Motivation
Knowing your motives for taking an online course is an important actor in determining if going online is the best option. Your motives will drive your goals and help keep you on track as you complete your coursework.
More helpful informationMOTIVES TO GO ONLINE
Have you ever thought about why you want to take online classes? Check out some of the more common motives for taking online courses below by clicking through the tabs. Do your own motives align with one or more of the following?
Activity: Check your motives
Flexibility
Attending class whenever and wherever you want is pretty awesome. No need to fight your way through traffic to show up an hour early to grab that parking spot a mile away. Online, you can access your course materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, giving you the convenience to plan coursework around your life instead of the other way around. All of this makes online learning a good option for students who need to balance their work, family, and social commitments. Just remember: with great flexibility comes great responsibility. Translation: get organized and stay motivated, or you can fall behind.
Availability
Some campus courses are not offered every semester. For example, a course may only be offered on campus in spring semesters, but the same course is available online in the spring and the fall. If this is the case, an online course becomes desirable especially if you want to graduate on time. Plan ahead and check with your advisor so you can determine which courses are limited and/or which courses are offered online.
Accessibility
For some students, attending class on campus can be difficult. For these students, the opportunity to take online courses is quite appealing. Additionally, Title 5 of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) requires that online classes fulfill both ADA requirements and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, meaning online course materials must be accessible to everyone, including those students with disabilities. If you have a disability and are interested in taking an online course, talk with the instructor and your advisor about the course as well as with the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS) to learn more about the services available to students with disabilities before the course begins.
Community
Students may find it difficult to speak in class for any number of reasons; for some students, the online classroom can allow them to join the conversation. For one, posting to an online discussion forum allows you to take your time and compose your thoughts; this isn’t always the case in the face-to-face classroom. Speaking in an online class isn’t limited to discussion forums. Sometimes it’s also getting to know your instructor and classmates. Many instructors say that they know their online students better than their face-to-face students because online interaction can be a more personalized experience.
Technology Skills
In general, students who take online classes become more proficient and comfortable with using technology. Whether you’re writing up an assignment in Google Docs, creating a YouTube video for a discussion post, or meeting on a group project over Google Hangouts, you will learn to connect with your course content and with others in useful and relevant ways. To get a glimpse of the technology that you’ll encounter in an online course, be sure to visit the Technology module.
Advancement
Attending class whenever and wherever you want is pretty awesome. No need to fight your way through traffic to show up an hour early to grab that parking spot a mile away. Online, you can access your course materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, giving you the convenience to plan coursework around your life instead of the other way around. All of this makes online learning a good option for students who need to balance their work, family, and social commitments. Just remember: with great flexibility comes great responsibility. Translation: get organized and stay motivated, or you can fall behind.
Costs
Attending class whenever and wherever you want is pretty awesome. No need to fight your way through traffic to show up an hour early to grab that parking spot a mile away. Online, you can access your course materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, giving you the convenience to plan coursework around your life instead of the other way around. All of this makes online learning a good option for students who need to balance their work, family, and social commitments. Just remember: with great flexibility comes great responsibility. Translation: get organized and stay motivated, or you can fall behind.