Preparing for Online Learning

Are you new to distance education? Use this page to determine if online learning at Saint Louis University is right for you and find tips for succeeding in online courses.

Overview of Distance Education

Distance education allows you to take courses and pursue skills or a degree on your own schedule. It is ideal for people with busy schedules, families, and other responsibilities. Online learning allows you to take courses without the commute or structured schedule of on-campus courses. In most cases, you can work anywhere, anytime as long as you have access to the appropriate technology.

Distance education is flexible and convenient. However, distance education also requires self-motivation and excellent time management skills to succeed. You will have less structured accountability and will work independently. You also need a working knowledge of technology and access to high-speed internet.

Online Readiness Assessment

Successful online learning requires independence and motivation, time management, technology and communication skills. Explore each set of characteristics of a successful online learner below to determine your readiness for a distance education.

For more information on readiness for online learning, check out this Online Course Readiness Quiz by the University of Arkansas Online. If you feel prepared to enroll in an online course, consider the tips for success outlined below.

Tips for Success in Online Courses

• Organization: Read the syllabus! At the beginning of the course, take note of all assignments and exams. Keep track of due dates and plan time for coursework in your schedule.
• Time management: You should allocate time to complete your readings or assignments. Most online courses are self-paced, but they have specific due dates. You will spend the same amount of time and effort in an online class as you do in an in-person class.
• Engagement: Actively participate in your online course. This includes contributing to discussion boards, emailing your professor and checking your SLU email daily.
• Focus: Make the most of your study time by setting up a distraction-free work zone.
• Take a break: Don’t forget to include some downtime in your schedule to help you recharge. This will give you a boost to tackle your next task.

For more on being a successful online learner, review Ready for Online Courses? by Michigan Colleges Online.

Accelerated Online Courses

All courses offered during the winter session and many of the online summer session courses are accelerated. Accelerated courses may run four, six or eight weeks, but they contain the same content as a traditional semester-length course. Accelerated courses operate at a faster pace, and it is common to have weekly (if not daily) assignments, quizzes or exams.

For example, a 3-credit-hour winter session course runs for around four weeks. Essentially, this is almost 130 hours of coursework compressed into those four weeks, which is a minimum of 31 to 32 hours a week of course-related work. Therefore, it is important to keep up with the coursework and to commit to going online daily. 

Things to Consider Before Enrolling in an Accelerated Online Course

• Is the course foundational for your major? Because of the accelerated pace, retention could be challenging. It might be better to take the course during the regular semester or a longer summer session.
• Do you have the time to commit to the course? If you are going on vacation or will be without internet for several days over break, it will be hard to keep up with the pace of coursework.
• Do you have the motivation to complete the course? Online learning, in general, requires self-motivation. This is especially true in an accelerated format.