Thank you for completing RILO. Your results are the following:
If you answered A for question #2, it is important to know that during an online course there is generally no face-to-face contact with your classmates.
If you answered A or B for question #1, you should be aware that most online courses offer only minimal, if any, face-to-face interaction with the instructor. You will need to be proactive in contacting the instructor and making your needs known to her/him.
If you answered C for question #4, you may find it helpful to practice reading text from an online source, such as the World Wide Web. Online reading can be distracting and tiring at first, but with a little practice it should become as comfortable to you as reading from a book. You may also be able to take advantage of adult reading classes through your public library or schools, or adaptive educational services as your local university.
If you answered B or C for question #5, it is important to realize that online learning is very much a self-directed experience. You may want to experiment ahead of time to develop a reminder system that will function well for your personal study and learning habits.
If you answered C for question #7, it is important that you develop your own structure by setting aside quiet study time and establishing a regular time and methods for meeting the course objectives.
If you answered C for question #3, you may wish to work on your time management skills before participating in an online class. Because online learning is powered by self-motivation, it is easy to fall behind if you do not structure your time well.
If you answered C for question #6, you may need to know that while an online course may be teacher-directed in the sense of course content, it will be up to you to proceed through the coursework with all instructions coming from the instructor’s written direction. You may need to practice requesting clarification and guidance from the instructors and others in the learning community.
If you answered B for question #6, you will find that while many online courses provide tools for discussion between classmates, such as bulletin boards and chat rooms, you can use these learning tools to request clarification and share information.
If you answered B or C for question #9, you may find online classwork somewhat challenging. Online learning comes easiest to those who enjoy working independently. However you still can be successful if you make sure to familiarize yourself with any resources you may need to make online learning more comfortable for you.
If you answered C for question #9, you may find it helpful to purchase a screen for your home computer that minimizes the glare from the monitor. You might also find that adjusting the lightness button on the monitor might provide some eye relief. Remember to take frequent, short breaks by glancing away or looking into the distance to rest your eyes.
In regards to question #10, make sure you use the tools that are present within the course's learning environment. You can always review forum postings or check your "sent" mail to verify that you have sent required communications. Many environments also have an online gradebook that your instructor may have chosen to use and that you can check on a regular basis. And remember, just because you can't see your instructor, there's no reason why you can't E-mail him/her and ask how you're doing.
If you answered C for question #18, it would be helpful for you to take some time to locate a facility where you can have online access to your course. Some suggestions include: a public library, a university library, or a friend's computer. Be sure to write down the hours that the computer will be available to you, and be sure to ask if the computer has complete Internet access.
If you answered C for question #13, you may still find that you have enough knowledge to participate fully in an online course. You may consider brushing up on your E-mail skills.
If you answered C for question #14, you may still find that you have adequate knowledge to participate fully in an online course. Spending an hour or so ‘surfing’ the World Wide Web on your own should provide you with plenty of online searching confidence.
If you answered B or C for question #15, you may wish to try an Internet tutorial. Here is one to try: http://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/pages/bones/bones.shtml
If you selected B or C for question #19, perhaps you have not yet been exposed to the ease and fun of online research. There are countless resources online to assist with research on virtually any topic. You may wish to familiarize yourself with online databases and research sources, or visit the library and have a librarian show you around the online world of research possibilities.
If you answered B or C for question #16, you may wish to try an Internet search tutorial. Here is one to try: http://www.searchenginewatch.com/
If you answered C for question #20, be sure and take advantage of call-in Support and Help Centers or ask a friend to help out until you feel comfortable performing minor troubleshooting on your own.
If you answered C for question #17, you might want to find a friend who feels more comfortable around computers and have him/her lead you through some common procedures. If you will be using a computer lab, another alternative would be to have a lab assistant help you familiarize yourself with the computer you will be using for your online coursework.
If you answered C for question #11, you might find it useful to ask a computer lab assistant or a knowledgeable friend to help guide you through learning a new piece of software. Many librarians also are now familiar with computer applications and may be able to assist you.
If you answered C for question #12, you might find it useful to ask a computer lab assistant or a knowledgeable friend to help guide you through learning a new piece of software. Many librarians also are now familiar with computer applications and may be able to assist you.
If you answered B or C for question #8, you may be surprised to know that an online course is not any easier than an on-site course, and most online courses require at least as much work and commitment as its on-site counterpart, if not more. Remember, you are trading "seat time" for self-directed learning activities. The advantage to online learning is the flexibility with which you can access your class at times and locations that are most convenient for you, and the ability to work in a collaborative learning environment with your instructors and classmates.
Republished 2007 with written permission of The
Trustees of Indiana University.
© RILO developed by Serena Novosel, MS, Indiana University School of
Nursing