What it is to be an Online Learner
This page provides links to resources that take a look at what it is to be an online learner - from both a learner and tutor perspective.
Articles in date order, most recent first.
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"Meredith Fear sits in her room doing her homework. Books are scattered about, and a computer monitor glows before her. She is working on two Word documents and has four Web sites open. She checks her school e-mail account, her Bloglines news aggregator, and Furls of an online article for her independent study. She quickly transitions from this to respond to group members on Instant Messenger who have attached PowerPoint slides for an upcoming class presentation." Tom McHale, techLearning, 15 September 2005
Added: 26 September 2005
Reviewer's Note:
"Today's secondary and even elementary schools are filled with students like Fear who are adept at multitasking and using technology in exciting new ways."
Preparing e-learners for online success
"Advances in e-learning technology have, however, created new demands on both learners and instructors." Ryan Watkins, Learning Circuits, September 2005
Added: 12 September 2005
Reviewer's Note:
"instructors, instructional designers, and curriculum developers have been building an inventory of contemporary skills and techniques for generating useful learning experiences for today's high-tech learners."
"e-Learning is doubling yearly. Classes, e-courses, e-books on how-to and what-to appear by the thousands online weekly. In- person seminars and workshops are limited to location and access. e-Learning allows easy access, creation, and international distribution to a whole new world of experiences -- negative and positive." Catherine Franz, WebProNews, 15 September 2004
Added: 16 September 2004
Reviewer's Note:
Catherine provides some advice to those new to e-learning
Ten tips and tricks for the online student
"During the first course, I had printed every article, Email, group project, student-to-facilitator communication, lecture, and assignment. I struggled to work within a synchronous and asynchronous environment, while juggling my teammate's schedules, multiple assignments, and my day-to-day job. Finally, after the first course, I realized I had to make some changes. Otherwise, I would never make it through the full 20 months of the program. Through that initial baptism by fire, I quickly developed a set of tips that my fellow classmates and I found useful." Mark Evans, tech.learning.com, 1 June 2004
Added: 3 June 2004
Reviewer's Note:
Teachers and students should both benefit from this list of tips
Personal intellectual capital management
"Ultimately, you're responsible for the life you lead. It's up to you to learn what you need to succeed. That makes you responsible for your own knowledge management, learning architecture, instructional design and evaluation." Jay Cross, Chief Learning Officer Magazine, February 2004
Added: 13 February 2004
Reviewer's Note:
The case for planning and designing your own learning. As Jay points out "my personal learning and knowledge management are too important to leave to chance. So are yours."
"Nobody said the journey of educational pursuit was going to be an easy one. There are bound to be bumps along the way in terms of sacrifices to be made. It's challenging enough to bring yourself to say "Today I will cancel my date to attend class" or "This weekend I will devote 5 hours to my assignment"; it's doubly testing for an e-Learner who is not bounded by class attendance."
Added: 31 January 2004
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These are the key elements of success as identified by PurpleTrain.com students
"A free tool to help you determine if online education is right for you. The eLearners Advisor is a quick survey that asks you questions related to earning an online degree. Your answers are instantly reviewed to evaluate your readiness for online education" Provided by eLearners.com
Added: 29 January 2004
Reviewer's Note:
Mainly suitable for those who want to become an online learner on a degree programme
Serenity now: Making peace with e-learning
"As students of e-learning, we can learn from yoga how to be more centered and focused, which can have a direct impact on how we view e-learning, how successful we are when using e-learning programs, and how well we incorporate e-learning into our work world." Laura Francis, Learning Circuits, April 2003
Added: 19 April 2003
Reviewer's Note:
"By applying those five yoga principles to e-learning, we can all find a little serenity in our hyperactive world.
"The promise of e-learning to provide anytime, anyplace learning leaves us with an awful lot of options. But trainers and learners alike have to make a choice - what is the ideal environment in which to be an e-learner? In this article, Clive Shepherd explores the advantages and disadvantages associated with learning at the desktop, at home or in the learning centre, and comes to see how all options can work given the right conditions." tactix, March 2003
Added: 20 March 2003
Reviewer's Note:
If e-learning is a separate activity from work, then you can choose where you do it, where it is embedded in work processes and practices it is not that easy to work in a different place!
Preparing students for e-learning
"The following is a summary of "content created" as a result of Week 4 of discussions using a non-traditional approach to learning (participants of "elearning noncourse"). This article is best understood as a collage of thoughts, rather than a cohesive essay."
Added: 17 October 2002
Reviewer's Note:
Some useful thoughts and ideas about preparing students for online learning
Creating a culture of learning
"A great deal of conversation in the e-learning community has been about the development of e-learning content or e-learning systems and technology. The assumption has been that if we create the right content and deliver it with the right systems, that learners will respond. But, we may need to also develop our learners' ability to be e-learners!" Elliott Masie, 1 February 2002
Added: 21 February 2002
Reviewer's Note:
Need to develop e-learners
In search of the perfect e-learner
"It's becoming common knowledge that e-learning is achieving inconsistent results. Some e-learners thrive on the increased flexibility and control that the medium provides; others wallow in isolation, struggling to make a start. In this article, Clive Shepherd examines the notion that some people are more suited to e-learning than others, while not discarding the idea that e-learning could be developed to become a medium for the masses."
Added: 25 January 2002
Reviewer's Note:
My take on this is that e-learning should fit the learner not the other way round - otherwise we exclude too many people
Observations of behaviour and processes
"After approximately 500 hours as an online learner in a wide range of courses and activities, I've noticed I have some interesting habits." Elliott Masie, IT Training Magazine, December 2001
Added: 5 January 2002
Reviewer's Note:
Elliott Masie takes a look at his behaviour as on online student
What makes a successful online student
"Like the facilitator, the online student possesses unique qualities. This resource explains what they are. Illinois Online Network.
Updated: 29 December 2001
Reviewer's Note:
A good overview of the qualities required of an online network
"This guide is a great way to determine your best path to success in the virtual world of distance learning. From getting registered to computing the cost of your classes and using the right Web tools, this book can help you stay motivated and achieve your educational goals without ever setting foot in the classroom." By Nancy Stevenson
Added: 9 October 2001
Reviewer's Note:
Want a book all about learning online?
How to be a successful online student
"Offers guidelines and advice to becoming a successful online student, providing the basics of how online learning works. Includes information on how to determine if someone is a good candidate for online learning, advice for what can and cannot be studied online, and how to combine online learning with traditional classes" By Sara Dulaney Gilbert
Added: 9 October 2001
Reviewer's Note:
How to learn online
Can you succeed as a cyberstudent
"More sensible and serious e-learners will recognize that they must work for what they get. Surely you do not expect a sports club to bless you with a well-defined, muscular body for the price of your membership without your personal physical participation. So, too, you should not expect to gain skills and knowledge from an e-learning experience without dedicating your personal time and effort to acquire them." Francis H Dong, e-Learning Magazine, September 2001
Added: 5 September 2001
Reviewer's Note:
A comprehensive article about learning online
24 hours in the life of a new synchronous learner
"And you thought a day in an e-trainer's life was hard" Jennifer Hofman, Learning Circuits, August 2001
Added: 20 August 2001
Reviewer's Note:
A minute-by-minute account of learning!
" ...serendipitous experiences is what the Web is all about too. For example, when I browse for books at Amazon.com, I usually end up buying serendipitously. And I do the same at eBay too. In fact, a part of my browsing experience is an eager wait to be inspired by the unexpected. And I'm sure you've had similar experiences. In this article, I will try to explore some of this phenomena, and relate it to the design of online learning environments" Maish Nichani, elearningpost, June 2001
Added: June 2001
Reviewer's Note:
"If you take advantage of all its capabilities, e-learning can be a compelling way to extend the reach and impact of your knowledge. But because much of e-learning is self-paced, you'll need motivation and personal tenacity to succeed." Nuala Sweeney, Learning Circuits, May 2001.
Added: May 2001
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"I wanted to illustrate how we might not even know when we will have a learning moment with another person, yet how rich the interaction can be." Susan Singer, LiNEZine
Added: May 2001
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"Learn how learning is changing, how you can promote learning, and how you can become a better learner." By Lucy McCauley. From Fast Company, October 2000 issue
Added: May 2001
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"Learning on-line is a new experience for all of us; however, it is a way of learning that will increase in the future, as more institutions and organizations use the Internet for distance education. Does being a student in an on-line environment require new strategies for maximizing your learning? We believe it does, and we would like to share some simple tips to help you succeed as a student on the Web." Office of Open Learning, University of Guelph, Canada
Added: 2000
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This section from Onlinelearning.net (at the University of Diego) explains the concept of online learning for new students
Added: 2000
Reviewer's Note:
Learning on the Internet - A General Education course
This course for students explains how learning on the Internet works. (1996) Jack Treuhaft, Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology.
Added: 2000
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Learning to communicate online is a challenge for new distance-Ed students
"Each semester that Donald J. Winiecki teaches a distance-education course, he notices that the online class discussions become more meaningful and coherent as the term progresses. Mr. Winiecki, an assistant professor of instructional and performance technology at Boise State University, says he believes this is not only because the students gradually learn about the subject and can speak about it more articulately. The students also learn how to apply effective conversational practices to discussions carried out by e-mail and computer conferencing." This article appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education, 13 January 2000.
Added: 2000
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Qualities of a Successful Online Student
How do you know if distance learning is a good way for you to increase your knowledge and skills? College of Education, Texas A&M University
Added: 2000
Reviewer's Note: