As with any college course, you should enroll only if you are serious about studying college-level material each week without leaving your home to come to the campus. Distance education courses require the same amount of work as do all other traditional courses. You are required to view all the video lessons (when taking a telecourse), complete all assignments (i.e., essays exams, research papers, etc.), and read all printed material. Many students report that distance education courses actually require more work than conventional in-class courses. These same students also report that they learn just as much, if not more, from their distance education courses.

Those who succeed as distance learners

• are highly motivated
• are independent
• are active learners
• have good organizational and time management skills
• have the discipline to study without external reminders
• can adapt to new learning environments

These are precisely the qualities needed to succeed in any learning environment, but the distance learning context puts special pressures on learners to be independent and self-disciplined.