Consider the benefits

• Allows you to complete the lectures and your assignments on your own schedule and at your own pace.

Choose carefully

• Consider your learning style… is this a good fit?
  • Little to no face-to-face interaction with other studetns, but there is often virtual interaction.
  • No non-verbal feedback from instructor
• Contact the instructor and get a sense of the course requirements ahead of time

Manage your time

• Common Traps!!!
  • Without a regular scheduled class, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking you have all the time in the world. This can leave the student with mountains of work to do at the end of the semester and possibly missing deadlines or not being able to complete assignments.
• Avoiding Pitfalls
  • Front-load your efforts. At the beginning of the course establish a timeline and set yourself a schedule… do as much as you can early.

Prepare

• Find out what equipment you will need such as a computer, phone, modem, fax machine or VCR and where it will be made available.
• Find out how the instructor wants you to submit your work. (via email, fax, in person)

Ask for feedback

• Request frequent and detailed feedback from your instructor. (via phone, email, chat rooms, or fax)
• Find out the instructors office hours so you will be able to meet with him or her face to face if needed.

Contact other students

• Make personal contact with another student in your class through phone list or email.
• This can help you stay on task, get some face-to-face contact and improve your success

Take responsibility

• All learning relies on your initiative… but this is never more true than when it comes to distance learning. Your instructor will likely have deadlines and ways to contact him or her for support throughout your course, and you will need to arrange your schedule to ensure your learning goals are met.
• Do not rely on a distance-learning instructor to motivate you. Manufacture your own motivation.

Reflect on your learning

• By not being in a classroom your opportunities to share and reflect on your learning will likely be done asynchronously rather than face-to-face`. Take time throughout the class to write reactions and reflections either for yourself or for the instructor. Be sure to evaluate the experience at the end of the course.

Distance Education at NC State:

NC State offers many courses through a variety of distance methods. Click HERE for more information.