I need help deciding if online courses are right for me -
Taking college courses at home is appealing to many people. It is convenient, but sometimes people forget the challenges that go along with an online education.
An online education is self-directed. You will be at home with a textbook and course materials to complete the course assignments and prepare for tests on your own. You will find that an online education requires good organizational skills to balance home, work and educational requirements.
Our online students have commented that they sometimes feel isolated while taking classes online. People associate taking classes as being in a classroom with the other students and the instructor. It takes time to adjust to taking a class at home. We suggest you use several methods to tackle this challenge:
- Reach out to family who are likely to take the extra time to talk with you.
- Use email, discussion boards, phone calls and class chats as an opportunity to reach out to other students. Don't be afraid to mention your feelings of isolation; No doubt others feel that same way too.
- Take time to talk with your friends and continue to build those relationships.
The Student Success Center is ready to help you plan and stay on track with your online education. We are available by email (ssc@prattcc.edu) and phone (620-450-2156) please call and we will refer you to an Student Success Specialist for support.
