Introduction
Introduction to Study Skills for Online Learners

The Alamo Community College District is a recognized leader in online education currently offering over one hundred and eighty-eight courses on the Internet to approximately 5,000 students. ACCD Internet students are located throughout the United States and internationally. All district colleges participate in the Virtual College of Texas (VCT) reaching an audience beyond the greater San Antonio learning community.

San Antonio College (SAC), the largest accredited single campus in Texas and the largest two (2) year community college in San Antonio, offers students the opportunity to obtain an Associate of Arts Degree and an Associate of Applied Science Degree through Internet courses with a concentration in the following disciplines: English (AA) and Criminal Justice (AAS). These online degrees are sanctioned by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Palo Alto College Internet classes, St. Phillips College Internet-based courses, and Northwest Vista College Internet classes, enhance the variety and convenience of ACCD online education opportunities.

Providing support for Internet students is an essential component of a quality program, and Strategies for Success for online learners is a vital part of that support. The most difficult part is often just getting started, however, becoming an online learner has never been easier than it is right now.

The learning and self-assessment modules you find here are specifically crafted for online learners. Take a moment for self-reflection.

  • Is online learning for you?
  • What are your expectations for the online learning experience?

Before you register, take one or more self-assessment instruments and evaluate your results. Are you ready for online learning? If not, what skills do you need to acquire? How do you plan to obtain these skills?

  • Self-Evaluation for Distant Learners - a quick, 9 question evaluation tool developed by San Antonio College to determine if Distance Education courses are appropriate for you.
  • Internet Skills Self Test - Developed by the ACCD Multiversity for Cyber Learning, you may log in and take this 21 item questionnaire. The self-assessment is divided into 4 parts; study skills, word processing, e-mail, World Wide Web.
  • Take the study skills survey "Reality Quotient" to assess your general study skills.
  • Use these instruments to realistically and honestly evaluate your skills and goals.

Before the semester starts do the following;

  • Evaluate the results of your self-assessment questionaires. Identify your strengths and weaknesses.
  • Are you ready for online learning?
  • What aspects of Internet instructional delivery do you not understand?
  • Make a list of suggestions on how to incorporate changes in study habits that will help you become a sucessful online learner (see guide modules Online Learning , Survival Tips, and Resources ).

Expectations; you have the opportunity to succeed at your studies.

  • Each ACCD college offers study skills seminars at various times during the first half of each semester. Sign up for one. The field is exploding with new information readily available to you through various sources of instruction.
  • Visit the SAC Internet Skills Center and take the one-hour module, Internet Course Readiness.

Introduction | Online Learning | Communication | Time Skills | Testing
| Etiquette | Challenges | Resources

Please send any questions or comments to Carol A. Keller, email, ckeller@accd.edu
Last update August, 2002


The development of this website is made possible by an ACCD Instructional Innovation Grant for Spring/Summer 2002.
© 2002 Carol A. Keller and the San Antonio College History Department. All rights reserved.