Orientation

Face-to-face
Do you prefer learning in a class environment with other people around?

• Determine if you need to be within a class or library environment to motivate you to set aside study time. Knowing that everyone else will be there is your incentive.
   

Online
Do you prefer learning in a virtual, "any time", "any place" class environment?

• Determine if you are a disciplined self-starter and can consistently set aside study time to work on web-based course materials.

"I had no idea it would be so hard to stick to my schedule." - former student

With few or no campus meetings, you choose your own hours and location to study. Unlike attending a campus-based course, there is no weekly meeting time that will force you to put aside all other activities and focus on your course work. Other activities may have a tendency to grab your attention and cause your academic priorities to slip

Print reader
Do you like to hold the materials you are reading in your hands and mark them it up?

Reading course materials on a monitor screen may feel awkward. You may be a person who needs to see the whole document in print, handle it, mark it, and dog-ear the corners of the pages. If so, print out the page. Saving ink and paper is admirable, but not the priority here

• Use the print option in your browser to print out course pages. File > Print
  (Note that some wide web pages may require you to go to Page Setup and print "landscape" or sideways.)

Reading on the Web Resource Info
 
 

Screen reader
Do you prefer reading materials on your computer screen - keeping them paperless and easily transportable?

Reading course material directly on your screen saves paper and printout time. However, it requires more patience. Studies have shown that browser users scan short amounts of text and tend to skip over blocks of text. To avoid that pitfall:

Optimize your screen

1. Select a monitor that causes the lease amount of eye strain
2. Open the browser window full size
3. Enlarge the text size on your monitor to suit your eyes. Use Text Zoom in the Internet Explorer browser to enlarge screen print. View>Text Zoom
4. Take your time. (Check to see that you can read past the fourth line in a block!)

Learning online can be a text-intensive experience for many !

Neither
Do you prefer to HEAR text / are you hindered by reading?

Get a text reader.

Hearing course materials may be the way you learn best. Try using a text reader which will read to you the web page materials. New technology permits you to do this; simply search the Internet for a suitable text reading program. (Make sure your computer has a sound card.) The Assistive Technology Center can recommend programs for those with reading disabilities. Text Readers Optional Info

Consult Disabled Students Programs & Services
http://www.smccd.edu/accounts/newcsm/webpages/default.asp?webpgid=276

The Assistive Technology Center:
http://collegeofsanmateo.edu/atc/

Group learner
Do you tend to do most of your learning in the company of others?

Balance your group learning tendency with independent work.
Do your preparation work independently (reading course materials and researching information.) Do your idea development, problem solving and projects collaboratively.

The online environment easily lends itself to collaborative learning especially for class members who invest time in its success. Getting help online from classmates is a readily available option when learning on the Web. In fact, it is often easier to work online and find help because there is a sense of "community" among online class members. Consider these collaborative options:

1. Reviewing, editing and collaborating can be done "synchronously" in chat rooms or "asynchronously" on discussion boards.
   
   
2. Posting an "SOS" on the discussion board (Class Forum link) or emailing often yields quick results and often gets "after hours" responses

Independent learner
Do you tend to do most of your learning by yourself?

Balance your independent learning tendency with group work.

• Do your preparation work independently (reading course materials and researching information.)
• Do your idea development, problem solving and projects collaboratively.

The online environment offers almost unlimited resources for independent workers which is an attraction for many web-learners. "Learning it myself" often gives the feeling of control over the direction, the timing and outcome of one's project. However, it is important to consider the benefits of collaboration:

1. Other equally bright classmates with different perspectives can provide insights on course materials and projects.

2. Electronic exchanges tend to occur more rapidly online allowing you to feel at ease about the timing of completing your work.

3. Multiple sources of input will enrich the outcome and direction of your project in a way that you might not have been able to achieve alone

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Daytime
Do you tend to work during traditional a.m. - p.m. hours

If you tend to study during traditional hours, then you have both campus, library and online resources available for use.

Choose your preferred hours and keep to those hours.
 

Late-night / Early-morning
Do you tend to work late nights or early morning 9p.m. - a.m.?

If you prefer or are forced to study during "nontraditional" hours, then you will need to rely more heavily on Internet resources to find course materials and do your research.

1. read and learn about the large number of resources that are available to you on the Internet (WebReady Lessons 1-11)
2. encourage your instructor to put assignment listings and handouts online to help improve you access to course materials.

Outspoken
Do you tend to enjoy speaking out in class and becoming part of the class exchange?

Outspoken speakers may find that "speaking out" does not happen as effortlessly online. Typing out what you want to say on the web causes you to reflect on what you are saying and be more concise and precise. The effects may be beneficial causing you to temper your intuitive speaking skills with reflective skills.

Take advantage of the unpressured response time online to work on the conciseness, clarity and expression of your ideas.

Reserved
Do you prefer to speak in one-to-one situations?

Reserved speakers will find that on a discussion board, there is no pressure and there is time to reflect on what you want to say. You can take as long as you want to think and to respond. Furthermore, no one can interrupt you if you pause!

Take advantage of the unpressured response time online to work on strengthening your conversational skills and establishing rapport within the class.

Participating in discussions may be your forté or may be your weakness. Everyone is on an equal footing on the Web using discussion boards.