Operating Definitions and Guidelines for Writing Is Online Learning for You? Take This Quiz and Find Out! Nothing is more frustrating for both students and instructors than discovering that an Internet course or a particular professor's instructional style does not suit a student. To avoid this problem, this short true/false quiz helps students test their readiness for an Internet course and their compatibility with my teaching style. Please make note of the scores to include in the extra-credit Data Survey in WebCT's quiz/test page. Instructions: Answer "true" or "false" to the questions in each section. Total the responses after each section, and then check the result key for an interpretation of the score. Part A: Computer Equipment, Software, and Knowledge1. I have access to a reliable computer with a Windows 98, MX, the equivalent, or higher operating system. 2. The Internet service provider I use to access the web is reliable. 3. I have access to a reliable printer. 4. I have a word processing program that can read, produce, and save documents with an .rtf or .doc extension, NOT wps. 5. I know how to use email and have my own account by myself. 6. I use a program to do email that lets me send attachments with a .doc or .rtf extension. 7. I know how to send polite and fully informative email messages. 8. I know how to save and file incoming and outgoing messages in my email program. 9. I know how to copy and paste urls and text from the web. 10. I am familiar with electronic discussion boards. Part B: Student Qualities 1. I can motivate myself to complete reading and writing assignments that are listed on a calendar without the reminders of an instructor. 2. I can read carefully and critically. 3. I am a reliable person and can meet deadlines. 4. If I don't understand reading content or instructions, I have no problem getting in touch with my instructor or a fellow student for help. 5. I can work well with other people. 6. I am timely in responding to e-mail. 7. I understand and am comfortable with the fact that I will devote as much or more time to my studies in an Internet course as I would in a traditional course (approximately 9 - 12 hours per week for a 16-week course, approximately 18 - 24 hours per week in an 8-week course). 8. I have no problem with completing additional reading or writing assignments to help me understand a concept I may not have grasped from the initial lesson. 9. My family, employer, and friends support my studies strongly enough to reduce their demands on my time so that I can do the work. Part C: Teacher/Student Fit 1. If I had a problem (personal or technological) getting an assignment in on time, I would contact my instructor immediately. 2. I can accept a "no late work" policy. 3. I can give and receive constructive criticism and compliments to my fellow students about their writing. 4. I am comfortable exchanging and critiquing drafts with a fellow student on a volunteer basis on major assignments using the Internet, telephone, fax, and/or meetings as means of communication. 5. I understand that exchanging and critiquing drafts means that all parties involved must check the draft against required criteria in order to help an essay become successful. 6. If I am unable to continue with a course, I take responsibility for dropping the class. 7. I can give my school work the time and priority in my life that it deserves. 8. I understand the importance of doing my own work and learning from my mistakes as well as building on my strengths.
Now that you have examined the presumed skills, you can make a preliminary decision about whether taking this Internet course seems realistic. If you want more specific information about how the course and/or instructor, go to the instructor page link below to see the course files. Thanks for taking the quiz! Don't forget to save the scores for theData Survey in WebCT, and have a great semester! -adapted with thanks and by permission from work by Dr. Dawn Elmore-McCrary Updated 5/28/06 by Maria Garcia - HyperClass[at]Hotmail.com |