1. Helping a student decide whether or not to take an online course

Successful online students frequently:

• Have a higher level of motivation and self-discipline than is required in traditional face-to-face courses.
• Have or be willing to develop computer skills.
• Spend more time studying than in a traditional face-to-face course. Students often mistakenly assume that online classes take less time. 

First time online students:

• Should not take more than one online class to make sure this is a good way for them to learn.
• Should not take an online class just because the traditional class is not available.
• Should consider whether they enjoy interacting in an online environment using email, discussion forums and online chats. It requires lots of reading and writing.
• Should consider their level of need to take a online class (time-constraints, preferred delivery method, work and family responsibilities, travel time to school, computer availability)
• Students should consider how the online course format fits into their study schedule: synchronous (set meeting schedule for online chats) or asynchronous (no set meeting schedule), required on campus meetings or proctored exams? 

     Characteristics of successful online students

• Must be self-directed and conscientious about completing assignments. 
  • Students will not have someone there face-to-face to remind them of assignments.
  • Students will need to be able to follow directions or be willing to initiate communication with the instructor when they have a question.
  • Students may get less direct feedback and may need to monitor their own progress more closely.
• Have strong time management and organizational skills.
• Be willing to use new technologies they have not tried before
• Not be procrastinators
• Students in the following categories have been shown to be less successful when taking online classes:
  • Students on academic restriction
  • Students who have successfully completed less than 12 college credits
  • Students who have previously failed multiple online classes
  • Developmental education students
  • Student who are habitual procrastinators

• For additional information – point students to the Distance Learning Orientation which includes a readiness inventory.

http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/distance/orientation.html 

 2. Once a student decides to take an online course

• Students should visit the Distance Learning web site and complete the Orientation http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/distance/orientation.html
• Students should evaluate their computer skills by taking the Technical Skills Self-Assessment to ensure that they are ready to take online classes.

http://www.marylandonline.org/prospective_students/assess/tech_savvy

• Students should make sure the computer they are planning to use for their online course meets the hardware and software requirements http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/distance/dm.html
• Students should review the WebCT Tutorials at http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/distance/lessons/students/student_tutorials.html
• Before registering for an online class, students should talk to a counselor on campus or email an advisor:
  • Germantown
  • Rockville
  • Takoma Park/Silver Spring
• Students should review the online credit course schedule from the Distance Learning website.  If they select the
  • CRN link, they may get more information about the course
  • Email link, they can communicate directly with the instructor
  • Course prefix and number, they will be directed to the link to their course
• Students who want additional information should go to the Online Student Success Center at http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/studevgt/onlinsts/

3. Help during the semester

• About a week before the beginning of the semester, students should be able to enter the Online Companion: An Online Student’s Guide to Success from the My WebCT entry page.  This virtual counseling center is available to all students with a WebCT account throughout the semester.  Here students have easy access to counselors, teachers, and students from other courses.  They can ask questions, get information about important deadlines, and develop a sense of community with other online learners, counselors, and faculty.
• Email an advisor:

  • Germantown

  • Rockville

  • Takoma Park/Silver Spring

• Meet with a counselor on campus

  • Germantown

  • Rockville

  • Takoma Park/Silver Spring