Distance Education: Is a Virtual Classroom for You?

Part 3

Challenging Aspects of Distance Education

·         Lack of in-person interaction: Some educators argue that both teacher-student and student-student contract are essential to learning. In a distance-learning classroom, you may be to participate in class discussion online in chat rooms, messages boards or Web conferences – but it’s not the same as being with other students in a classroom.
·         Difference levels of quality: Many distance-education programs supply an excellent learning experience, but other may not. Research any program before signing on to make sure it’s rigorous enough. If you are choosing your own program, look into its accreditation before enrolling.
·         The need to self-start: Distance education lets you make your own schedules. If you have a hard time getting motivated, this might not be the ideal educational setting for you.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Successful Students

5-6

 

5.       Don’t sit in the back of the room. Successful students minimize classroom distractions that interfere with learning.
Students want the best seat available for their entertainment dollars, but willingly seek the worst seat for their educational dollars. Students who sit in the back cannot possibly be their professor’s teammate (see no. 4). Why do they expose themselves to the temptations of inactive classroom experiences and distractions of all the people between them and their instructor? Of course, we k now they chose the back of the classroom because they seek invisibility or anonymity, both of which are antithetical of efficient and effective learning. If you are trying not to be part of the class, why, then, are you wasting your time? Push your hot buttons, is there something else you could be doing with your time?

6.       . . . take good notes. Successful students take notes that are understandable or organized, and review them often.

Why put something into your notes you don’t understand? Ask the questions now that are necessary to make your notes meaningful at some later time. A short review of your notes while the material is still fresh on your mind helps you to learn more. The more you learn then, the less you’ll have to learn later and the less time it will take because you won’t have to include some deciphering time, also. The whole purpose of taking notes is to use them, and use them often. The more you use them, the more they improve.

 

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!