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Online Readiness Self-Assessment

Is taking an online class a good fit for you?

Learning through an online class requires different skills than learning in a face-to-face class. It's important to know what you're getting into and to understand the kind of commitment that's necessary for success in online learning. You can get a good idea of your readiness for online learning by filling out the following assessment.

This assessment is for informational purposes only and is not required for enrollment. For additional help figuring out whether an online class is a worthwhile option for you, consult with your academic advisor.

Instructions: For each row in the table below, click the radio button that best describes you. When you are finished, read the guidelines for interpreting the score.


Do your self-assessment evaluation for your online readiness
Question that indicate an online course is a good choice. Select If Agree Score Weight Select If Agree Questions that indicate an online class may not be a good choice at this time.
1
2
1
2
2
1
3
4
3
3
3
2
1
3
4
Online is good choice ⇐
 
Total Score
 
⇒ Online may not be a good choice
 


What does it mean?

Choices that are assigned 3 and 4 in the center column, indicate that these are important skills needed for an online course. The most successful online students will have chosen the items in the left-hand column or will work to improve those skills during the semester.

Choices that are assigned 1 and 2 are also important for an online class, but many of the topics they address are things that may not block a student’s academic success in the course or can be remedied once the course begins.  

A total score of 17 or higher in the right side may mean that you face more challenges in online courses. While online may not be the best choice at the moment, if you are still interested in being an online student, you should understand some of the challenges and what you need to do to overcome them.


This material was created by Glenn Pillsbury at Stanislaus State and published freely under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license at California State University, Stanislaus.