BUILDING SUCCESS AS A DISTANCE LEARNER .

CONTENT

CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL DISTANCE LEARNERS

COMMUNICATION

To start, communication with other students and instructors is essential (Simonson,

Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2012, p. 230). The relationship between students will become

a lifeline to understanding course content. There are several modes of communication within

the course, including the class discussion forum and the class question and answer forum

(the course wiki). Throughout the course you will utilize your prior knowledge to connect with

training materials. Discussions are crafted to allow you to share your experiences with other

students. Always remember mutual respect and courtesy is expected at all times between

peers and with the instructor.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is important and essential to course success (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, &

Zvacek, 2012, p. 231).

Although the content in this course is asynchronous (students can log on and complete

work according to your own schedule), it is imperative that you log on to the course,

participate in discussions, complete assignments, and complete assessments in a timely

manner.

ASSIGNMENTS

ASSIGNMENTS SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN A

TIMELY MANNER AND SUBMITTED ACCORDING

TO THE COURSE SYLLABUS (SIMONSON,

SMALDINO, ALBRIGHT, & ZVACEK, 2012, P. 232).

BE RESPONSIBLE

THE COURSE CONTENT IS AVAILABLE, THE INSTRUCTOR IS AVAILABLE THROUGH

EMAIL, DISCUSSION FORUM, OR WIKI, BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO CLAIM

RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN LEARNING (SIMONSON, SMALDINO, ALBRIGHT,

& ZVACEK, 2012, P. 233). YOU ARE THE AUTHOR OF YOUR SUCCESS STORY!

USE YOUR COMPUTER SKILLS

DISTANCE EDUCATION REQUIRES A CERTAIN DEGREE OF TECHNICAL KNOW-

HOW (SIMONSON, SMALDINO, ALBRIGHT, & ZVACEK, 2012, P. 233). IN THIS

COURSE YOU WILL NEED AND ACQUIRE TECHNICAL ABILITIES INCLUDING (BUT

NOT LIMITED TO) LEARNING TO UTILIZE THE TECHNOLOGY TOOLS (LISTED IN

MODULE 1).

HONESTY COUNTS

INTEGRITY AND HONESTY ARE EXPECTED AND NECESSARY TO SUCCEED.

PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC DISHONESTY OF ANY FORM (EX: SUBMITTING WORK

THAT IS NOT YOUR OWN) ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

PERSISTENCE AND DRIVE

DON’T GIVE INTO CHALLENGES.

“STUDENTS WHO SUCCEED ARE THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO TOLERATE

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS, SEEK HELP WHEN NEEDED, WORK DAILY ON

EVERY CLASS, AND PERSIST THROUGH CHALLENGES” (ISEEK.ORG, 2014).

PERSISTENCE AND DRIVE

DRIVE, MOTIVATION, AND DETERMINATION ARE STRONG WORDS.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION? WHAT WILL YOU GAIN? WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOME OF

CONTINUED EDUCATION-WHERE WILL IT PROPEL YOU TO? WHAT NEW HEIGHTS WILL YOU

REACH IN WORK OR LIFE BY COMPLETING THIS COURSE? WHAT WILL YOU GAIN IF YOU

SUCCEED?

THE BEST WAY TO BUILD SUCCESS IS TO REMEMBER WHY YOU CHOSE TO CONTINUE AND TO

HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF SUCCESS!

EFFECTIVE TIME-MANAGEMENT SKILLS

THE FLEXIBILITY OF DISTANCE LEARNING CAN ALSO BE A DRAWBACK.

A SUCCESSFUL LEARNER CAN COMPLETE WORK WITHOUT CONSTANT TEACHER

DIRECTION, OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION, AND MANAGE TIME.

EFFECTIVE TIME-MANAGEMENT SKILLSTIPS:

• REVIEW THE SYLLABUS PERIODICALLY

• MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR DUE DATES

• USE TO-DO LISTS TO KEEP UP WITH DAILY TASKS

• (ISEEK.ORG, 2014)

CREATE A GOOD STUDY ENVIRONMENT

CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO STUDYING IS ALSO VITAL: FIND

QUIET STUDY PLACES, AVOID TELEVISION AND GAMES, TURN OFF YOUR CELL

PHONE, AVOID WEB SURFING, SET UP GOOD LIGHTING, AND SIT IN

COMFORTABLE SEATING (ISEEK.ORG, 2014).

REFERENCES:

• SIMONSON, M., SMALDINO, S., ALBRIGHT, M., & ZVACEK, S. (2012). TEACHING

AND LEARNING AT A DISTANCE: FOUNDATIONS OF DISTANCE EDUCATION (5TH

ED.) BOSTON, MA: PEARSON

• WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL ONLINE LEARNER? (2014). ISEEK. RETRIEVED

JUNE 1, 2014, FROM

HTTP://WWW.ISEEK.ORG/EDUCATION/SUCCESSONLINE.HTML