Distance Learning Degree Program - How to Study
By: Katie Robins

The format of distance learning courses is different than what moststudents have experienced. The teaching style is more student directedand you will have to become accustomed to these differences. Distancelearning relies heavily on technology. If you aren't computer andinternet savvy, you will need to learn new skills, in addition to yourcoursework. Look for classes or workshops on computers and theinternet. These are often available in public libraries or communitycenters. You may feel overwhelmed at the thought of taking anotherclass, but the time you spend learning to use the technology will saveyou time in the long run.

Most colleges offer support for newstudents. Some schools may have orientation sessions at the start of anew semester. If your school offers this, plan on attending. You willgain valuable information about the structure of the course and thetechnology used. Instructors often give advice for organizing your timeat these sessions. In addition, you will get a feel for the teacher'sexpectations. Most schools offer tutorials to help you learn to use theonline classroom and other software used in distance learning programs.

Researchpapers are common assignments in both traditional and distance learningcollege courses. Utilize the resources offered by your college to helpcomplete necessary research. If the school is in driving distance fromyour home, take advantage of the college library. Other colleges mayallow you to use their library with a student ID from your school. Manyschools offer an online library database. Learn to use the database tosave time when researching. Quite a bit of research can be done online,which can save you time as well.

The workload in distancelearning courses is similar to traditional college coursework. Thebasic format of most courses involves studying the text, completingassignments and taking exams. Just about all work will involve readingand writing, so take some time to improve your skills in these areas.You will most likely have a fair amount of reading assigned both in thetext and from outside sources. Schedule enough time to complete allreading assignments. Get the textbooks early and read the first fewchapters before classes start to become familiar with the material.

Takingnon traditional college courses requires commitment and time managementskills. The ability to work at your own pace can turn intoprocrastination. Set goals for yourself and make a schedule that willallow you to reach those goals in a reasonable amount of time. Plan onspending at least nine hours each week for each class you take.Schedule study time and stick to your schedule. It's important not tofall behind and even better to stay a week ahead of the class schedule.

Youwon't be completely isolated when taking distance learning courses.Stay in contact with your instructor and ask for feedback regularly.Instructors will have office hours when you can call, or you can stayin touch with email. You may be given opportunities to interact withother students through chats, message boards or online study groups.Take advantage of these opportunities, if studying with others ishelpful to you. Some colleges offer online tutoring, usually in mathand writing. Take advantage of every opportunity for the bestexperience.

Katie Robbins is a freelance writer fordegreeclick.com, a web resource where she regularly publishesinformative articles about online education. Some of the topics shecovers include online universities, health care degrees, and criminal justice degrees.

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