| You've decided it's time to go back to | | | | to buy textbooks and other material for your |
| college to further your education, but | | | | degree study. You will be notified at the |
| there's a problem. You're a working adult | | | | start of class as to exactly what material is |
| with many responsibilities, and you just | | | | provided online, and what you will have to |
| can't see how going to school the traditional | | | | buy. |
| way will fit into your busy schedule. | | | | |
| Fortunately though, after doing some research | | | | 4. Software. You may need to purchase |
| on the internet, you discovered that the best | | | | additional software for your computer. In |
| option for you at this time is to get an | | | | some cases, the software will already be |
| online distance education degree. | | | | included in the cost of the course. In most |
| | | | cases however, you will need to have specific |
| Now it's time to get prepared for school. | | | | software in order to watch the lectures, to |
| It's probably been a few years since you've | | | | attend virtual classes, and communicate with |
| attended school, and you're a little unsure | | | | your classmates and instructors. If you don't |
| about what you're going to need. To help ease | | | | already have this software, you will have to |
| any anxiety you may feel, here is a list of | | | | buy it and have it installed on your |
| six things you'll need for success with your | | | | computer. |
| studies: | | | | |
| | | | 5. Other materials. As in a traditional |
| 1. A computer. You will need a working | | | | classroom setting, there are some standard |
| computer that you can rely on. It doesn't | | | | items you'll need. Pens and pencils, paper, |
| need to be brand new, but should be new | | | | and 3-ring binders for the syllabus and other |
| enough that you can run any software | | | | class material are all essential items you'll |
| necessary for the course. Because you're | | | | need in you study area. And if you live with |
| going online, you need to make sure you have | | | | other people you should have a headset to |
| adequate protection for your computer such as | | | | listen to audio portions of lectures and |
| a virus and spam blocker, and a good firewall | | | | video streams without disrupting their need |
| to keep out hackers and malicious software. | | | | for quiet. Your instructor will let you know |
| | | | if you will need anything else for your |
| 2. Internet access. The very nature of online | | | | class. |
| courses requires that you have access to the | | | | |
| internet. Although a dial-up internet account | | | | 6. A quiet place to study. Don't |
| may be adequate for basic class functions | | | | underestimate the importance of this one. It |
| such as sending and receiving emails and | | | | is imperative that you have a quiet place to |
| making posts in classroom discussion threads, | | | | work on your assignments and class projects, |
| it would be to your advantage to have high | | | | as free as possible from extraneous |
| speed internet access if at all possible. | | | | distractions that will sidetrack you away |
| Some classes may require large file downloads | | | | from your study. Of course, you will need to |
| or video streams which will take a virtual | | | | have a computer at this location as well. |
| eternity to download with a regular dial-up | | | | |
| modem. | | | | So there you have it, six things you'll need |
| | | | for your first online distance education |
| 3. Textbooks. Lectures, syllabuses, textbooks | | | | course. When you start class you may need to |
| and other course material are generally all | | | | add some other things to your list, according |
| available by download from the online school. | | | | to the course requirements. But for now, this |
| However depending on the institution and the | | | | list of six things can help set you on the |
| type of course you are taking, you may need | | | | path to e-learning success. |