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What Does It Take to Succeed in an Internet-based College Course?

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Internet-based courses can offer a unique opportunity but do they also offer unique challenges? Every college course whether taken on campus, by traditional distance means or through a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), challenges the student academically. That is the nature of higher education. Distance study and especially
MOOCs, can make particular demands on students. Recognising these specific difficulties should allow us to identify the characteristics or skills which will aid the student. The major difference between an internet-based course and one presented in a traditional face to face environment is the physical isolation of the student. This isolation has a number of consequences. Firstly, there is less opportunity to …show more content…

Where there are active forums or other social channels in use these can act both to address issues of understanding and to encourage continued participation. Average completion rates of 7% are common
(Jordan) with some courses having fewer than 1% of registered students achieving certificates. Research suggests that that those who are regularly access forums are more likely to continue their studies (Koller et al).

Even those who are committed to a course and engage fully with the social aspects face one final issue; time management. Full-time campus-based students have the freedom to focus on their studies almost without distraction. Part-time students, whether in college or studying remotely, need to fit their study time around work, family, domestic and other commitments. Time is a finite resource so the best that can be done is to manage it effectively. This means being able to estimate how long tasks will take then prioritising, sequencing and delegating to make sure that they are done.
Although time management is sometimes seen as making a plan and sticking to it, in reality, a good time manager needs to be flexible and responsive to changing situations. This is as true of a learner planning their studies as for a project manager balancing the needs of customer and sub-contractors.

Although all students, regardless of the how they choose

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