Strategies for Success in Distance Education Courses

Factors for student success in distance education courses are generally the same for traditional on-campus courses, including keeping up with assignments, communicating with the instructor or other students in the course, and providing adequate time and energy for study. Because the student will not have frequent opportunities for face-to-face contact with the instructor or other students, special effort should be made to communicate via distance. Students should make effective use of e-mail to communicate with the instructor and with other students. Obtaining e-mail addresses for others in the class, chatting on-line in study or discussion groups, and communicating via telephone or phone mail with the instructor or other students are all ways the student can foster communication in the course.  It is important that students feel comfortable with the technologies utilized for instructional purposes.

Special commitment should be made by distance education students to devote adequate time and energy to study. If applicable, videotapes should be viewed regularly as assigned; and reading should be done in advance of assignments to give adequate time for reflection and assimilation. Because attendance requirements are waived in many courses, distance education students must become self-disciplined in their study habits in order to complete assignments on time.

Students have the advantage of flexibility in most distance education courses which traditional on-campus courses do not have. While this flexibility provides a great benefit for students, the student must assume the responsibility of self-motivation, self-discipline, and extra communication effort in the distance education course.