Along with the obvious computer and Web navigation abilities, Miller says online learners need to be able to manage their time efficiently, motivate themselves and work in an unfamiliar learning environment. If learners are lacking these abilities, encourage them to explore Web-based learning informally on their own before taking a corporate course. Miller says participating in newsgroups can help WBT newcomers gain the necessary skills and confidence to communicate effectively in writing. To build time management skills, he says, learners should be encouraged to set aside time for training and set goals for completing it. Each module provides students with practical experience and ends with a self-correcting quiz that gives instant feedback about their understanding of the material presented.
Students also can refer questions to a special email address.
If learners have these skills, says Capella's Hanfeldt, the technology becomes invisible, allowing them to focus all of their energy on the content of the course - the real reason they're in class in the first place. The following Web sites provide examples of tutorials that go to great pains to make sure students are prepared for online learning. This site provides an overview of the skills required to be a successful online learner. It explains what a Web-based course is, lays out hardware and software requirements, and offers a glossary of terms. World Campus 101, created by Penn State University's distance education department, is a free, self-paced tutorial on how to be an online learner.