Are Online Courses Right For You?

Online learning offers a convenient way to fulfill your coursework requirements. You can attend class at your convenience --- early in the morning, late at night, or whenever best fits your schedule. However, online learning also requires a unique personal commitment to your education.

The following assessments should help you determine if Online learning is right for you before you actually register for an online course. You can assess your readiness for online learning by taking the three self assessments listed below.

Self Assessments

How Do You Learn?

Success in an online course often depends as much on your motivation and surrounding learning environment as it does on technical capacity.

Try taking this self assessment to see how well online courses fit your learning style, lifestyle and character. Print this page, choose and circle only one answer for each question, then check your scores.

Learning Assessment

1.  My need to take this course now is:

a.  High (I need the course immediately to graduate)

b.  Moderate (I could take it on campus later)

c.  Low (It could be postponed)

2.  Feeling that I am a part of the class is:

a.  Not particularly necessary to me

b.  Somewhat important to me

c.  Very important to me

3.  I would classify myself as someone who:

a.  Often gets things done ahead of time

b.  Needs reminding to get things done

c.  Puts things off until the last minute

4.  Classroom discussions are:

a.  Rarely helpful to me

b.  Sometimes helpful to me

c.  Almost always helpful to me

5.  When an instructor hands out directions for an assignment, I prefer:

a.  Figuring out the instructions on my own

b.  Trying to follow the directions on my own and to ask for help as needed

c.  Having the instructions explained by the instructor

6.  Being in the same classroom as my instructor is:

a.  Not important to me as long as I have access to the instructor

b.  Somewhat important to me

c.  Very important to me

7.  Based on my schedule, the amount of time I have to work on each online course is:

a.  7-9 hours per week

b.  4-6 hours per week

c.  1-3 hours per week

8.  When I am asked to use technologies that are new to me:

a.  I look forward to learning new skills

b.  I feel apprehensive, but try anyway

c.  I put it off or try to avoid it

9.  As a reader:

a.  I usually understand the text without help

b.  I sometimes need help to understand the text

c.  I almost always need help understanding a college text

10.  As a writer:

a.  I find it easy to write down my thoughts in detail

b.  I can write down my thoughts with help from the instructor

c.  It is not easy for me to write down my thoughts

Scoring the Assessment

Add 3 points for each "a" that you circled.
Add 2 points for each "b" that you circled.
Add 1 point for each "c" that you circled.

If you scored over 25 points on this assessment, online courses may be just right for you! Continue on to the Technology Assessment to further evaluate your readiness.

If you scored between 15 and 25 points, online courses may work for you, but you may need to make some adjustments to your learning habits to succeed. We recommend that you take a general college success management course before enrolling (most schools offer this type of intro course) in an online course.

If you scored 14 points or less, online courses are probably not a suitable option for you. Rethink your reasons for wanting to enroll in an online course. Decide now if you still feel comfortable with this style of instruction and capable of learning this way. If you decide against taking an online course, please visit with your advisor, who will help you select a traditional classroom course.

Explanation to Each Question

1. Unless there are compelling reasons for completing a course, course work is often neglected because of personal or work circumstances.

2. Some students prefer to learn independently while others find it too difficult.

3. Online courses give you greater freedom to schedule your work, but they also require more self-discipline.

4. Some people learn best by interacting with other students.  Online courses do offer considerable interaction, but it is not face-to-face or synchronous.

5. Online courses require you to work from written directions without face-to-face explanations by the instructor.

6. While the level of interaction can be very high in online courses, it is not the same as face-to-face interaction.

7. Online courses usually require more time than attending classes and completing assignments for campus courses. We recommend that you take no more than two online courses each semester.

8. Online courses use a variety of technologies for teaching and communicating.

9. Written materials are the primary source of directions and information in online courses. You will need to be comfortable with reading and following written directions, without oral communication with your instructor.

10. Most communication in an online course is written.

What is Your Access to Technology?

In order to participate in an online course, you must have the required hardware and software tools readily available to you on a convenient and consistent basis. While some online courses may require more technical requirements than others, we recommend that you have at a minimum the requirements listed below.

Consult this self assessment to evaluate your technical readiness for online courses.

Technology Assessment

Technical Requirements for Online Courses

Please be aware that some courses use textbooks with CD-ROMs.

No pop-up blockers are supported. YCCC online courses generate popups that are required for correct operation. Please disable all blockers before logging into an online course.

Please note that if you are using a computer on a network that has a firewall you may be unable to access your online course.

Your anti-virus software may include a firewall. If you are having trouble logging in, check your anti-virus software settings.

What Computer Skills Do You Have?

Prior experience using a computer for personal or work-related activities is very important in the online learning environment. YCCC recommends that all online students have certain fundamental computer skills before enrolling in an online course.

Try taking this self assessment to determine if you have the fundamental computer skills necessary for participating in an online course.  Print this page, choose and circle only one answer for each question, then check your scores.

If you need a refresher on how to perform any of the recommended skills, click on the "How do I do that?" graphic for the appropriate question.

Keep in mind that online courses are not designed to teach you how to use a computer. You must be able to use a computer efficiently in order to succeed in an online course. Instructors assume that you have the basic skills and knowledge suggested by each of the questions in this assessment.

Skills Assessment

1.  I know how to start and exit programs.

a.  Yes

b.  No

2.  I know how to connect to the Internet.

a.  Yes

b.  No

3.  I know how to use a browser, such as Internet Explorer.

a.  Yes

b.  No

4.  I know how to send email.

a.  Yes

b.  No

5.  I know how to attach a file to an email.

a.  Yes

b.  No

6.  I know how to use word processing software, such as Microsoft Word.

a.  Yes

b.  No

7.  I know how to name, save, retrieve, and revise a document.

a.  Yes

b.  No

8.  I know how to create, save, move, name, find, and delete files and folders.

a.  Yes

b.  No

9.  I know how to open and work with more than one application at a time.

a.  Yes

b.  No

10. I know how to get help from the correct support resources (library, TSS, tutoring, etc.) when I run into computing difficulties or have problems accessing the Internet.

a.  Yes

b.  No

Scoring the Assessment

Add 2 points for each "a" that you circled.
Add 1 point for each "b" that you circled.

If you scored 18 or more points, online courses may be just right for you!

If you scored 17 points or less, you should probably work on your computer skills before taking an online course. We recommend enrolling in CIS 102 - Introduction to Computer Operations (1 Credit), one of the York County Adult Education programs, or your own local adult education program to acquire the skills necessary to do well in an online course.