What is the Profile of a Successful Online Student?

Motivated, Independent, Self-directed, and able to navigate Technical Requirements.

"A successful online student can be of any age, gender, ethnicity and willing to learn."

Self Discipline and Motivation
Time Management/Time Commitment
The 3 Rs -- Read, Read, Read
Communication/Writing Skills
Contact your Instructor
Will you miss the Classroom Setting?
Computer/online skills
Other advice

What makes a successful online student?

Online courses are not the same as a traditional, on campus course. The way the material is presented, the interaction between instructor and student and between classmates, and the overall learning experience can be difficult to get used to, but taking an online course can be a very rewarding experience. Online courses are not for everyone. Even if you are an excellent student you may find that your learning style in not compatible with the online environment. We have found that there are several areas in which an online student differs from a traditional student.

Self-Discipline and Motivation

Unlike traditional courses where the students sit in a classroom and listen to a lecture several times a week, most of the communication in an online course is asynchronous, meaning that class members participate in the course and complete their assignments at different times of the day and week.

• Dedicated is the most important then focused, interested, and a student who is not a procrastinator.
• Self disciplined and motivated to work at school. People who really want to get through school are the ones that are successful, not the ones who don't have a clue where they want to go in life.
• Dedication and the drive to go after what you want. You have to REALLY want this to do it online.
• Discipline is a major key in taking an on_line course, it also takes time, willingness, talent, and good reading skills.
• Someone who is on top of things and understands that they are taking this class independent of any in class instruction.
• An online student must have self discipline and time management skills. The hardest part of the class is trying to keep the due dates of assignments and tests straight. When you have five online classes and no one to remind you when something is due, you really have to pay attention.
• Willpower. More so than any other class, an online class forces you to do things for yourself. It does not grudgingly wake you up at 6am, it does not gaze down at you with scorn as you walk into class late, and it does not remind of you upcoming assignments. It is like a memory...always tugging at the back of your mind. And it takes the WILLPOWER to say, "I will finish this class."
• I'd say someone who is self-motivated and responsible. Maybe even someone who is taking the class because they want to, and not necessarily because they have to. There would be more of a desire and motivation to do well.
• Self-motivation. When you don't have a teacher telling you every day that this is what's due tomorrow, it places all the responsibility on you and you have to be motivated enough to find out what's required, stay on top of it, and study hard on your own. Dedication. This kind of goes along with the motivation because it's easy to get tired towards the end and sort of give up. It's easier without the personal contact you get with a teacher who realizes you're slowing down and pulls you aside after class. I don't feel like the teachers know the online students so it's really up to the students to take on the full responsibility for their learning.

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Time Management/Time Commitment

Online courses require just as much (if not more) time and commitment as do traditional courses. Completing course assignments and other learning activities can take many hours per week. You may find that you need to be online every day or almost every day. Before registering for an online course, make sure you set aside time to "go to class."

• Do your assignments in a word processor and then copy them into the Portfolio. That way you won’t loose work if the system goes down
• (A successful online student is) Someone who does not wait tell the last minute to do the work. If one waits, they really can get behind.
• Do not procrastinate and be organized
• Keeping up with the course schedule or even working ahead. Give more attention to an online class than a campus class
• doesn't procrastinate on doing assignments and so forth
• If you check into your class regularly and keep up with the work.
• you can't procrastinate. It's easy to slack, because you think you have so much time, but it goes by fast when you procrastinate.
• To keep up with the due dates. And I like specific due dates. I have found the classes that you can take up to a year to finish, are not easy for me to get done. I have to have a deadline, no matter how frenzied my life becomes.
• Just because your not in class does not mean you can do everything at the last minute before the semester ends.
• Setting a side time each day for my classes, learning to say no sometimes helps. People need to realize, just because we are home, doesn't mean we are free for them to decide what we should be doing.
• the online course in comparison to on-campus courses are much more time consuming and more difficult.
• must be able to work independently and budget time efficiently.
• Organization. If you could to the best of your ability, work out a time frame for studying, family obligations, work, and free time, then you would be giving the best you can to the people involved in your life. Dedication, without it a time frame would not work out as well as it could.
• Although people may think that online studies gives room to laziness but a successful online student as to devote much of is time to study in order to be successful.
• The ability to schedule your time and keep to your schedule.
• Above all, an online student cannot procrastinate!! A procrastinator should never take an online class.

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The 3 R's -- Read, read, and read some more

The challenge for many online students isn’t finding the time to go online to "go to class", it’s finding the time and the energy to do all the reading. While some of the online courses have online video lectures, all of them require reading and lots of it.

• just read the book.
• good at reading and understanding textbooks
• To make a successful online student you have to do the work assignments, read the book, and have good study habits.
• Self-motivated and can learn by reading material instead of hearing the material presented in lecture form.
• someone who reads up on information and then submits it.
• Task oriented, able to understand and grasp concepts just from reading, and do not procrastinate.
• Do the work assigned, don't just do the assignments, but read the chapters and study.
• Someone is able to read the instructions and following the course outline to achieve a good grade.
• able to learn material from reading only, not a procrastinator
• Self Discipline, strong reading and comprehension skills, and a good memory to remember when the due dates are

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Communication/Writing skills

In online courses nearly all communication is written, so it is important that you feel comfortable expressing yourself in writing. Many instructors will grade on grammar and spelling as much as content. If this is a weak area, you might want to brush up or make sure you spell/grammar check before submitting assignments (do the work in a word processor first, then copy it into the Portfolio.)

• keep in touch with your instructor
• uses the internet as an opportunity to enhance communication between instructor and student not just as an alternative to a personal visit.
• check your email
• Well versed in on-line communications
• Doing the work. Update yourself on the work and the teacher's instructions.
• Writing ability and discipline (must stay with the class)
• ability to email teacher and other students to get the answers to questions. Helping others out with questions is important.

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Contact your instructor

If you are having problems with your course content or the technology fails, you need to let your instructor know as soon as possible. The instructors and the Distance Education Office are willing to work with you, but we can’t if we don’t know what is wrong.

• (A successful online student) has the ability to get on the same page as the instructor.
• Uses e-mail correspondence often with the professor.
• Maintains respect for the professor and other students.
• Student-teacher interaction, access to the information needed, dedication, and a realization that as much time needs to be spent (if not more) for online study as for classes on campus.
• willingness to communicate with instructor if you're having a problem.
• asking the instructor questions about their expectations by e-mail
• Make own schedule to be able to understand the material and e-mail professor if something isn't clear.
• Have a good relationship with the instructor, one where you e-mail back and fourth regularly
• Don’t be afraid to contact the instructor. Ask questions! No matter how dumb you think they are.

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Will you miss the classroom setting?

The interaction in online courses may be very high. Many courses use Chat, online discussions, and encourage e-mail between students and between students and instructors. However, for some students, nothing compares with the face-to-face interaction that takes place in the classroom. Some online students really miss having the chance to see and listen to their instructors and classmates. If you really love the classroom setting, online courses may not be right for you.

• You have to be good at studying independently.
• I am responsible to learn the material. Some one isn't up in front of the class telling me step by step what to do. If I want the information, I have to find it.
• A student who is independent, who can get the work done on time with the best effort possible.
• someone who is willing to do the work on their own. Someone dedicated to doing it with out a teacher telling them.
• I think I would have enjoyed taking this class in a traditional setting so that I could participate in discussions with other students as well.
• I would probably only take an online course again if I weren’t near the university. I miss the interaction between students and instructors
• this was my first experience with an online course. It is a very different mode of learning, compared to a traditional classroom like setting.

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An online course is, well, Online! You have to use a computer!

The personal computer is the primary learning and communication tool in most online courses. You don’t need to be a geek or guru to succeed, but you do have to be able to use a computer. Having a computer and internet access at home is preferred by most students, but many use the computer labs on campus to access their online courses. You also need to have some basic computer skills, such as word processing and using a web browser (like Netscape or Internet Explorer).

• Knowing how to use my computer would help (I'm learning fast, with the help of my kids.)
• has easy access to the internet
• familiar with internet and email
• The more you know about computers, the better. But you don't have to be a computer whiz to figure it out. Having a cable modem makes me a better student because I don't have the patience to wait for a computer to get the appropriate material for class. Before I had a cable modem, I would be waiting for something to download and it would take forever. I would get too impatient and just say "Screw It!" Then I would get behind on my assignments.
• A student's success online is very dependant on how well internet services are functioning.
• Someone who understands the basics of internet communication.
• dedication. stress free. expertises on computers. loves to do extreme amounts of work. has lots of time to spend on the computer. loves to buy ink cartridges.

So, an online course is not easy. There are many things to consider when deciding whether or not to sign up for an online course. It comes down to you knowing yourself and whether or not your learning style and life style fit with online course requirements. If you have the right qualities and/or are willing to invest in yourself as an online learner, you will probably find the online environment to be a very convenient and rewarding alternative to traditional classroom learning.

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Here are some more things that are worth mentioning:

• turn in assignments before the due date. study as normal. relax.
• Have a little luck on your side.
• You do need to check in with the class on a regular basis. I learned from my first online classes over the summer, that I can not afford to get behind.
• I have all instruction with me, and I can read again when I don't understand
• I think it is one who actually does the assigned work and doesn't procrastinate until the end.
• Determination, study skills, and dedication.
• Dedication, responsibility, good work ethic.
• lots of free time, light class load, the same qualities that make up a successful normal student
• You have to want to take the course and spend the time completing it.
• You must be energetic to learn because there is no one in front of the class encouraging you to do your assignments.
• I do my work on time or before it is due
• honesty, willingness to learn new things and experiment, non-traditional
• I need more expedient response to email correspondence as well as more feedback on assignments turned in through email, especially when a poor grade is assigned so I might correct the problem or difficulty.
• A good online student is a person who is very self-motivated, dedicated and disciplined. You have to have motivation to be able to teach yourself. You also have to be a very responsible person to make sure to turn in all your assignments on time because you don't have the teacher telling you in class. You have to be dedicated and disciplined to get all the work done efficiently and in a timely manner.
• A paced course where things are due weekly help me a lot.
• One who is motivated to get on the computer and do the work. Also, that person would have to be able to understand how to use the services.
• Starts early in the semester and makes time to finish the class. Must be motivated and not wait until the last min.
• Must learn some netiquette (no caps, no chat room speak, etc.) Must have an understanding that online classes should be treated just as on campus classes.
• if you have questions make sure you know how to reach instructor
• Dedicated to getting the degree.
• Online versus traditional: I see no difference. A student will accomplish his/her goals no matter which vehicle is used.
• one who understands or can learn fast or easily.
• do your homework before the deadline, hopefully 1 day ahead at least, and also find a quiet time to study.
• Working, industrious, and willing to fit school into their day.
• Making goals and being serious about meeting them.
• ability to make sense out of the assignments (which is sometimes difficult because it is not in print)
• Not procrastinating. I agree with the statement that it's the biggest killer.
• is dedicated to doing the required work, and completes all assignments in hopes of getting the best grade possible.
• Going online as much as possible to follow up with any assignments that may be due or online discussions that you may have to participate in.
• Someone who does their work efficiently (on-time and quickly). Someone who is independent enough to not need as much guidance from a teacher. Someone who works on their own initiative and does not procrastinate the work.
• compatible schedule, no little kids.
• You have to be able to actually get on line and do the work. You have to be self motivated.
• self propelled research and study
• Someone who is on the ball and gets assignments in early.
• A successful online student is one that learns from the class they are taking since it is primarily
• I think a successful online student is one who wont abuse the system, is willing to do the work, and is dedicated to improving themselves.
• To log on, to class, at least twice a week. Turn in assignments when they are due, just like the traditional way.

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