Distance Education at Lamar State College-Orange


	Am I Ready? This page includes information on college services and links to outside resources to help you succeed in your distance learning. If you have not taken a distance education class before, start by taking the Self-Evaluation for Potential Online Students. Why study online? Online courses and other distance education courses offer students an opportunity to break through barriers of time and space. You do not have to travel to a classroom on a regularly scheduled basis, and you can work at the time most convenient to you. Internet classrooms also offer an opportunity for you to control the rate at which you absorb and respond to content information. However, online learning is not for everyone. Online learning requires a significant number of hours each week. It requires access to computer technology and some comfort in using that technology. Both Internet and telecourses require a higher level of self-motivation and self-discipline. Distance education is also reading and writing dependent. In addition, most content will be presented in written and/or video form. How much time does it take? Students taking LSC-O distance education courses report spending six to eight hours each week working on each course. Most courses require students to "attend" the virtual classroom five out of every seven days. Online learning and telecourses do not take fewer hours, but you do get to work during the hours that fit into your schedule. Is Distance Education for me? Only you can answer that question. The truth is that on-line teaching and learning are currently in the "experimental" stage. As with any new method there must be a certain amount of experimentation before the most successful application is found. However, it is already obvious that distance learning requires students who are self-motivated and have the self-discipline to keep on task without monitoring from others. Experience and educational research show that the single biggest factor in determining a student's success is the student's motivation to succeed. There will be barriers to your success, such as: Technology that does not work Your inexperience with computers Family and professional distractions that compete for your time and attention Feelings of isolation from other students and the instructor Frustration with new software/hardware you were not anticipating If you understand these limitations going into a distance education course, perhaps you have a more realistic set of expectations. The reason for taking a distance education course should be a valid one. Valid reasons include: Ability to set your own study schedule Opportunity to use familiar technology to learn new subjects Freedom to time shift your own schedule to better meet family and professional obligations while continuing your education Motivation and self-discipline to keep yourself on task Students are warned not to take distance education courses for all the wrong reasons. Invalid reasons include: Thinking the class will be easier-it will not be! Overloading your class schedule with an additional course Avoid writing and reading assignments Cheating on exams