| The format of distance learning courses is | | | | most courses involves studying the text, |
| different than what most students have | | | | completing assignments and taking exams. Just |
| experienced. The teaching style is more student | | | | about all work will involve reading and writing, so |
| directed and you will have to become | | | | take some time to improve your skills in these |
| accustomed to these differences. Distance | | | | areas. You will most likely have a fair amount of |
| learning relies heavily on technology. If you aren't | | | | reading assigned both in the text and from |
| computer and internet savvy, you will need to | | | | outside sources. Schedule enough time to |
| learn new skills, in addition to your coursework. | | | | complete all reading assignments. Get the |
| Look for classes or workshops on computers and | | | | textbooks early and read the first few chapters |
| the internet. These are often available in public | | | | before classes start to become familiar with the |
| libraries or community centers. You may feel | | | | material.Taking non traditional college courses |
| overwhelmed at the thought of taking another | | | | requires commitment and time management skills. |
| class, but the time you spend learning to use the | | | | The ability to work at your own pace can turn |
| technology will save you time in the long run.Most | | | | into procrastination. Set goals for yourself and |
| colleges offer support for new students. Some | | | | make a schedule that will allow you to reach |
| schools may have orientation sessions at the | | | | those goals in a reasonable amount of time. Plan |
| start of a new semester. If your school offers | | | | on spending at least nine hours each week for |
| this, plan on attending. You will gain valuable | | | | each class you take. Schedule study time and |
| information about the structure of the course and | | | | stick to your schedule. It's important not to fall |
| the technology used. Instructors often give advice | | | | behind and even better to stay a week ahead of |
| for organizing your time at these sessions. In | | | | the class schedule.You won't be completely |
| addition, you will get a feel for the teacher's | | | | isolated when taking distance learning courses. |
| expectations. Most schools offer tutorials to help | | | | Stay in contact with your instructor and ask for |
| you learn to use the online classroom and other | | | | feedback regularly. Instructors will have office |
| software used in distance learning | | | | hours when you can call, or you can stay in touch |
| programs.Research papers are common | | | | with email. You may be given opportunities to |
| assignments in both traditional and distance | | | | interact with other students through chats, |
| learning college courses. Utilize the resources | | | | message boards or online study groups. Take |
| offered by your college to help complete | | | | advantage of these opportunities, if studying with |
| necessary research. If the school is in driving | | | | others is helpful to you. Some colleges offer online |
| distance from your home, take advantage of the | | | | tutoring, usually in math and writing. Take |
| college library. Other colleges may allow you to | | | | advantage of every opportunity for the best |
| use their library with a student ID from your | | | | experience.Katie Robbins is a freelance writer for |
| school. Many schools offer an online library | | | | degreeclick.com, a web resource where she |
| database. Learn to use the database to save time | | | | regularly publishes informative articles about online |
| when researching. Quite a bit of research can be | | | | education. Some of the topics she covers include |
| done online, which can save you time as well.The | | | | online universities, health care degrees, and criminal |
| workload in distance learning courses is similar to | | | | justice degrees. |
| traditional college coursework. The basic format of | | | | |