Am I Ready for an Online Course?

Is an online course the right choice for you? How well will it fit your circumstances and lifestyle? Choose an answer for each question, press the Submit to have your form evaluated, and assess how well an online course will fit your needs. And, please, be as honest as you can; we want to help you maximize your opportunity to succeed in our online classes!

  1. My need to take this course now is...
    • High - I need it immediately for degree, job, or other important reason.
    • Moderate - I could take it on campus later.
    • Low - it's a personal interest that could be postponed.

  2. Feeling that I am a part of a class is...
    • not particularly necessary to me.
    • somewhat important to me.
    • very important to me.

  3. I would classify myself as someone who...
    • often gets things done ahead of time.
    • needs reminding to get things done on time.
    • puts things off until the last minute.

  4. Classroom discussions are...
    • rarely helpful to me.
    • sometimes helpful to me.
    • almost always helpful to me.

  5. When an instructor hands out directions for an assignment, I prefer...
    • figuring out the instructions on my own.
    • trying to follow the directions on my own, then asking for help as needed.
    • having the instructions explained orally first.

  6. I need faculty comments on my assignments...
    • right away, or I get very frustrated.
    • within a few days, or I forget what I did.
    • within a few weeks, so I can review what I did.

  7. Considering my professional and personal schedule, the amount of time I have to work on an online course is...
    • more than enough for a campus class.
    • the same as for taking a class on campus.
    • less than for taking a class on campus.

  8. When I am asked to use VCRs, computers, voice mail or other technologies that may be new to me...
    • I look forward to learning new skills.
    • I feel apprehensive, but try anyway.
    • I put it off or try to avoid it.

  9. As a reader, I would classify myself as...
    • good - I usually understand the text without help.
    • average - I sometimes need help to understand the text.
    • slower than average.

  10. My computer skills, including use of keyboard, mouse, copy and paste, file management, and downloading and uploading files, are...
    • excellent--I am very comfortable using my computer.
    • good--I am more comfortable with keyboard and mouse than with file management.
    • weak--I can "hunt and peck" but have never downloaded or uploaded files.

  11. My experience with the Internet,using a browser and search engines, and bookmarking a page ("adding favorites") is...
    • extensive--I spend several hours each week exploring the Web.
    • average--I have used search engines and bookmarked websites.
    • limited--I have never searched the Web or located a URL.

  12. My experience with email is...
    • extensive--I can save and retrieve messages, send attachments, retrieve and open attachments.
    • average--I use email regularly, but have never sent or retrieved an attachment.
    • limited--I rarely use email.