Online Learning For Dummies. Susan Manning

      Online courses and opportunities to learn have been steadily growing in popularity for the past decade. Here are just a few reasons online learning is popular:

       You can work around your schedule. Who isn’t triple-scheduled these days with demands of work, family, and community? Few of us have large blocks of time available for classes, but we may have an hour here or there. In an online course, you can log in and work whenever it fits into your schedule. You may find that studying for an hour first thing in the morning or over your lunch break is just what you need to get you back into the academic groove.

       You can save time and money by not having to commute to school. Even if your local college is five miles from your home, the process of packing up your gear, getting to the school, finding parking, and walking to the classroom takes 30 minutes. Save the gas money and time, and study from home!

       In some cases, courses are accelerated and you complete the degree or program sooner. A mixed blessing, many online programs have accelerated a traditional semester-long course into 8 weeks. Though you may take only one course at a time (or two, over the course of a 16-week semester), these courses move fast! The good news is that these kinds of programs typically run year-round and advance students through degrees and certificate programs faster than they would otherwise. (Flip to Chapter 4 for more information on accelerated classes.)

       Some of the pettiness and bias between students in traditional classes gets left behind in the online world. No one knows whether you are shy, speak with a lisp, or sport multiple tattoos when you’re an online student. What others care about are your ideas and how you communicate these ideas about the course material. Many students find this situation liberating.

Knowing the Technology and Computer Skills You Need to Succeed

      

Many nontraditional or adult students shy away from online education because they’re afraid their computer skills aren’t sufficient or they worry that they need a state-of-the-art computer. Don’t let these thoughts scare you away from reaching your academic goals. Most institutions provide technological support and detailed lists of hardware, software, and competency requirements. Family, friends, and your local library also can serve as excellent backups when technology breaks or your Internet access is lost.

Don’t get us wrong, though: A few minimum requirements must be met in order to adequately learn online. Chapter 3 describes the technology you need and all the skills necessary to be an online learner. In short, persons taking online courses should have access to the following basic hardware and software:

       A computer with monitor, keyboard, and mouse (a laptop counts!)

       Access to a reliable Internet connection

       A web browser (for example, Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Safari)

       Speakers, microphone, or headset with microphone (optional, but may be required by some programs)

       Word processing software such as Word or Google Docs

       Presentation software such as PowerPoint or Keynote

      Additionally, you should be able to handle the following basic tasks before taking an online course:

       Open your Internet browser and navigate to a given website address (or URL).

       Send and receive emails with attachments.

       Open a word processing application and format, save, and retrieve documents.

       Read and scroll web pages efficiently.

       Type quickly and accurately.

       Organize folders on your computer’s hard drive or an external flash drive.

       Download and install software.

       Run virus protection software.

Seeing How to Go About Becoming an Online Learner

      After you have an idea of what may be involved in online education and a good grasp of the technological competencies you may need, you can turn your attention to finding the right program and school and grabbing your seat in the class. You also need to know the process for applying to a school and getting ready for class. We introduce the basics in this section.

      Finding available courses

      We assume you know what you want to study — for instance, you know whether it’s art history or business administration. That said, do you want to take a course or two, or do you need a degree or certificate? We ask this question because it influences how you go about finding an online course. Setting your sights on a degree means investing more time and money in the learning process. If you’re like most people, the stakes seem a little higher when money is mentioned, and you want to make the best decision.

      

Here are a few possibilities, and you may want to explore all four:

       If all you need is a course or two in one area: Check with your local 2-year school. Many 2-year colleges offer online courses at a fraction of the cost of traditional 4-year institutions.

       If you’re looking for a graduate level course in your professional area: Go back to wherever you earned your undergraduate degree and see whether that institution offers online courses. You already have a relationship with those folks, and you may find that the application and admission processes are streamlined.

       If you need to brush up for a career boost: Check with professional associations. More and more associations offer courses and certifications via online programs. Having an industry-recognized credential might be just what you need.

       If you have no idea where to start: Use a standard search engine to explore the possibilities at major online institutions. We deliberately avoid listing popular schools, because the landscape changes quickly! Plus, every learner needs to do their homework in terms of researching reputable, accredited programs. That said, if you find an interesting prospect, be prepared to receive solicitations the minute you submit a web based form asking for more information.

      

If you do a Google search, the schools listed at the top are most often for-profit schools. Be careful when it comes to for-profit schools! Many are far more interested in taking your money than in offering you a good education. Later we talk about how to look at accreditation. Top of the list may not equate to top in quality!

      Jump to Chapter 4 for a more detailed explanation of the process of finding the courses and programs available online.

      Evaluating programs

      

Regardless of whether you want to enroll in a single course or a degree program, you must select a school that is respected and accredited. Don’t sink your money into a diploma mill that teaches nothing and wastes your time. In Chapter 5 we detail how to determine a school’s accreditation, but we can tell you up front that it should be obvious. When you visit the school’s website or review its printed material, you should see accreditation credentials listed.

      After