Test your readiness

Are you ready to take an online course?

Before you enroll in an online course, it’s best to examine your own learning style and study habits. Particular learning styles and study habits are a better fit for the online learning environment. Answer the questions in the Online Readiness Assessment below to determine whether or not your learning style and study habits might help you succeed in an online course. When you’re finished answering the questions, click the “See my results” button.

I am good at setting goals and deadlines for myself.

I have a really good reason for taking an online course.

I finish the projects I start.

I do not quit just because things get difficult.

I can keep myself on track and on time.

I learn fairly easily.

I can learn from things I hear, like lectures, audio recordings, or podcasts.

I have to read something to learn it best.

I have developed good ways to solve problems I run into.

I learn best when I figure things out for myself.

I like to learn in a group, but I can learn on my own as well.

I am willing to send e-mail to or have discussions with people I might never see.

I usually study in a place where I can read and work on assignments without distractions.

I can ignore distractions around me when I study.

I am willing to spend 10-20 hours each week on an online course.

I keep a record of what my assignments are and when they are due.

I plan my work in advance so that I can turn in my assignments on time.

When I study, people around me will help me work and not try to distract me.

I am willing to use e-mail and other online tools to ask my classmates and instructors questions.

I am fairly good at using the computer.

I am comfortable surfing the Internet.

I am comfortable conducting searches, setting bookmarks, and downloading files.

I am comfortable installing software and changing configuration settings on my computer.

I know someone who can help me if I have computer problems.

My computer runs reliably on Windows XP/ 7 or on Mac OS 10.6 or higher.

I have a printer.

I am connected to the Internet with a fairly fast, reliable connection such as DSL or cable modem.

I have virus protection software running on my computer.

I have headphones or speakers and a microphone to use if a class has a videoconference.

My browser will play several common multimedia (video and audio) formats.

 

creativecommonsOnline Readiness Assessment by Vicki Williams and The Pennsylvania State University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at mailto:vqw@psu.edu.