Get great grades from a distance

New to online academia and need someone to show you around? You're in the right place—and you're not alone! As more of everything goes online—fueled by tech trends as well as unexpected events like the COVID-19 crisis—it's no surprise that many of us are getting our educations there, too. Online Learning For Dummies is here to welcome you to the gigantic (and gigantically exciting!) virtual campus, and help you get settled in by providing an overview of the endless opportunities offered by distance learning, as well as offering practical advice to make sure you have the right equipment, mindset, and study techniques for success.

In a step-by-step style, this friendly guide takes you from the process of determining what sort of online program is right for you, through applying and enrolling, to building the skills you'll need to succeed. You'll learn how to navigate the common features of the online learning classroom, explore the digital etiquette that will help you get the most out of your instructors and fellow students, and discover how to effectively and professionally present your work. You'll also find out how to develop good online study habits to help you avoid distraction, and how to set aside undisturbed time in between juggling the demands of work, family, and social life.

• Evaluate the latest courses and opportunities
• Make sure you have the correct hardware and software
• Develop your online study skills via best practices
• Avoid digital fatigue

Regardless of age or experience, we can all do with a few pointers on how to get more from the vast array of educational opportunities offered online. This book has them all: Get reading, get online, and get the most from that education you've been dreaming about.

Foreword xv

Introduction 1

About This Book 2

Conventions Used in This Book 2

What You’re Not to Read 3

Foolish Assumptions 3

How This Book is Organized 4

Part 1: Introducing a Different Kind of Learning 4

Part 2: Preparing to Be a Learner 4

Part 3: The Virtual Classroom: Being an A+ Student 5

Part 4: Special Considerations in Online Learning 5

Part 5: The Part of Tens 5

Icons Used in This Book 5

Beyond the Book 6

Where to Go from Here 6

Part 1: Introducing a Different Kind of Learning 7

Chapter 1: Planning for Your Online Learning Journey 9

Examining the Characteristics and Advantages of Online Education 10

The nature of online education 10

A few pros of online learning 12

Knowing the Technology and Computer Skills You Need to Succeed 12

Seeing How to Go About Becoming an Online Learner 13

Finding available courses 14

Evaluating programs 15

Applying to a program and securing the money you need 16

Getting accepted and preparing for class 17

Attitude is everything 17

Becoming a Star Learner 18

Making your way around your classroom 18

Meeting the instructor, fellow students, and other important folks 18

Communicating with clarity 19

Strengthening your study habits 19

Working well in a group 19

Being part of a bigger world 20

Minding your online manners and ethics 20

Completing and turning in assignments 21

Transitioning after you’re done with school 22

Looking at a Few Special Situations in Online Education 22

Students in kindergarten through high school 22

Learners with disabilities 23

Chapter 2: The Traits and Benefits of Online Learning 25

What Makes Online Learning Different from Traditional Education? 26

Connecting to learning and people via the Internet 26

Working when it’s convenient 28

No loafing! 30

Who Benefits from Online Learning? 30

Adults beyond traditional college age 31

Traditional college students 35

Seniors and retirees 36

High school and homeschooled students 37

Getting a Grip on Potential Pitfalls 39

Online learning isn’t easier 39

Spontaneous, face-to-face discussions are not the norm 39

Determining Whether You’re Ready to Join the World of Online Learning 40

Assessing your own discipline 40

Knowing how you learn 41

Being patient and tolerant 43

Chapter 3: The Equipment and Skills You Need to Succeed 45

Checking Your Technological Readiness 46

Meeting minimum hardware requirements 46

Meeting software requirements 52

Establishing a reliable Internet connection 54

Testing Your Technological Abilities 56

Reading and scrolling efficiently 56

Typing quickly and accurately 56

Organizing folders 57

Navigating the web 59

Downloading and installing software 60

Using email 61

Staying Safe Online 62

Making secure payments 63

Remembering and protecting passwords 63

Ensuring personal security 65

Part 2: Preparing to Be a Learner 67

Chapter 4: Discovering What’s Available Online 69

Examining Different Types of Online Programs and Courses 69

Earning traditional credit 70

Obtaining certifications and other credentials 72

Staying current or retooling for work through MOOCs 73

Continuing your education with a few classes for fun or profit 73

Finding Out Which Institutions Offer Online Programs and Courses 75

Four-year colleges 75

Two-year colleges 78

Competency-based education 79

Other institutions for certificates, professional development, and training 80

Virtual schools for children and teens 80

Checking Out Different Structures of Online Courses 82

Just you and the monitor (fully online) versus blended courses (partly online) 82

Instructor-led courses versus self-paced courses 83

Resources you’re expected to access even for face-to-face courses 87

Asynchronous courses versus synchronous (real-time) courses 87

Finishing Your Schooling Faster with Accelerated Programs and Courses 87

The benefits and challenges of accelerated programs 88

Tips for successfully completing accelerated classes 88

Chapter 5: Doing Your Homework: Evaluating Schools 91

Focusing On What You Need in a School 92

Considering the program you’re interested in 92

Determining whether a program is affordable 93

Checking out class size (and the student-to-instructor ratio) 93

Knowing how much time you can commit and how it may be spent 94

Planning ahead: Figuring out whether your credits will transfer 96

Finding an Accredited School 98

Recognizing the two types of accreditation 99

Seeing the benefits of accreditation 101

Determining whether an online program is accredited 102

Other factors that contribute to an institution’s credibility 103

Talking to the Right People to Find the Answers You Need 104

Talking to an academic advisor about the school 105

Asking a faculty member about the program 108

Chatting with other students about their experiences 110

Narrowing Your Options 111

Chapter 6: Applying to School and Securing the Cash 113

Applying to an Online Program 113

The basic application forms 114

Your personal essay 116

Letters of recommendation 119

Test scores 119

When it’s all due 120

A helping hand to assist you: The recruiter, advisor, or counselor 120

Calculating the Costs of Online Classes 121

Figuring Out How You’ll Pay for Online Classes 123

Do you need financial aid? 123

What types of financial aid are available? 124

Applying for Federal Financial Aid 125

Knowing whether you’re eligible for funds from Uncle Sam 125

Filling out and submitting the FAFSA 125

Chapter 7: Getting Accepted and Prepping for Class 129

Finding Out Whether You’ve Been Accepted or Rejected 129

Registering for Classes 131

Creating a plan with your academic advisor (also known as Coach) 131

Picking your first classes 132

Gathering the information you need in order to register 134

Navigating registration processes 135

Taking action when a course you want is full 135

When in doubt: Talking to your academic advisor 136

Getting Oriented 137

Determining whether an orientation is available and/or required 137

Distinguishing types of orientation programs 138

Participating in orientation 140

Buying Books 142

Knowing which textbooks you need 142

Deciding where to buy your textbooks 142

Buying new or used — that is the question 144

Chapter 8: Mentally Preparing and Having a Technology Mindset 147

Taking On the Right Attitude 147

Understanding growth and fixed mindsets 148

Recognizing that age is just a number 149

Knowing the Tools You Might Use 150

Learning management system: LMS 150

Self-paced learning 151

Taking screen shots 151

Additional tools 153

Storage and the cloud 154

Saving what you need 155

You Don’t Have to Know Everything 157

Mastering New Tools Quickly 158

Part 3: The Virtual Classroom: Being an A+ Student 161

Chapter 9: Navigating the Learning Environment 163

Reaching Your Virtual Learning Environment 163

Using the right address and setting some Internet options 164

Logging in and checking out the interface 165

Finding your course’s home page 166

Locating and Understanding Critical Documents 168

The syllabus, or course outline 169

The calendar 170

The grading system 173

Modules and More: Understanding a Course’s Content Organization 176

Attending Live Sessions 178

Discovering the value of virtual office hours 178

Accessing the virtual office 179

Chapter 10: Meeting the People in (and Around) Your Classroom 181

Getting to Know the Folks Who Are Front and Center 182

Acquainting yourself with your instructor 182

Interacting with fellow students 187

Seeing Who’s Behind the Scenes 190

Noting classroom guests and observers 190

Calling on technical support 191

Let me “Google that” for you 195

Receiving academic support 195

Developing your personal support system 198

Chapter 11: Communicating Clearly Online 199

Checking Out Methods of Communicating Online 199

Instructor-to-class communication in news and announcements 200

Learner-to-learner communication in discussions 201

One-on-one communication via private email or messaging 202

Creating and Putting Forward an Online Persona 205

Depicting positive personality traits online 205

Developing relationships 209

Participating in Discussions 210

Understanding why you’re asked to discuss 210

Organizing discussions in different ways 210

Figuring out discussion requirements 213

Avoiding overposting 213

Tapping into Social Networks 214

Benefitting from communicating outside the virtual classroom 214

Avoiding distractions 216

Chapter 12: Developing Good Study Habits for Online Courses 217

Setting Aside Time to Learn 217

Working at your peak times 218

Checking in every day for a short time 218

Calculating how much time you need to finish longer tasks 219

Blocking off enough study time each week 221

Navigating the Web Efficiently 221

Keeping multiple browser windows open 222

Avoiding time wasted by chasing links 223

Using social bookmarking tools 224

Reading Wisely 226

Finding the stuff you need to read 226

Deciding whether to print online reading material 228

Increasing the font size in your browser to help you read more easily 229

Taking notes on what you read 229

Keeping track of everything you’ve already read 230

Visiting the Library 232

Accessing the library 233

Doing research online 234

Watching tutorials on the library site 237

Working Offline 238

Chapter 13: Getting a Handle on Group Dynamics 239

Making Your Online Group Successful 240

Introducing yourself in a group forum 240

Establishing a leader and other roles 242

Setting up a group schedule 243

Meeting in real time 244

Using collaborative tools 245

Being patient 251

Resolving Conflicts 251

Understanding the conflicts you may encounter (and handling them) 251

Bringing problems to your instructor’s attention 253

Chapter 14: Recognizing We Are Global 255

Setting the Stage for Global Learning 255

Meeting People around the World 256

Recognizing the value of cultural difference 257

Accessing experts from anywhere 258

Accessing the Internet around the World 258

Considering residential expenses 259

Getting connected outside your home 259

Being aware of restrictions 261

Making the Most of Your Class Time 261

Recognizing what’s different about online classes around the world 261

Adjusting for differences in time zones 262

Joining study groups 263

Chapter 15: Understanding Netiquette and Ethical Behavior 265

Defining and Using Netiquette 265

Communicating politely and respectfully 266

Avoiding stereotyping 269

Recognizing the Importance of Online Ethics 269

Being honest in the written word 270

Showing integrity by following through 270

Respecting privacy and confidentiality 271

Asking before you repurpose prior work 271

Avoiding Plagiarism 271

Defining plagiarism and related concepts 272

Getting the facts on plagiarism 273

Citing sources properly 274

Checking your own work 276

Looking at the penalties for plagiarism 277

Chapter 16: Finishing and Submitting Your Assignments 279

Understanding the Ramifications of Rubrics 280

Breaking down rubrics 280

Using rubrics to your advantage 282

Writing 101 282

Examining different writing styles 282

Knowing what’s expected in your writing 284

Demonstrating critical thinking 286

Completing Different Types of Assignments 287

Mastering papers and projects 287

Participating in discussions 289

Taking quizzes and tests 290

Submitting Assignments 292

Where did you store that file? 292

Attachments! Uploading papers and projects 293

Post, Emily! Submitting discussion posts 294

The Submit button on quizzes and tests 294

Tips for submitting any assignment 295

Understand How and When to Use Media 295

Using images 296

Using infographics 296

Using audio 297

Using video 298

Chapter 17: Building a Portfolio of Work 301

Developing a Body of Work to Take with You 301

Understanding how to use an ePortfolio 303

Checking out typical components of an ePortfolio 303

Choosing a method for creating an ePortfolio 307

Designing a successful ePortfolio 309

Transferring your existing portfolio to the web 311

Getting Help with Finding a Job 312

Benefiting from career services at your school 312

Perusing general job search sites 313

Establishing networks while studying online 314

Part 4: Special Considerations in Online Learning 317

Chapter 18: Educating Students from Kindergarten through High School 319

Understanding Why Kids Are Attending School Online 320

Wanting to be online 320

Needing to be online 320

Seeing the Differences between K-12 and Adult Online Education 321

Safety concerns with children 322

Enhanced parental involvement 323

More real-time opportunities 325

The need to work offline 325

Checking Out Different Kinds of Virtual Schools for Kids and Teens 327

State-funded schools 327

Outsourced instruction and charter schools 330

Private online schools 332

Going Through the K-12 Enrollment Process 333

Finding the right classes 334

Confirming credits before taking classes 334

Understanding articulation agreements 335

Chapter 19: Accessibility in Online Education 337

Determining Whether the Courses You Want to Take Are Accessible 338

Do the courses follow accessibility standards? 339

Are the courses tested for accessibility? 342

How will the school help me if I cannot access information in a course? 343

Disclosing a Disability to Your Chosen Online School 344

Understanding why and when you need to disclose 345

Figuring out what information to disclose 346

Keeping privacy in mind 347

Using Assistive Technology Online 349

Reading web pages with screen readers 349

Transcribing and captioning audio and video files 350

Considering accommodation options for synchronous sessions 351

Part 5: The Part of Tens 353

Chapter 20: Ten Myths about Online Learning 355

Online Learning is Anytime/Anywhere 355

Only Kids Take Online Courses 356

An Online Course is a Helpful Way to Learn How to Use Your Computer 357

You Must Be a Computer Geek to Take an Online Course 357

Online Learning is Easier than Face-to-Face Classes 358

Online Courses Are Lower in Quality than Face-to-Face Courses 359

Online Learning is Always Independent 359

Online Learning is Less Personal than Traditional Learning 360

You Need a Webcam for an Online Class 360

Everyone Cheats Online 361

Chapter 21: Ten Best Practices for Online Learners —Including Self-Care 363

Treat Learning Like It’s a Job 363

It’s Not a Sprint — It’s a Marathon 364

Manage Your Own Expectations 364

Your Calendar is Your Best Friend 365

Advocate for Yourself: Ask for Help 365

Be Present in Class (And Let Your Instructor Know) 366

Give Constructive Feedback 366

It’s Okay to Take a Break 367

Sleep is Good for You 368

Say Thank You 368

Index 369