Distance Learning

Distance Learners Handbook

Tips for Success



Distance learning courses differ from regular on-campus courses mainly in the mode of instruction.

On-campus courses are often teacher-centered, with the instructor determining the material, interactions, pace, and schedule. Distance learning courses are more student-centered. Even though an instructor created the content and established the syllabus, often the student determines the pace of learning by selecting a time and location convenient for his/her needs. Students with strong reading and writing skills, who are self-motivated and well-organized have the highest degree of success.
 

Read through the following tips before you begin working on your course. While these ideas are only suggestions, not rules, we have found that students who try to implement them have an easier time working through their courses, experience more satisfaction, and are more likely to complete the course successfully.

  1. Know Yourself: Become familiar with the way in which you learn most efficiently. What conditions and which procedures work best to enhance your learning? There is no single right way; you must discover what works for you.
     
  2. Set Realistic Goals: Set immediate (daily) and long-term (semester) goals for yourself regarding each of your courses. Know the requirements of the course and complete your work in a timely fashion.
     
  3. Develop a Routine for Studying: Develop a simple routine for getting work done, particularly when you have a high energy level and clear mind. Find a time/place where the distractions are minimal and you can concentrate best.
     
  4. Reduce Big Tasks Into a Series of Smaller Tasks: A large task—writing a 10- or 20- page paper—can be broken down into a series of manageable tasks. For example, the tasks involved—selecting a topic, locating resources, determining main points to be addressed, drafting the text for your first point—are much easier when you do them one at a time.
     
  5. Go Into a Test Well-Prepared: Avoid cramming. Few people do it well. Review your notes and text regularly. Get a good night's sleep the day before. Pace yourself through the parts of the test, and take time to think clearly before you write answers.
     
  6. Reward Yourself: Celebrate your successes and accomplishments. When you complete a paper, assignment, or test, treat yourself to a good movie, quiet time alone, a cookout with friends. Don't always feel under the gun—burnout is right around the corner unless you take time to smell the roses.
     

Adapted from Learning Outside the Classroom: A Guidebook for Students, 1991, Susan K. Henderson, Department of Independent Study, Continuing Education and Extension, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (pp. 7-12).
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