Is an Online Class a Good Choice for You?
Each learner has a unique set of characteristics which make up his or her learning style. Experience has shown that some learning styles are likely to be well-suited to success in an online class; while others are usually more successful in a face-to-face environment.
| Column A – ready for e-learning | Column B – suits better face-to-face environment |
|---|---|
| I realize an online class will require “x” hours of work per week, and I can commit to making the time | My schedule doesn’t really allow for that kind of time commitment right now. |
| I can usually stay on task without direct supervision. I’m pretty good at setting my own deadlines and I can usually meet them. | I meet class deadlines best when someone is there to remind me and keep me focused. |
| I can usually understand and follow written instructions without much trouble. | Written instructions are usually less effective for me than listening as someone explains the process. |
| I can usually absorb course concepts pretty well by reading the books and handouts assigned for a course. | My learning style depends pretty heavily on having an instructor summarize and explain our assigned readings during class time. |
| I’m generally comfortable expressing myself in writing. I can usually conduct satisfactory communication via email. | I find it somewhat difficult to express myself in writing. I’d far rather communicate in a face-to-face conversation. |
| I have pretty good time management skills. I can usually plan my week to include blocks of time for an upcoming project or for study, and then keep to that schedule. | It’s pretty easy for me to procrastinate. Even if I intend to hold to my study schedule, I often wind up postponing until a deadline forces me into action. |
| I am usually pretty good at assessing my own progress. Once I know what is required of me, I can usually tell whether I am “getting it” or not. | I usually depend on instructor feed-back to help me know whether I am “getting it” or not. |
| I look forward to participating in group discussions and even group collaborative projects online. | I’m usually pretty independent. I’d prefer not to have to participate in group work. |
| I may not be a techie, but I usually enjoy learning new computer and technology skills. | Although I use a computer, I have to admit the thought of having to learn new computer or technology skills causes me a bit of anxiety. |
| I would rate my skill at using a word-processing program like Microsoft Word as average or better. I am comfortable creating, saving, and managing basic files. | I’ve used Word for simple word-processing, but have not had much experience in managing my files. |
Source: Assessment used at the
UW Extension E-learning course
to map students learning style