.

B. Respond to a message in the Discussion Board found under Respond.

Department of Distance Education, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5231
Telephone: (269) 387-4216, Fax: (269) 387-4226

Contact: dde-online@wmich.edu
Copyright© Western Michigan University

 



9. Lesson 9: Chat

LESSON # 9

1. SUBJECT: Chat

2. OBJECTIVES: Communicate using WebCT Chat

3. RESOURCES/MATERIALS:

4. ACTIVITIES:

A. Chat Area provides the ability for participants to chat in "real time". WebCT offers four rooms for chatting.

B. Click on the Chat listing on the navigation bar or homepage icon. Directions for Chat Area.

 

5. ASSIGNMENT #9:

Arrange a time to chat with someone, make sure you determine which room you will meet in.

 

Department of Distance Education, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5231
Telephone: (269) 387-4216, Fax: (269) 387-4226

Contact: dde-online@wmich.edu
Copyright© Western Michigan University

 



10. Lesson 10: Mail

LESSON # 10

1. SUBJECT: Mail

2. OBJECTIVES: Send email through WebCT.

(1) Composing a message
(2) Forwarding message to another account
(3) Replying to message in WebCT
(4) Replying to message from outside email account.

3. RESOURCES/MATERIALS:

4. ACTIVITIES:

A. Electronic mail system is provided within WebCT. Messages can be sent to participants and the instructor of the course, individually or as a group.

Messages can not be sent from WebCT to an outside email address. WebCT Mail will only send messages to Instructor and participants.

B. Directions for sending and replying to WebCT mail: "How To" Use WebCT Mail.

C. "How To" Forward your WebCT Email to Another Email Address

 

5. ASSIGNMENT #10:

Department of Distance Education, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5231
Telephone: (269) 387-4216, Fax: (269) 387-4226

Contact: dde-online@wmich.edu
Copyright© Western Michigan University

 



11. Lesson 11: Other Areas in WebCT

LESSON #11

1. SUBJECT: Other Areas: "How To", Search and Compile

2. OBJECTIVES: Understand other tools provided in WebCT including:

3. RESOURCES/MATERIALS:

4. ACTIVITIES:

A. "How To" Area provides the following information:

B. Compile and Print Area

  1. Select Compile from the navagation bar or homepage icon.
  2. Select the pages of notes that you want to compile (items listed in Content page)
  3. Click Compile.
  4. To print use the print option in your browser.

C. Search- WebCT provides the ability to search the course:

  1. Search All
  2. Contains -enter keyword
  3. Press Search button- this will search Content area and Discussion Board

5. ASSIGNMENT #11:

Department of Distance Education, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5231
Telephone: (269) 387-4216, Fax: (269) 387-4226

Contact: dde-online@wmich.edu
Copyright© Western Michigan University

 



12. Lesson 12: Self-Assessment

LESSON # 12

1. SUBJECT: Self Assessment

2. OBJECTIVES: Learner will determine if taking an online course should be considered.

3. ACTIVITIES:

You will find that you will be much more successful in an online course if you follow the following steps to become familiar with various parts of the class. If you are really new to the internet, be sure to click on the words that are underlined (usually hyperlinked) and will link you to a document with more information.

1. Find out if you will be successful in the class by checking out the following self assessment tools:

2. If you are commited to taking an online course, check the suggestions for

3. Find out about your instructor as a person who is commited to helping you.

4. Click on the icons on the homepage (the page you were on when you came to this page), for more information about the course layout see:

5. Course Content is determined by the instructor, DDE works with the instructor to keep content delivery consistent. Check with the course instructor for assignment schedules, due dates and guidelines for working through lessons. Generally online courses use the following guidelines:

Each week (instructor determines what day the week starts) you will:
Review lesson/module
Review resources and material (if applicable)
Work through Activity which includes:

Read textbook content
View videos and other material
Review lesson content

Complete an assignment (if applicable)
Take an online quiz (if applicable)
Post to Discussion Board (if applicable)

Assignments and due dates determined by instructor.

4. ASSIGNMENT #12:

Take the self assessment tests listed in the Activity section above.

Department of Distance Education, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5231
Telephone: (269) 387-4216, Fax: (269) 387-4226

Contact: dde-online@wmich.edu
Copyright© Western Michigan University