How Students Develop Online Learning Skills (EDUCAUSE Quarterly) | EDUCAUSE - 1 views
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How Students Develop Online Learning SkillsHow Students Develop Online Learning SkillsGood IdeasHow Students Develop Online Learning SkillsSuccessful online students share their secrets for getting the most from online classes, focusing on time management, active participation, and practiceBy Alan R. RoperMore and more, adult learners are finding the convenience and flexibility of online learning a match for their learning goals and busy lifestyles. Online degree programs, courses, and virtual universities targeting adult learners have proliferated in the past decade. Although students can easily locate an online course or degree program that's both convenient and accessible, they may face significant challenges in developing a new set of skills for this type of instruction.Educators have speculated on the development of student skills necessary to succeed in online learning, but relatively few publications cover the topic from the perspective of successful online students. I developed the study summarized here to provide this perspective and to identify useful strategies that instructors can promote in their online courses.MethodologyThe study began with the development of a set of questions that emerged from a group of online course designers, faculty, and administrators I consulted for ideas. The question set was reviewed and edited by a larger group of faculty and administrators, and an online survey instrument was developed.Participants for this study were selected from a list of graduates who had earned their degrees by taking 80 percent or more of their courses exclusively online. Students achieving a 3.50 cumulative grade point average or better were invited to participate in the study. Of the 93 students invited to participate, 59 did so. Survey answers were open-ended, allowing respondents to describe online learning techniques they found useful and to tell the stories of their experiences as online students.1Successful Online Students Identify Seven TipsStudents responding to the survey agreed on a number of practical steps that helped them succeed in their online courses:1. Develop a time-managemen
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Setting and staying to specific study days was one factor that worked for me
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specific times to read, complete written assignments, and post dialogue to other students proved helpful.
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I found that doing a little bit here and there avoided trying to do too much all at once.
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logging in to their course portal every day and checking for new postings or updates helped prevent them from falling behind
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. Other students (36.8 percent) commented that weekly assignments from the instructor kept them on a regular schedule in the course
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online discussions
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As much as possible, I would post a response, question, or comment to another student's posting. This built up an online relationship
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don't always interact with the same few classmates. Look for something to say with various students
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ake sure you have something meaningful to add
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"Weekly discussions were best when the teacher encouraged it, especially by having pro versus con discussion, or asking 'why' or 'how' questions
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Instructors who establish clear expectations as to how threaded discussions are used or who ask specific questions in response to student postings can expect to encourage richer online dialogue.
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finding a way to apply the concepts helped them retain the information.
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One way to apply these concepts goes back to the use of the online threaded discussion. Concepts can be interpreted and restated in each student's own words in an active dialogue with others
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evelop
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ing a way to apply those concepts to a current or past experience
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asking questions is integral to learning. By asking questions, fellow students and instructors would go deeper into the subject. Going deeper made the subject matter more understandable
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Students also can take the time to craft questions that may go beyond what they would ask in an in-person course, probing the subject with greater specificity.
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keeping your eye on the prize" is always helpful. Another student commented, "The main motivator was envisioning myself in cap and gown,
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getting a good grade (21 percent) and in setting personal goals
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work with other online students
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"I liked instructors who logged in often and asked a lot of questions. Not only did this help to increase understanding of the subject, but it gave people the opportunity for class participation.
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He posted the initial question for discussion, and then asked us individual questions based on our answers.
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One student mentioned that making a friend (connected with online) helped. Being part of a community of learners is helpful in courses that are taught in-person, and the same holds true for online classes (15.8 percent). One student explained that "it made a huge difference when you had good students in the class.
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Students in the online class may get to know one another more from recognizing the writing style and expression of thoughts and ideas rather than by physical attributes. Many students develop meaningful connections with their online classmates that can translate into career networking opportunities later.
