How do I know if I'm ready to take an online course?

If you’re thinking about taking an online literature or composition course, you should read the following carefully before committing to a very challenging course.

First, take this brief survey. Take the results seriously. Next, play this sample video. If you cannot get it to play on your computer (here are some hints on how to do so), you might consider another class. Seriously. Finally, if you earned less than a “B” in ENGL 1102 and 1101, you might find this course too challenging.

Here are some additional aspects that you should consider:

• Time: You may believe that because this course is offered online, that it will not require as much time as a traditional classroom course. Well, you should plan on spending at least twice the amount of time working on your own to make up for what you would not receive from class discussions and lecture. This includes doing extra secondary research, something you may not be used to doing.



• Motivation: Since you will be required to budget your time, you must also be self-motivated. You will not have the benefit of having a professor’s presence compelling you to do your work each week; you will have to take on the responsibility. The reality of this is more difficult than it may seem. Procrastination will put you behind and make it very difficult for you to recover.



• Course Work: Literature courses benefit from in-class discussion; many find the literature challenging, so without the benefit of a professor’s in-class guidance, many find the challenge too difficult. Here are some minimums: if you have not successfully completed an online course before, you may not want to begin with one in the Humanities. If you have not successfully completed a college-level literature course before (including 1102), you should not begin with this one.

The bottom line is that online literature courses are challenging, which unfortunately produces high attrition rates because many students are just not ready for them. These warnings are not meant to discourage anyone from taking it, but should be considered strongly before taking the course. Do not sign up for an online class with the expectation that it will be easy. If anything, it is more difficult than taking the course in-class.

For minimum computer requirements, see those that Second Life outlines. A fast, reliable Internet connection from your house is also a requirement for online courses. Yes, there are open-use labs on campus, but do not rely on these to accomplish the work in an online course.

Finally, you should get this video to play on your computer. If you cannot handle this slight technological challenge, you might seriously consider another course.