Interpreting Your Answers

Thank you for completing the online education self-assessment! Below, you will see the questions you have just answered and some information about what your responses may mean.

1. Having face-to-face interaction with my instructors and fellow students is

(a) not particularly important to me.
(b) somewhat important to me.
(c) very important to me.

By its very nature, Online education that occurs via methods other than face-to-face interaction. However, this does not mean that it doesn't rely on interaction. Classes taught at a online can be even more interactive than some classes that occur on campus! Through e-mail, class discussion boards, and telephone conferencing, many online classes provide ample opportunity for students to interact with their instructors and other students.

But if face-to-face interaction is very important to you, think carefully before enrolling in an online class.

2. I would classify myself as someone who

(a) is good at prioritizing tasks and often gets things done ahead of time without being reminded by my instructor.
(b) is sometimes poor at prioritizing, needs to be reminded of assignments once in a while, and often does assignments at the last minute.
(c) is poor at prioritizing and sometimes forgets to complete assignments if I'm not reminded about them frequently.

If you answered (a), then you are a very good candidate for an onlineclass. Because you won't be sitting in a classroom on a regular basis and won't have your instructor or classmates nearby to remind you of assignments, you must be fairly self-directed and conscientious about completing assignments to succeed in a online class.

3. When an instructor hands out instructions for an assignment, I prefer

(a) figuring out the instructions myself.
(b) trying to follow the directions on my own, then asking for help as needed.
(c) having the instructions explained to me.

As we noted in Question 2, most online classes take a more-than-average amount of initiative and self-direction. In classes in which there is little or no real-time interaction with the instructor, you'll be better off if you are willing to try to follow directions on your own. That isn't to say that there aren't some online classes in which instructors carefully go over instructions on each assignment - it's just not always something you can count on. Your instructor is also available via phone and e-mail to assist you when needed.

4. When it comes to assessing my own progress, I

(a) feel as if I can keep tabs on my progress, even without immediate or frequent feedback from my instructor.
(b) prefer to receive regular feedback from my instructor, but don't mind if I can't get that feedback immediately after turning in a test or assignment.
(c) need feedback from my instructor immediately and often.

If you answered (a) or (b) to this question, a online class will probably be fine for you. If you answered (c), you may want to take into consideration the different course delivery methods EOU offers. Some courses will have a much higher potential for immediate feedback from instructors and students than others.

Please take a moment to review the course delivery options available to you when deciding which type of course best suits your needs.

• Course Delivery Methods

5. My need to take an online course is

(a) high - I need it immediately for a degree, job advancement or other important reason.
(b) moderate - I could take it on campus or substitute another course.
(c) low - It's a personal interest that could be postponed.

As with all things, the greater your motivation to do something, the greater the chance that you'll succeed at it. This is certainly true with online education. Since you will (in most cases) be on your own, rather than in a classroom surrounded by other students, there could be times when you will be tempted to put things off. A high level of motivation will be important at those times.

6. Considering my professional and personal schedule, the amount of time I have to work on an online education course is

(a) 7-9 hours per week.
(b) 4-6 hours per week.
(c) 1-3 hours per week.

Many people who have never taken an online class before mistakenly assume that it will take less time than a traditional, on-campus class. This is certainly NOT true. An online class is just as demanding as any other class. The only "time savings" you can expect in an online class is the time you would have otherwise spent commuting to and from the class. On the other hand, an online class does make it much easier for you to choose WHEN you spend your available time doing course work. With some classes, it doesn't matter whether you do your course work at 2 am or 6 p.m.; it's entirely up to you.

If you answered (a) or (b) (depending on the class) you probably have the time necessary to complete an online class. If your answer is (c), you probably don't have time to take a class right now.

7. When I am asked to use software or technologies that I haven't used before (such as e-mail, voice mail, DVD),

(a) I look forward to learning new skills.
(b) I feel apprehensive, but try anyway.
(c) I put it off or try to avoid it.

As long as you're willing to try to spend the time necessary to get comfortable with a new technology, and to seek out the help you need when you run into trouble, a technology-dependent online class can work for you. But if you answered (c), you may want to limit your class choices to those that do not employ technologies you are unfamiliar with. An onsite format may be a better choice for you than an online class, which may involve using several technologies at once.

8. If I had to describe my predominant learning style/preference, I would say it is

(a) Visual - I learn best when I can read the course materials or view graphics and other visuals.
(b) Auditory - I learn best when I can listen to an explanation of a concept.
(c) Tactile - I learn best by "doing" (for instance, conducting an experiment in a lab).

You may not be able to identify your optimal learning style right now, but as soon as you enroll in a class that is not a good fit, you'll know it! If you are (a), a visual learner, both an online and onsite class will probably work for you. The instruction will be either live (onsite courses) or is text based (online courses) - with readings from one or more textbooks or supplemental sources and written discussions. If you answered (b), online formats, may still work for you as readings are sometimes supplemented by videos. However, if you rely on lectures for learning, you may prefer a onsite course to the online format.

If you answered (c), it may be somewhat difficult to select online classes that will fit with your learning preference. While online classes certainly do employ techniques through which students are asked to learn by doing, it may be difficult to discern those classes merely from the delivery methods they use. Consider checking with the class instructor to find out more about how your learning style will fit with the class.

9. My personal and professional schedule is

(a) predictable, I can generally plan, well in advance, blocks of time to devote to my course work
(b) generally predictable, but sometimes last minute meetings or events come up that I cannot reschedule.
(c) unpredictable, I rarely know when I'm going to have free time that I can set aside for my course work

This question gets at the issue of whether your schedule can best accommodate a synchronous or asynchronous class. A synchronous class is one that has set "meeting" times. Synchronous classes have schedules that are determined well before the class begins (every Thursday at 7 p.m., for instance). Asynchronous classes don't have set meeting times. Rather, you choose the times when you receive class materials. Perhaps that will occur by going to a Web site to view the materials or by watching a lecture on videotape. Also keep in mind that some courses involve periodic trips to campus or other central location most often for testing and labs.

If you answered (a), then you can probably fit in either type of class. If you answered (b), then a synchronous class may be problematic for you. If (c) is your answer, you should probably steer clear of synchronous classes and instead choose an asynchronous class that you can "take" anytime of the day or night. If 11 p.m. is when you have a block of time for course work, an asynchronous class may be a perfect fit. Also, if getting to campus is difficult for you, check the course description or with the instructor about on-campus requirements.

10. My reading and writing skills are

(a) excellent, I understand most of what I read and can express myself clearly in writing.
(b) average, I sometimes need help understanding what I have read or clearly expressing my thoughts.
(c) poor, I often have difficulty understanding written material or clearly expressing my thoughts.

Most online courses rely heavily on written communications. Assigned readings supplemented by videos and written discussions are the primary methods of instruction. You need to be comfortable with written materials and directions. Also, because most of the communication between instructor and student(s) and among classmates is written (e-mail or discussion forums), you must feel comfortable expressing your thoughts and opinions in writing.

Students taking online courses have free access to Eastern Oregon University's Online Writing Lab (OWL). This writing lab provides a wide variety of writing resources, including the opportunity to submit drafts of writing assignments to tutors for feedback.

Thanks for taking the quiz! Ultimately, YOU are the only person who can decide whether you are a good candidate for an online course or program. But, we hope these questions and answers helped to make you think about the important differences between traditional education and online education.

If you feel you are a candidate for online courses, the next step is to evaluate your Computer Skills. Please take a moment and complete this short assessment to help you decide which types of course might be best for you. Computer equipment requirements is also a consideration. You may either have a Windows PC or a Macintosh.

EOU to helping you achieve your education goals.

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