Use the following self assessment "test" to help you determine if you are ready to take an online or videocassette course through North Seattle Community College. This assessment covers both technical as well as learning style considerations.  You may want to print this page so you can spend more time considering both the questions and your answers.  This is strictly a self assessment tool, so give yourself honest answers.  

(This self assessment test is adapted from one created by Edmonds Community College)

Learning Style Considerations

1. Do you stay on task without direct supervision?
2. Can you prioritize your own workload?
3. Are you good at assessing your own progress?
4. Do you enjoy learning new computer or technology skills?
5. Will a class with many communication options but without spoken presentations work for you?
6. Will you allocate as much time in your schedule for your online course as you would for an on-campus course (since the workload and time commitment will be comparable)?
   

Technical Considerations

1. Can you create, save and manage files on your computer?
2. Do you know how to install software on your computer if you need to?
3. Do you currently have an email address?
4. Do you know how to send and receive email attachments?
5. Can you access email and the World Wide Web (WWW) at least five times a week?
6. If you do not have your own computer, can you get to campus to use the computer labs or arrange to use some other computer at least two hours per day?

How to Assess Your Answers:

If you hesitated to answer YES to the Learning Style Considerations, you may find the distance learning environment, whether online or videocassette-based, more challenging.  Most of our online courses make use of a classroom discussion room which allows interaction between students and instructors as well as among students.  However, online based interaction can be less satisfying than face-to-face communication for some learners. The online classroom requires you to structure your own schedule, balancing your time around the assignments/requirements of the class. Without the need to show up in a particular place at a designated time each week, some learners find it all too easy to put work off until the last minute. Much of the material covered in a typical online class will require you to learn from reading. This may include textbooks, Internet-based materials and written "lectures" or notes from your instructor.

All of the Technical Considerations mentioned are used in our online courses.  If you have some technology to learn, you should make extra time in your schedule accordingly. 

Please go to the following site for information about your learning style.  This will help you in determining your learning style and how you can adapt it to your online courses.

Introduction to the DVC Learning Style Survey for College

 

Ask An Advisor or the Staff at the Distance Learning Office

This self assessment has been created to help you decide if online learning is for you. It can serve as an indicator but not as a definitive answer. If you have any questions about taking a course online, please contact us. We are here to assist you!

Distance Learning courses require a student to be self motivated and generally it requires three hours of study and work per credit to complete the course successfully. This time frame is only an estimate and a student may take more or less time per class depending on knowledge or interest.

Your academic advisor can help you decide whether distance learning is a good option for your personal situation. Feel free to discuss this option when you plan your quarterly schedule and register.  Advisors can be reached at (206) 527-3658 or by emailing AdvisorNorth@sccd.ctc.edu. The Distance Learning Office can be reached by phone (206) 527-3738 -- or visit us in our office, CC1443.  Our email address is:  distance@sccd.ctc.edu.