What does Online Learning mean? 
Is it right for me?

We are excited that you are considering taking a class or classes as an online learner and congratulate you on wanting to make sure this is a good fit for you!   Please review this information carefully and complete the SmarterMeasure assessment when you are done, if you have not done so already.   If you have any follow up questions or would like to discuss the results of your SmarterMeasure assessment further, please meet with an adviser in one of our Student Success Centers.

What is Online Learning (or Distance Learning)?
This is a great question and good place to start!  At J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Online Learning, simply put, is learning where the majority of instruction is done using a computer and the Internet.  You, your classmates and instructor are in different places, engaging and interacting at different times of the day and night. 

What does online learning look like at JSRCC?
At J. Sargeant Reynolds, we use Blackboard software to provide students a “class” space online.  You would log in to your My JSR account, select Blackboard, and from there have access to a link for each class you are enrolled in.  Blackboard is used for both on campus and online classes, so it is important to access whether you are a distance learner or not!  In Blackboard, your instructor will post assignments, reading, audio or video files.  There will also be places to ask questions, do group work, take tests, etc.   You will be required to respond in a discussion board to simulate the kind of conversation that takes place in a traditional classroom.  If you want to experience an online class before enrolling in one, we encourage you to take CDL 001, the college’s orientation to online learning.  It is a free class that you gives you the chance to try out distance learning.

What does it take to be successful?  In a nutshell, students who are successful distance learners are:

• self-directed learners,
• self-motivated,
• able to commit to 8+ hours per course each week,
• good readers,
• able to learn best from reading rather than listening,
• able to follow written directions in completing complex tasks,
• comfortable with technology,
• able to work independently,
• able to prioritize workload,
• able to stay on task without supervision,
• able to judge their own progress, and
• able to move from one task to another without immediate instructor feedback. 

To make the decisions to whether you’re ready for online classes, ask yourself these questions.

• Do you have consistent access to a computer and are you comfortable using a computer?  Successful distance students need to access their college e-mail and Blackboard (which is the software the college uses) accounts multiple times a week for a dedicated period of time.  You also need to be comfortable performing the following computer functions:
• turning on a computer
• using a keyboard
• using the mouse
• saving and attaching documents created in Word
• navigating through a website

If you are not comfortable performing these tasks now, take an on-campus class this semester but use the college’s resources to gain these skills.  Use the computers in the Academic Computing Centers, attend Success Workshops on topics like the Student Information System, and practice being comfortable with the computer and Blackboard.

• Are you an independent learner?  Students who learn best by hearing or in an environment surrounded by other students may be more challenged learning in an online class.  Online classes mostly require reading information (instead of listening to a lecture) and do not have face-to-face interaction with classmates or instructors.  JSRCC’s online classes are asynchronous meaning that everyone completes their work at different times.  Taking a distance learning class means that you will not be meeting with your teacher at a set time, and so there will be no reminder of when to complete homework, that assignments are due, etc.  One of the great things about distance-learning courses is you have greater freedom of scheduling your time, but they require more self-discipline than on-campus classes.

• Can you set aside time to focus on an online class?  Successful online students are ones who can minimize the distractions in their lives and dedicate the time to focus on their coursework.   Studies recommend that to be successful, students must be willing and able to commit to 5 to 10 hours per week per course.   Online is not easier than the traditional educational process. 

• Are you good at managing your time?  While time management is critical to student success no matter the delivery method of the course, it is particularly crucial for an online student.   A common misperception is that learning online takes less time.  In reality, studies show that distance learning requires at least as much time as on-campus courses. Students report that distance-learning courses are as hard or harder than on-campus courses and that they require much more time and commitment.

• Are you comfortable with your skills as a reader and writer and have you finished any developmental reading or writing courses?  Distance learning students need to be comfortable in a learning environment that is reading and writing intensive as nearly all communication is written.  Successful completion of developmental reading and writing courses is an important step prior to enrolling in a distance learning class.