Considerations Considerations for Distance-for Distance-

LearningLearningMath StudentsMath Students

Source: Source: Winning at Math, Your Guide Winning at Math, Your Guide to Learning Mathematics Through to Learning Mathematics Through

Successful Study Skills, 4Successful Study Skills, 4thth edition. edition. Paul Nolting, Ph.D. Learning Paul Nolting, Ph.D. Learning

SpecialistSpecialist

It’s Not For Everyone!!It’s Not For Everyone!! Students taking distance-learning math Students taking distance-learning math

classes have a special challenge in classes have a special challenge in order to be successful. order to be successful.

If you struggle with math, a distance-If you struggle with math, a distance-learning course should be your LAST learning course should be your LAST option!option!

In order to be successful, you will need In order to be successful, you will need additional math study skills, better additional math study skills, better resources and excellent time resources and excellent time management skills.management skills.

You must be able to become an You must be able to become an INDEPENDENT LEARNERINDEPENDENT LEARNER!!!!!!

Myth: Distance Learning Classes Myth: Distance Learning Classes Are Easier.Are Easier.

Distance learning courses Distance learning courses are NOT easier; it is just are NOT easier; it is just

more convenient.more convenient.

You will put MORE time into an You will put MORE time into an online course, so be realistic about online course, so be realistic about your learning style and study your learning style and study habits/skills when you make the habits/skills when you make the decision to take this type of course.decision to take this type of course.

Characteristics of Successful Characteristics of Successful LearnersLearners

In order to be successful, you must have:In order to be successful, you must have: Easy access to the required computer Easy access to the required computer

equipment, software, and e-mail. This equipment, software, and e-mail. This includes high-speed internet access in includes high-speed internet access in order to avoid being bumped off line.order to avoid being bumped off line.

Necessary level of skills to use the above.Necessary level of skills to use the above. High motivation to complete the course.High motivation to complete the course. Excellent time management skills.Excellent time management skills. Ability to take responsibility to study Ability to take responsibility to study

without being reminded.without being reminded. Good reading skills.Good reading skills. A supporting family.A supporting family.

Characteristics of Characteristics of Successful LearnersSuccessful Learners

In order to be successful, you must:In order to be successful, you must: Be a good independent learner, able to Be a good independent learner, able to

learn by yourself with little interaction learn by yourself with little interaction from the instructor.from the instructor.

Be a good visual learner, able to learn Be a good visual learner, able to learn by seeing the information.by seeing the information.

Be a good abstract learner, able to Be a good abstract learner, able to learn by understanding concepts learn by understanding concepts without asking many questions.without asking many questions.

Have access to additional resources to Have access to additional resources to enhance your learning.enhance your learning.

So, Are You Ready?So, Are You Ready?

Answer each of the following Answer each of the following questions with “YES”, “NO”, or “I questions with “YES”, “NO”, or “I DON’T KNOW” to help give you a DON’T KNOW” to help give you a good idea about your readiness to good idea about your readiness to take a distance-learning course.take a distance-learning course.

BE HONEST!BE HONEST!

Question 1Question 1

I have the computer, I have the computer, software, e-mail, and software, e-mail, and

internet services necessary internet services necessary to be an online learner.to be an online learner.

Question 2Question 2

I can motivate myself to I can motivate myself to learn.learn.

Question 3Question 3

I can dedicate several hours I can dedicate several hours a day a day

for 5 days a week to do my for 5 days a week to do my

distance learning.distance learning.

Question 4Question 4

I know that most of the time I know that most of the time distance-learning classes distance-learning classes

are are

more difficult more difficult

than regular classroom than regular classroom courses.courses.

Question 5Question 5

I can learn from books I can learn from books

instead of talking to people.instead of talking to people.

Question 6Question 6

I like learning by myself.I like learning by myself.

Question 7Question 7

I have outside resources I have outside resources

to aid in my learning.to aid in my learning.

Question 8Question 8

I will be able to arrange my I will be able to arrange my schedule in order to schedule in order to

accommodate accommodate

the testing schedule.the testing schedule.

Question 9Question 9

I have excellent reading I have excellent reading skills.skills.

Question 10Question 10

I have a separate study I have a separate study area area

with ample workspace.with ample workspace.

Evaluate Your ResponsesEvaluate Your Responses

Count the number of times you Count the number of times you responded “YES”.responded “YES”. Eight or more : Probably ReadyEight or more : Probably Ready

Five to seven: May Be ReadyFive to seven: May Be Ready

Five or less: You May Have Extreme Five or less: You May Have Extreme DifficultyDifficulty

Tips for SuccessTips for Success

Read the Syllabus – It is your boss! Read the Syllabus – It is your boss! Remember that the syllabus is your Remember that the syllabus is your contract with the institution, and you contract with the institution, and you must abide by it and follow it to the must abide by it and follow it to the letter.letter.

Treat this like a regular course. Set a Treat this like a regular course. Set a specific time of day to learn the lessons, specific time of day to learn the lessons, study, and do homework. It is study, and do homework. It is recommended that you schedule eight recommended that you schedule eight to ten hours a week to study math just to ten hours a week to study math just like a regular class.like a regular class.

Tips for SuccessTips for Success

Communicate with your instructor. Students Communicate with your instructor. Students must take more initiative to talk with must take more initiative to talk with instructors in distance-learning courses.instructors in distance-learning courses. Send a “test” e-mail to make sure your e-Send a “test” e-mail to make sure your e-

mail systems are compatible. The mail systems are compatible. The instructor expects your e-mails and will instructor expects your e-mails and will answer them.answer them.

Call your instructor if you have detailed Call your instructor if you have detailed questions that can’t be easily answered questions that can’t be easily answered online.online.

Tips for SuccessTips for Success Build up your personal resources Build up your personal resources

before you need them. Know what before you need them. Know what learning resources you have learning resources you have available and be prepared to use available and be prepared to use them.them. Places to look for resources:Places to look for resources:

Shelton State Community CollegeShelton State Community College County librariesCounty libraries Commercial tutor centers Commercial tutor centers Private tutoringPrivate tutoring

Web ResourcesWeb Resources Online mini-lessons, algebra models and Online mini-lessons, algebra models and

worksheets are at certain websites. Some worksheets are at certain websites. Some are free while others require registration are free while others require registration with a fee. Some sites to visit:with a fee. Some sites to visit:http://http://math.usask.ca/readin/menu.htmlmath.usask.ca/readin/menu.htmlhttp://www.veazeys.com/math/http://www.veazeys.com/math/

lessons.htmllessons.htmlhttp://www.np.edu.sg/~bmshttp://www.np.edu.sg/~bmshttp://www.sosmath.comhttp://www.sosmath.comhttp://www.coolmath.com http://www.coolmath.com

Web Resources Web Resources (continued)(continued)

http://skillstutor.comhttp://skillstutor.comhttp://www.algebrahelp.comhttp://www.algebrahelp.comhttp://www.quickmath.comhttp://www.quickmath.comhttp://www.gomath.comhttp://www.gomath.com http://www.hotmath.comhttp://www.hotmath.comhttp://mathforum.org/dr.math/http://mathforum.org/dr.math/http://www.purplemath.comhttp://www.purplemath.com

Some Final WordsSome Final Words

Seek help when you need it. Seek help when you need it.

Don’t get behind.Don’t get behind.

Study hard.Study hard.

Practice, practice, practice!Practice, practice, practice!

GOOD LUCK!GOOD LUCK!