Role of the Student
Student preparation is not exclusively the responsibility of the instructor. One of the defining traits of online learning is the increased independence of learners. Online students can contribute to successful learning/preparation through the following:
- Awareness
- Evaluate expectations, assess time needed to complete work, understand motivations/value of the learning, assess personal skills -technical and study skills.
- Orientation
- Online, a student goes through several stages before engaging the content - the computer, internet, the virtual classroom, software, instructor and students, and finally the content.
- Different students will enter a course at different levels of preparedness...but in online courses, and instructor should be able to accommodate a student at any level
- Discipline
- Follow course schedule and complete assignments
- Organization
- Schedule study time and online time to ensure all course obligations are met
- Self-directed
- Able to motivate her/himself...ask for help when needed, etc.
- Internal or externally motivated
- (ie, some requirement or just because it's something that really interests them)
