Distance education can be a conveient way to take courses and earn college credit; however, there are a few things students should consider:
Before registering for distance education courses, talk with either the professor or staff in Extended Education to determine if taking a course in this manner is best for you. Distance education courses give students a great deal of independence, thus the ability to be self-motivated and highly organized is of the utmost importance. If this is not how you learn and study best, taking a distance education course may not be wise for you.
For students needing regular contact with the instructor or extensive tutoring, distance education may not be the best approach. While instructors will communicate electronically, they are not always immediately available to provide assistance or clarification. Tutoring is offered to all students through Ball State's Learning Center, but options for distance education students are limited.
With courses that are taught on the internet, students are often expected to contribute regularly to chat rooms. This requires a level of comfort with technology. Online courses may be intimidating for someone who doesn't have basic technological competencies.
Some courses may require some work outside of home. This could include taking exams at a different location, doing research at a library, or having a face to face meeting with the instructor. Transportation options should be considered before registering for courses taught off-campus.
If you need assistive technology to participate in the course (screen reader, adapted keyboard, voice activated input, etc.), make sure that your program is compatible with what the university is using.
If you need an accommodation for the course (testing accommodations, textbooks in an alternate format, etc.), contact DSD to request this. Advance planning is critical to ensuring that accommodations are provided in a timely manner.