Studying at a Distance
Online coursework can mean different things, even at a single institution or within a single program. IIT faculty direct their online courses with the same freedom and flexibility as they do in their physical classrooms.Many of the skills demanded by online or other distance education courses are the same as those for live, face-to-face classes, but certain particular skills seem to improve online students' success and overall satisfaction with a distance ed course:
- Self-discipline: The academic calendar is the same. And moves quickly. We encourage students to keep up with lectures and required readings per the course syllabus. However, without that live lecture to attend each week, online students can easily forget to "attend class" or put it off for later.
- Time management: Related to self-discipline. Online students can be distracted by many other things going on in their busy lives; study time should be scheduled, just like any other important activity.
- Communication: Sometimes it can seem like an online student is all alone; use the communication tools available to contact faculty and other students. Reach out and contact support staff when you need additional assistance.
- Proaction: Being an online student is not a passive exercise.To be successful, online students must take a very pro-active approach to their learning and support. Some might argue even more than they would in a face-to-face class. Faculty and staff are often available to assist, but we cannot help solve an issue, when we do not know one exists.
As we develop additional resources and guides specific to IIT's distance education offerings, please revisit this page. If you are a current student and have suggestions for this page, please contact Brad Katz, at bkatz2@iit.edu.
Last modified: 05/02/2012 06:04:38