Online Learning Readiness Checklist
To help you decide if you are ready for online coursework, respond to the following statements by checking “yes” or “no”. Be honest with yourself!
1. I am self-motivated and self-disciplined. / Yes No2. I am a good “time-manager.” / Yes No
3. I am comfortable with e-mail and word processing. / Yes No
4. I can read analytically and critically. / Yes No
5. If I set my sights on an end result, I usually achieve it. / Yes No
6. I am confident in my academic abilities. / Yes No
7. I do not give up easily, even when confronted with obstacles / Yes No
8. I believe I am responsible for my own education. / Yes No
9. I have conflicts with work, athletics or child care and school activities. / Yes No
10. I have convenient and frequent access to a computer with an Internet connection. / Yes No
11. I am willing to try something new. / Yes No
12. I am willing to express my thoughts and opinions in writing. / Yes No
13. I am willing to work in a loosely structured environment. / Yes No
After completing the questionnaire, count the number of times you selected “yes” or “no”.
Ø If you answered “yes” to fewer than 10 statements, rethink your reasons for wanting to enroll in an online course. You may not feel comfortable with this style of instruction and may not be capable of learning this way.
Ø If you answered “yes” to at least 10 statements, online learning may be right for you!
How to be a Successful Online Student
Ø Take the program and yourself seriously.
Ø Set your priorities straight.
Ø Be self-motivated, self-disciplined, and able to learn independently.
Ø Make sure you have a private space where you can study.
Ø Manage your time well.
Ø Be able to commit certain hours per week, per course and log onto your course every single day.
Ø Be able to communicate in writing.
Ø Be able to think your ideas through before responding and use critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Ø Speak up if you have problems.
Ø Ask questions if you don’t understand.
Ø Develop support systems. Not only should you get support from your family, you should also get support from other students and teachers.
Ø Complete and submit assignments regularly.
Student Responsibilities
DAILY
• Check your e-mail
• Log in with your correct username and password
• Click on your course
• Check for new announcements
• Check discussion groups for student and teacher postings.
• Begin working on your course where you left off
• Make sure you do your own work!
• Have a notebook handy so you can take notes for assignments as well as make note of problems with the online course.
• E-mail your instructor about problems with the course. Be constructive with your criticism, don’t complain.
• Make sure you have enough time to complete a quiz or test before starting it. If time allows, check your answers before you submit a quiz or test.
• When you are done with your online session, make sure to exit the course.
• Don’t forget to log off!
WEEKLY
• Try to e-mail your online instructor at least once a week but not less than once every two weeks.
• Check your grade in the gradebook to see how things are shaping up.
• Discuss any questions that come up with your mentor (LEG).
• Don’t forget you can get extra help by using the links that are available in the documents or webliography sections.
SAMPLE
Student Guidelines for On-line Courses
• I will make a commitment to complete this course by______(date)
• I will access the coursework as often as I need to in order to remain on schedule.
• I will follow the Acceptable Use Policy I agreed to when I enrolled in my first WVS course.
• I will NOT use any other student’s login or password.
• I will follow my school’s e-mail use and Acceptable Use Policy.
• I will not use the school e-mail for personal use if the school prohibits it.
• I will e-mail my instructor at least once a week.
• I will use common sense when sending e-mails to the online instructor.
• I will try to be as clear as possible when I ask questions in e-mails.
• I will review the e-mail before I send it.
• I will always include my first and last name so the instructor knows who I am.
• I will abide by my mentor’s rules.
• I will abide by the rules of whoever is in charge of the room I work on the course in (library, study hall, math lab, writing lab, etc.)
• I will make note of any problems with the course and notify the online instructor AND the mentor.
• I will make sure to keep in contact with the mentor at least once a week.
• I will give my best shot at enjoying this new learning experience as a way to help me learn to be more self-sufficient.
Student Signature Parent Signature Date
STUDENT TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ONLINE COURSES
GETTING STARTED
Watch your email account for your “welcome” email with your login information and pace chart. PRINT THIS OUT! Your username and password are CASE SENSITIVE. Your teacher will also send you a welcome email ‐ send them a reply introducing yourself!
Sign all your emails or messages to the instructor with your full name and put the course name in the subject line.
• You can log in to your course at either of these websites: http://wvsonline.blackboard.com
http://www.wisconsinvirtualschool.org/login
• Report any technical issues to your LEG (local mentor) FIRST, as schools may have to resolve firewall/filter issues. You can call the Help Desk at 800‐594‐5965 between 8 am and 8 pm.
• Check with your LEG ‐ did they order the required textbook? (AP courses only)
• Complete the Orientation Course listed under “My Courses” before beginning your course. You can also refer back to this information any time.
• Go through the introductory sections of your course‐ often called Getting Started, Introduction, or Syllabus.
• Use the Dynamic Scheduler tool (found in the syllabus/getting started area of the course) to adjust your pace chart if you start later than expected or get behind. PRINT it out.
WORKING ON YOUR COURSE
Check your email daily, or the messaging area of the course if your teacher asks you to use that method of communicating with them.
Check the course announcements daily.
Keep a notebook for each course. You may want to record where you left off each session (unit/lesson/topic/page).
Complete all practice activities, taking advantage of all interactive (audio, video clips) content.
Go through the course IN ORDER, completing all assignments in a unit before taking quizzes or exams.
Submit all written assignments after saving in RTF format. Do NOT submit work via email.
Oral assignments ‐ check with your instructor or the Getting Started section for instructions.
Taking Quizzes/Exams: ‐You may need to get a password from your LEG before accessing the exam. Some schools require you take exams in the presence of a staff person (proctor).
‐Most exams are timed ‐ limited to one hour ‐ so don’t start an exam unless you have enough time to finish it in one session. ‐While taking an exam, DO NOT hit “refresh” or the “back” buttons, DO NOT leave the page, or minimize the page. If you do, you will be locked out of the quiz/exam and will not be able to retake it without the teacher’s permission. ‐Be sure to hit the “SAVE” button after every answer. Hit “Submit” when you are finished.
• Check your gradebook regularly for teacher comments and suggestions and to see your progress.
• Attend “Elluminate” (real‐time online sessions) to get extra help and touch base with your instructor and other students in the class.
• When you are done with your session, be sure to LOG OFF before closing the browser window.
OTHER TIPS
A successful online student: ‐completes the Orientation before starting their coursework ‐communicates with their instructor at least once a week by email, messaging or Elluminate ‐reads all course announcements ‐follows their Course Schedule, working on the course at a steady pace ‐takes notes and asks questions as needed ‐follows local policy for Appropriate Internet Use
Avoid Academic Dishonesty: ‐Plagiarism ‐Submitting work through another person’s log in ‐Cheating (using unauthorized material, study aids or assistance, such as online translators) ‐Performing work or taking a test for another or having them take a test for you ‐Computer crimes/bullying ‐Inappropriate use of email, discussions, messaging, etc.
**If you can’t do it in your face‐to‐face school, you can’t do it in an online course!
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR ONLINE COURSE!
Wisconsin Virtual School, Wisconsin’s Web Academy http://www.wisconsinvirtualschool.org
715‐453‐2141 ext. 236 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mon.‐Fri.