Orientation - Self-Assessment Quiz

Self-Assessment Quiz

Online education may not be right for every student. The decision to earn a degree online should be based on more than schedules, finances, or convenience. The following questionnaire will help you evaluate your potential for being a successful online student.

1. I have access to a computer and the Internet
True. This is essential. You can't be effective in an online course unless you have consistent access to a computer with the appropriate hardware and software.

2. I have good basic computer skills (keyboarding, saving documents, using email etc.)
True. You will save yourself a lot of stress and wasted time if you come to online learning with basic computer skills. You should know how to use the keyboard and mouse, be able to open and save documents, and be able to use email.

3. I am goal oriented.
True. Since a good deal of online learning is self-paced, the successful student must be able to set goals and work steadily to achieve them.

4. I have good time management skills.
True. The ability to manage time well may be the most important skill an online learner can possess. Procrastination is the worst enemy of the online student. A good student should be able to set goals and priorities, have a plan for achieving them, and follow through. There is no substitute for good time management skills.

5. I can organize family and work responsibilities so that I will have blocks of time for study.
True. While many students choose online courses for their convenience, it is important that you carve out blocks of time for study. Most students find online courses more time consuming than their on-campus counterparts. Most courses require that you put in some uninterrupted time each week for reading and completing assignments.

6. I usually have no problem meeting deadlines.
True. Instructors of online courses are usually adamant about deadlines. If you are a habitual procrastinator, online education may not be appropriate for you.

7. I am able to work independently without the in-class support of an instructor or classmates.
True. While online courses at NSCC offer students opportunities for feedback from their classmates and instructors, a good deal of the work will be done independently. If you do not like learning alone and need to have an instructor's explanation in order for material to be clear for you, then online learning may not be the best option.

8. I am a self-starter who can attempt a task after receiving basic instructions.
True. A good online learner is able to get started on a project independently. More important, effective online learners do not get "thrown" by problems but search out answers and struggle with them before contacting their instructors.

9. I learn well by reading, rather than participating in class discussions and teacher explanations.
True. Many online courses are reading based. You will be responsible for reading and understanding the text without having an instructor explaining the important sections in a lecture. If this does not appeal to you, then online learning may not be your best option.

10. I understand most of what I read.
True. If you are going to have to do a lot of reading, then comprehension of that material is imperative. You need to be able to pick out main ideas and major details, distinguish fact from opinion, and analyze the text critically.

11. I am proficient in written communication.
True. Whether through standard essays, journals, or email, the main method of communication in an online course is written. If you are not comfortable writing, online courses may not be for you.

12. I am willing to devote 8-10 hours per week for each course.
True. One myth about online classes is that they are easier than on-campus classes. This is simply not true. Most students find that they must put in more time in order to be successful in these classes. Therefore, at a minimum, you must have approximately 8 hours per week per course that you can concentrate on your course work.

13. I am willing to interact with classmates through an electronic learning environment.
True. Online study is not necessarily independent study. Many courses require students to participate in online discussion groups with their classmates. If you answered "True" to 8-10 of the previous questions, you are probably a good candidate for online courses. If you answered "True" to fewer than 8 of the questions, then you should carefully consider your decision to enroll in an online program.

[ Return to the Orientation Homepage ]



		Self-Assessment Quiz Online education may not be right for every student. The decision to earn a degree online should be based on more than schedules, finances, or convenience. The following questionnaire will help you evaluate your potential for being a successful online student. 1. I have access to a computer and the Internet True. This is essential. You can't be effective in an online course unless you have consistent access to a computer with the appropriate hardware and software. 2. I have good basic computer skills (keyboarding, saving documents, using email etc.) True. You will save yourself a lot of stress and wasted time if you come to online learning with basic computer skills. You should know how to use the keyboard and mouse, be able to open and save documents, and be able to use email. 3. I am goal oriented. True. Since a good deal of online learning is self-paced, the successful student must be able to set goals and work steadily to achieve them. 4. I have good time management skills. True. The ability to manage time well may be the most important skill an online learner can possess. Procrastination is the worst enemy of the online student. A good student should be able to set goals and priorities, have a plan for achieving them, and follow through. There is no substitute for good time management skills. 5. I can organize family and work responsibilities so that I will have blocks of time for study. True. While many students choose online courses for their convenience, it is important that you carve out blocks of time for study. Most students find online courses more time consuming than their on-campus counterparts. Most courses require that you put in some uninterrupted time each week for reading and completing assignments. 6. I usually have no problem meeting deadlines. True. Instructors of online courses are usually adamant about deadlines. If you are a habitual procrastinator, online education may not be appropriate for you. 7. I am able to work independently without the in-class support of an instructor or classmates. True. While online courses at NSCC offer students opportunities for feedback from their classmates and instructors, a good deal of the work will be done independently. If you do not like learning alone and need to have an instructor's explanation in order for material to be clear for you, then online learning may not be the best option. 8. I am a self-starter who can attempt a task after receiving basic instructions. True. A good online learner is able to get started on a project independently. More important, effective online learners do not get "thrown" by problems but search out answers and struggle with them before contacting their instructors. 9. I learn well by reading, rather than participating in class discussions and teacher explanations. True. Many online courses are reading based. You will be responsible for reading and understanding the text without having an instructor explaining the important sections in a lecture. If this does not appeal to you, then online learning may not be your best option. 10. I understand most of what I read. True. If you are going to have to do a lot of reading, then comprehension of that material is imperative. You need to be able to pick out main ideas and major details, distinguish fact from opinion, and analyze the text critically. 11. I am proficient in written communication. True. Whether through standard essays, journals, or email, the main method of communication in an online course is written. If you are not comfortable writing, online courses may not be for you. 12. I am willing to devote 8-10 hours per week for each course. True. One myth about online classes is that they are easier than on-campus classes. This is simply not true. Most students find that they must put in more time in order to be successful in these classes. Therefore, at a minimum, you must have approximately 8 hours per week per course that you can concentrate on your course work. 13. I am willing to interact with classmates through an electronic learning environment. True. Online study is not necessarily independent study. Many courses require students to participate in online discussion groups with their classmates. If you answered "True" to 8-10 of the previous questions, you are probably a good candidate for online courses. If you answered "True" to fewer than 8 of the questions, then you should carefully consider your decision to enroll in an online program. [ Return to the Orientation Homepage ]