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3

Chapter 3 The Role of the Computer in Distance Learning: Succeeding Online

Objectives | Learning Links | Distance Learning Computer Terms |
Computers and Software
| Books and printed material | Checklists

Objectives

As a distance learning student, you will need to use a computer for many different purposes. Many courses will be entirely Web-delivered. You will use word processing and other general-purpose software to prepare assignments and papers. You should also expect to communicate with faculty members and other students, access on-line information resources, and perhaps use specialized computer programs for class exercises or projects, simulations, and to conduct experiments. You need to own or have regular access to a computer to complete Web-intensive courses. Many classes that rely on videotape, CD-ROM, satellite, or printed materials, may use email or the Web as the primary form of communication. For these courses, you don’t have to own a computer, but you should have easy access to a computer.

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Learning Links

The following links go to the latest online Web browser information pages with free downloads:

Web research materials evaluation information:

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly or Why It’s a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources (New Mexico State University)
http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/eval.html

Evaluating Internet Resources (State University of New York – Albany)
http://library.albany.edu/usered/eval/eresources.html

Evaluating Internet Research Sources (Harris, Robert. "Evaluating Internet Research Sources."  VirtualSalt. 17 Nov. 1997.  17 Oct 2000)
http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm

Internet Detective: Wise up to the Web, 3rd edition.  Place, E., Kendall, M., Hiom, D., Booth, H., Ayres, P., Manuel, A., Smith, P. (2006), Intute Virtual Training Suite.
http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/detective/

 

Self-diagnostic tests and web course tutorials:

The Online.Learning.net Self Assessment Quiz
http://www.onlinelearning.net/OLE/holwselfassess.html?s=325.f020b274j.028r521i00

Is Online Learning for Me?  (Washington Online, A Virtual Campus of the Community and Technical Colleges)
http://www.waol.org/getStarted/IsOnline4Me.asp

Are You Ready to Take an Online Course? (Shippensburg University)
http://shiponline.ship.edu/tech_check1_quiz.htm

Distance Learning New Student Orientation (Northern Arizona University)
http://www.distance.nau.edu/orientation/

 

Sites to learn more about the Internet, Web and email:

Newbie Club provides tutorials on browsers, e-mail, search engines and much more.  Site promotes books of the author and requires a free membership to use the free materials.
http://www.newbieclub.com/

Newbie.Org provides information for new users on the basic concepts and tools used on the Internet.
http://www.newbie.org/

Webopaedia is an online dictionary for computer and Internet technology definitions.
http://www.webopedia.com/

Whatis?com is a dictionary and resource center for IT related subjects
http://whatis.techtarget.com/



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