What makes a successful online student?

Successful online students possess self-discipline and self-motivation.  Initially, the online learning process may seem demanding and will require commitment to stay up with the class and complete all of the work on time.  Once a student gets behind, it is very difficult to catch up.  Basically, an online student has to be an individual who wants to be part of an online course, and someone who truly wants to experience the online learning environment.  

With that in mind, the online student should also possess the following qualities:

1.  Be able to communicate through writing.
In the virtual classroom, nearly all communication is written, so it is critical that students feel comfortable in expressing themselves in writing.  Additionally, research and writing skills are vital for all online courses.  Knowing how to effectively research the Internet and having strong writing skills will definitely be an advantage.

2.  Possess strong reading and critical thinking skills.
Text books and written material presented on the Internet are the primary source of information for online courses; therefore, strong reading skills are very important for success in an online course.   Additionally, online students will be required to evaluate information sources for accuracy, bias, and reliability.

3.  Be willing to "speak up" if problems arise.
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 an online course.  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 to the instructor.  Otherwise the instructor will never know the student is having difficulty.  Resolving problems at a distance without the mechanisms that exist in a regular classroom can pose some challenges.  Online students need to be assertive in order to make their needs known.

4.  Be willing and able to commit to 9 to 12 hours per week per three-credit course.
The distance learning environment is not easier than the traditional educational process.  In fact, many students say it requires more time and commitment.  Time management skills are necessary as you will have to plan— and follow— a schedule for accomplishing your assignments.

5.  Have reliable and continual access to a computer with a modem, access to the Internet, and necessary computer software.
Online courses use the computer and Internet access as the communication medium. The online student must have reliable and frequent access to the necessary equipment and software.  Such access can be had either at home, work, a school computer lab, or the local library.

6.  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, he or she may be more comfortable in the traditional classroom.  Online courses are 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. Though online interaction removes some of the barriers found in the traditional classroom, the social interaction in the online classroom is not the same as being on a campus. 

7.  Be open and willing to work as part of a group or team.
Many online courses require group or team activities, so the ability to work well cooperatively is an important skill.  Do keep in mind that the online environment adds some additional challenges to working in groups— challenges not barriers.

8.  Patience and ability to rely on back-up plans for the inevitable technical hurdles.
Remember, technology will sometimes fail!  Expecting this, successful online students will develop back-up plans for the times when access to the Internet is lost, the computer fails to operate, or personal computer files have become corrupted. 

9.  Be self-motivated and self-disciplined.
This cannot be stressed enough.  With the freedom and flexibility of the online course comes responsibility.  An online course takes a real commitment and discipline to keep up with the flow and development of the learning process.

10.  Capable of having fun while learning!
The opportunity to learn new and interesting material should always be approached with the idea that learning can be fun!  This approach is the same for online courses as well as on-campus courses.