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(More customer reviews)After reading over this "book" (it's more of a pamphlet, really) I must say that it is truly a waste of student finances. I have been involved in the education process at the college level for over six years and I have seen my share of slipshod handbooks, but this one is a shame.
Introduction to Online Learning: A Guide for Students is a poorly crafted work. For starters all of the information within this book can be learned for free by looking on your college website. Any college worth it's salt has a staff on hand and instructors who are trained to deal with student questions and ease them into the world of online learning. Programs like Blackboard come with their own set of instructions so that when the student logs in they can follow step by step with the online environment and complete their work.
The sad news is not only is all of this information free, but it is poorly presented in this book. I do not know if this is the fault of the writer or her editor, but when trying to follow along with the documented steps the writing becomes lax and blurry. This only helps to hinder the students I've had who worked with this book; six in total this summer semester. The illustrations are bland and the screen shots are all black and white. This makes learning using the visual aids a muddy, confusing affair and renders said visual aids useless.
Some of the chapters even go as far as to "debunk" online myths and try to help the student organize their time so that they can complete their course work for when it's due. Once again this book attempts to sell common sense as a needed product. In all honesty if you need this book to tell you how to run your life so that you can maintain your education, I'd recommend that you buy a watch and a day planner before you buy this book. In fact I know that at the college I work for, you get a day planner AND a pamphlet with all of this information for FREE when you purchase your books.
Please do not waste your time or money on this book, if you value your education you would be better served if you put your finances towards the actual class materials you will need for your courses.
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A survival guide companion for students beginning their first online or hybrid class
Introduction to Online Learning introduces first-time distance learners to the realities of Web-based education and serves as the most comprehensive, practical guide to achieving success when facing online-specific barriers as well as common academic hurdles. Written by an experienced instructor, this invaluable aid shows students how to overcome challenges related to e-mail communication, technological catastrophes, staying organized on a daily basis, and more. Students learn to take advantage of the unique resources available for those enrolled in internet-based programs and to make the most of their Web-based educational experience by tailoring it to their personal strengths, needs, and learning styles.
Key Features
The author provides clear explanations of how to tailor research, writing, and citing sources to the online classroom, as well as when citations are necessary
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