TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content

Page
1.0 Introduction


2
2.0 Attributes of the learners and how these can help the learners to be
successful in an online learning environment

2
2.1 Well Disciplined learners

2
2.2 Independent Learners

3
2.3 Basic Computer Skills

4
2.4 Reading and Writing skills

5
3.0 Strategies That Can Be Adopted By The Learners to be a successful in an
Online Learning Environment

6
3.1 Read The Syllabus Carefully

6
3.2 Ask Questions

7
3. 3Make connections with course mates

7
3.4 Good Study Environment

8
4.0 Conclusion

9
5.0 Appendix

10







1.0 INTRODUCTION

Online learning is a type of distance learning that involves modern gadget such as
computer and internetwork. It is a great leap from the traditional method to the
technology-based learning. The online education can be considered a type of learning
environment that connects learners and educators through internetwork. The online
learning environment use many channels such as the mail, discussion boards for
interaction between instructors and students and forum between students and students.
Learners send in their assignments, homework, even do their exams online thus
making teaching and learning environment easier and faster. Thus today online
learning has become a viral and vital channel for especially the adult learners to
continue with their studies from distance. For the majority of adult it is a gigantic leap
from the traditional based learning to the technology-based learning.
But despite this flexible and faster method of online learning, not all can become
a successful online learner. There are certain characteristics that attributes to the
success of the online learners. And according to Pennsylvania Pilot Project With 20
Sites implementing WES for adult basic learners, students who were most successful
shared similar characteristic and they are well disciplined learners, independent
learners, learners who have basic computer skills and have good writing and reading
skills. Those are some of the attributes that an online learner has to have in order to be
successful.

2.0 ATTRIBUTES OF THE LEARNERS AND HOW THESE CAN HELP THE
LEARNERS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN AN ONLINE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT.

2.1 Well disciplined learners.

Firstly, a successful online learner should be well disciplined. Disciplined from
the sense of having a good time management skills. With the freedom and flexibility
of the online learning environment, one has to be well disciplined so that they can be
successful online learners. They should be able to complete their weekly assignments
and post email messages on time. According to a study done by the University of
Nevada in Online success online instructors expect successful students to log at
least three to five hours of online work for a week for three credit classes. Besides that
most students find they are successful if they log two hours of homework for every
credit hour of class. Successful online students report that they log many hours above
the minimum 12 hours expected. According to Hiltz and Turoff (2005) a successful
learner should be willing and able to commit to 4 to 15 hours per week per course.
Thus the online learning process is normally requires commitment on the students
part .A student who is not disciplined will find that it is hard to manage time and in
the end will be frustrated to continue with the course. Meeting deadline is another
aspect that one has to be disciplined with. A successful online learner has to be always
on toe and never miss deadline at any cost. They should be organized in setting a
schedule that allows them to meet their deadlines. Most online classes require regular
signing in and posting of messages in the virtual classroom in order to stay current
with class activities which include reading messages and lecture, interacting in
discussion and work groups and posting assignments. According to Tips For Success
in Online Learning by Boise State University failure to meet deadline is a step to
being failure online learners. A successful online learner is always first in submitting
assignments or is able to submit before the deadlines. All these need a learner to be
well disciplined.

2.2 Independent Learners

Secondly, a successful online learner has to be very independent learner. As an
independent online learner, one has to be able to do research on their own, able to
learn on their own as there wont be any spoon feeding from the educators and able to
compete with other learners on their own. As one of the main reason learners choose
online learning is that they wanted to work at their own pace as the online learners
may be working full time, full time parents, living in rural or isolated regions or
retires wanting to further their educations. Porter and Sturm found out that, out of 154
ABE online learners the majority were woman and the most common age group was
27- 39.And according to 0Lawrence (1999) most adult learners are both the
undergraduate and graduate who balance work and family demands with part time
degree. Therefore these learners see online technology as providing new opportunities
and preventing a drive to attend class so that they can remain in their homes or work
place and yet participate in learning activities. As they choose this method of learning
in order to continue learning, they soon learn that as an online learner, one has to be
an independent learner. What is an independent learner? As mentioned above an
independent learner does not depend 100% on the instructor or educator to provide
information as in a traditional learning. One has to learn by them to find information.
One has to submit assignments on the dateline given without being pushed by the
instructors or educators. As online learner they do not communicate with their
educators face to face theres no personal touch between them. Most of the learning
takes place independently. They have to refer on their own. Therefore online students
must feel comfortable in a learning environment that emphasis on individuals taking
responsibility for their learning process. Even when online classroom includes
interactions between the student and the instructor, but it is not immediate as in the
normal traditional classroom. Although the online instructors or educators respond to
the questions and provide clarifications or information, an online learner must be able
to wait 24 hours for a response to their emails. Therefore a successful online learner
has to be independent in order to search for answers, read on their own to get more
information, communicate with other online learners to share information without
being instructed by anyone. In nutshell a successful learner has to be an independent
learner.

2.3 Basic Computer Skills

Thirdly, a successful online learner should have basic computer skills. According to
Micheal Burke in Using Online Interaction To Break your addiction To Classroom
Training interactivity is in the mind, not in the mouse. The statement says that even
the online learning use technology gadgets such as mouse and keyboard, its okay to
depend on these gadgets to get the mind engaged. Thus a successful online learner has
to be equipped with the computer gadgets. The computer is an internal part of the
online classroom. Online learners need basic technical skills to succeed. These basic
skills including proficiency in sending and receiving emails with attachments, to
create new documents, use a word processing program, navigate the Internet and
download software. A successful learner must have those basic computer skills in
order to accomplish the assignments given to them. According to a study in the
Pennsylvania Pilot Project stated that the online learners who had a computer at
home and of enough computer skills and they can use the Internet and navigate the
curriculum site are successful in their studies. In addition to that In Tech Tools For
Students With Learning Disabilities Infusion Into Inclusive Classroom by Jane
Quenneville, had reported that computer has many benefits by facilitating writing for
students with learning disabilities (LD) who often find writing process a problem.
According to Mac Arthur (1996) an online learner who has this kind of learning
disabilities can also be successful if they know simple basic computer skills.
Therefore successful online learner must possess technology skills that enable them to
use the wide variety of multimedia tools required to actively participate in the
distance-learning environment. These include certain software packages such as
PowerPoint and Adobe, course management systems, blogs, wikis, instant messaging
forums, audio and video editing tools, pod casts, animation tools and many more.
Successful learners spend time and effort to learn how to effectively use these tools to
communicate with other group members and connect with their instructor.

2.4 Good Reading and Writing skills

Fourthly, a successful learner must have reading and writing skills. In the virtual
classroom, almost all communications is through writing such as sending emails,
taking part in forum discussions and doing assignments. Therefore a successful
learner must have good writing skills. A successful learner should also enjoy
communications in writing if not they might face problems in conveying their
message accurately to their instructors or educators. This will bring
miscommunication between the instructor and the learners and thus making the whole
process of learning a failure. When the learning process become failure, then the
learner has failed to excel in the online learning environment. The same process goes
to the reading skills. As all assignments and lecture materials are in black and white,
therefore online learners should be equipped with the reading skills. One should be
able to read, process the information and come up with own interpretation of the
assignment and topic or homework. In short, writing and reading skill is an essential
part of the online learning process. Besides that when communicating with teachers
and other staff, you should write in full, grammatically correct sentences and with a
respectful tone. Many students are used to a very informal style of writing in chat
rooms, blogs, text messages, and so forth. Due of the distance, it's tempting for some
students to say things out of anger or frustration that they would never say to a teacher
in person. Online teachers are professionals. Treat them with respect and courtesy.

3.0 STRAGETIES THAT CAN BE ADOPTED BY THE LEARNERS TO BE

3.1 Read The Syllabus Carefully

There are a few strategies that an online learner can use to become a successful
learner. Firstly, a successful online learners has to read the syllabus of the course
carefully .The syllabus is a vital resource for any course. It is the road map for the
entire course so one has to get to know it well. White and Eight (2000) suggest online
learners to consider the syllabus as a foundation or framework for their course .The
syllabus include a wealth of information such as instructor contact data, course
prerequisite, course objectives, course outlines, course expectations, course policies,
information on how to submit assignments and link to course resources .The syllabus
also may also include course calendar. Within the calendar the workload sequencing,
reading schedules, project timelines and assignment due dated should be indicated. At
the same time highlight and record the due dates for the assignments in your personal
calendar .If you know it will be impossible to submit an assignment by the due date
due to some important or urgent matter, contact the instructor or educator as soon as
possible before the assignment is due. One may get some consideration from the
instructor by contacting him or her before the date and not after. According to Theresa
A. Middleton Brosche - 2010 - Education has survey over 40 online students and
faculty and found that the main reason online students experience difficulties was
failure to read syllabus completely.

3.2 Ask Questions

Next, to be a successful online learner one must never feel embarrassed to ask
questions to the instructor or educators. If you have questions be clear in your
communications. Ask questions that need clarification or information. Do not let the
virtual classroom to hinder the online learners the process of learning. The more you
ask questions the more you learn. The virtual space in online learning can be a barrier,
if you let it get in the way. If you have a question about course content, need
clarification on a difficult concept ask. And when you do ask a question, make it
count. Before you post a question, know what you are asking and why. Be clear and
concise in your communication. By asking fellow students and instructor would go
deeper into the subject. Going deeper will make the subject matter more
understandable. Online chat rooms, if provided, are another great resource for
students seeking answers. Online chat rooms give students a forum to meet other
students taking the same course and ask questions or discuss assignments. More than
likely another student taking the course has had or will have the same question. If an
online learner needs an immediate answer do your best to find the answer
themselves. They will likely satisfy other lingering questions in the process and often
times the journey to the answer teaches them more than the answer itself.


3.3 Make connections with course mates

Besides the above points, making connection with other course mates can also
make online learners to be successful. The instructor or educator is not the only
source of information in the course but the online learners also can gain from their
peers and they can learn from you as well. . They can even create a small group study
so they can always be in touch of whats happening regarding their coursework. There
is also a collaborations tool in Google Docs, which helps a group to have online real
time discussions. An online learner can also try Google Hangouts .It is an applications
that allow video chat and discuss in real time. They can also share documents and web
pages. When we make connections with our course mates we can get many
information and help that can motivate us to keep on going with our course and
assignments. Log on to your course Web site often for e-mails, discussion topics, and
instructor announcements. Find out who has commented on your postings and read
the feedback of your instructor and classmates. If you do not log on to your course
discussion group often, you will fall behind and find it very difficult to catch up. Also,
contact your instructor regularly especially when you have questions about the course.
Be very clear in your online communication since you do not have the benefit of face-
to-face contact with your professor and classmates.


3.4 Good Study Environments.
Another critical component of online learning success is a good study environment.
Ones should avoid all the interruptions that can take his or her away from what they
are doing. An online learner has to have a peace and quiet environment. They will
need a quiet place to work without distractions from things like television, gadgets,
family or roommates. It is always a wise idea to keep away all the gadgets that ping,
buzz and beep their way into our attention as those things can cause distraction. Let
friends and family members know the hours that you will be at school and the time
you have allocated time for studies so they can understand you better. Set a definite
time to meet their needs and you can have your break as well. Do not let temptation to
stop you from your assignments. It is easy to lose track of the time as you wander
from site to site. Therefore focus on what you set to do online. Good study
environment also includes the light in the room. The light should be bright enough to
make you feel comfortable when you are doing your assignments

4.0 Conclusion
Online learning is a growing and exciting new way to learn about almost
anything. If there is a course you have always wanted to take or a skill you have
always wanted to learn, but you have not had the time to attend a traditional face-to-
face class or there hasn't been an opportunity near you, then online learning might be
your answer. Today's online learning opportunities offer everything from one-hour
live workshops to online degrees. There is virtually something for everyone; all you
have to do is find it. However, learning online is different from learning in a face-to-
face setting, and it is important to think about your goals, your needs and your
interests before committing yourself to something. You also need to think about the
time you have available, your comfort level with using technology and the equipment
that is at your disposal. As we all become more familiar with computers and computer
access becomes increasingly common, online learning will continue to open doors
and offer learning opportunities for those who are interested. But not all can be a
successful online learner. To become a successful online learner one has to have
certain attributes such as should be well disciplined learners, should be independent
learners, have basic computer skills, have good reading and writing skills, read the
syllabus carefully, ask questions, make connections with course mates and must have
good study environment.





SITHRADEVI SELVARAJA
OUM SMP SEPT 2013