Welcome

Welcome to the Student Success in an Online Environment website. Del Mar College offers students a wide array of Web-based distance education opportunities. Students can select from courses that use online delivery systems in one of three ways:

• Blended: courses that use distance learning tools such as discussion boards and email, to supplement traditional classroom-based courses;

• Hybrid: courses that meet fewer times in a classroom setting and use distance learning to a greater degree than augmented courses;

• Totally online: courses that do all coursework online and have no classroom-based meetings.

The transition from the traditional classroom to the web-based classroom can be intimidating to those unfamiliar with the tools and techniques of online education. Typical online courses can have discussion boards, chat rooms, email accounts, student home pages, and more. In addition, online activities may include groups of students working collaboratively online, may require the uploading and downloading of homework files, and could also require the student to present a project in realtime over the internet. Higher education can be tough enough on students without adding the additional stressors of new technologies and course delivery methods.

Research in distance education has identified several critical factors needed for students taking courses online. Some of these factors include:

• High motivation: is the student motivated sufficiently to put in the study time necessary for an online course?

• Good study skills: does the student have the proper set of skills to allow them to study successfully?

• Goal orientation: does the student know what they want to accomplish in the short-, medium-, and long-term?

• Basic computer skills: does the student have the technology skills necessary to perform typical online tasks?

• Good time management skills: does the student know how to budget their time adequately?

Other factors, such as age and successful completion of a previous online course can also be predictors of online course success, but the factors listed above can have a significant impact on the success or failure of students enrolled in online classes.

This site was developed as an aid for students new to online learning. Each section of the site contains background information about the applicable topic and a comprehensive listing of companion sites that can be used to delve more deeply into the topic area. It is hoped that by using this material that students such as yourself will feel more comfortable in the online environment and thus have a better chance at succeeding online.

Take a quiz

To get you started, take these two quizzes developed by Cerro Coso Community College to check your suitability for online learning.

"Are you ready to learn online?" technical skills

"Are you ready to learn online?" student skills

Summary

We hope that you find the site a useful resource and come back often. Please help future visitors by completing our Feedback Form. Thanks, and have a great semester.

Page last updated May 8, 2006
Site authored by Jeff Getchell