- There's no commute other than getting to a computer and logging on.
- You can continue your military career while taking classes.
- Courses usually offer a lot of flexibility about when you log on to participate.
- You can take the best courses from a variety of universities, regardless of where you're stationed.
- You will acquire new skills and knowledge that apply both to the mission and to your future.
Deciding about when to enroll
Only you can decide whether or not you can handle the extra load of taking a class while on active duty. You'll need to know how many hours of work are required each week, how exams are administered, and what the delivery format of the course entails (e.g., text supplemented by internet, on-line chats, discussion boards, weekly assignments, video streaming, podcasts, etc.). Take a careful look at your duty schedule. Do you have time to log on regularly? Are there restrictions on how long you can use the terminal each time? Do you need a quiet place to study or can you handle reading amid the chaos of your barracks? Consider, too, how you learn best. If you are under a lot of stress or there is a lot of uncertainty about your immediate future, you might choose to wait. On the other hand, some soldiers find that a course helps them to "get away" a little each day and gives them an important sense of personal accomplishment.
If you're not sure what is required for successful completion of the course you're considering, email the professor before enrolling and ask for a copy of the syllabus, the course calendar (and the related deadlines), and request details about how the course is delivered. When you write to the professor, be sure to include the course title or number in the subject line of your email. Take a moment to introduce yourself and if you have concerns about enrolling (e.g., pre-requisites or your preparedness), state those up front.
After you've decided that you're ready to take a course, here are some other points you may want to consider.
• Connection speed
You may not have access to a fast internet connection. If your professor provides streaming video or on-line PowerPoint, a slow connection could be a big problem, especially if you only have a few minutes to get to the course and send your loved-ones a quick email before heading back to work. If you're stuck with a slow connection, email your professor and explain your circumstances. Most professors will be happy to make accommodations for you. When making your request, it's a good idea to acknowledge that your professor may be doing some extra work to provide you with a special file format. Thank him or her for the extra time they spend.
• Mission readiness
You must be prepared to mobilize at a moment's notice. That means you may not have time to tell your professor that you'll be "absent" from class for a while. As soon as you enroll, email your professor and provide as much information as you can about your circumstances. If you're likely to be deployed or mobilized without warning, consider talking to your professor about creating a plan for how to handle missed assignments before you've missed them. By setting up a plan in advance, your professor will appreciate your initiative and maturity.
• Time and place for studying
In taking a course, as for any mission, your success depends on good planning, strategy, and careful execution. As soon as you start to receive assignments, budget time to work on them. If your professor provides assignments on a weekly basis, consider asking if you can receive your work early so you can get ahead when your schedule allows. Many four-year university courses are offered on the same schedule as on-campus courses, but instructors may have flexibility about allowing you to do some assignments and/or exams early. When you need accommodations, ask. Remember to include as many details as you can about why you need an exception and be respectful and polite.
• Getting textbooks and other printed materials
Duty stations change. Mail is slow. Lots of complications occur. You may experience difficulty getting your textbook on time so you can begin completing your assignments. Many texts are produced in e-book versions. Do a Google search to see if you can order your book as a eText. If not, and you're having trouble getting a copy of your text, there are several things you can do:
- if Amazon offers "Search Inside this Book," get the table of contents to figure out exactly what's in the chapters you've been assigned
- get access to a similar book (like another text on the same subject) and study the right material (even if it's in the "wrong" book)
- Google your subject and find tutorials and other info that covers the same ground and study that
- search for the assigned text's website and use the suggested tutorials and links for each chapter
- email your professor and explain what's happened and what you're doing to remedy the situation (including which of the above suggestions you've taken); ask for advice. Consider asking if you could get a copy of particular problems from the text that are important for you to work. Demonstrate initiative (that is, that you're working hard to learn in spite of not having a textbook) and ask for deadline extensions only when you have no other choice.
• Proctors and exams
Some courses require one or more exams to be taken under the supervision of a proctor. When you enroll, read the course policies carefully. If you need a proctor, look over the university's website to see what the requirements are. Click here to see the Oregon State eCampus proctoring guidelines. Most universities provide documents like this one; if you need a proctor, start making arrangements early.
• Emergency information
No matter how well prepared or careful you might be, sometimes bad things happen. You should give instructions to a buddy or family member about how to contact your professor in case of emergency.
• Taking an incomplete
No matter how hard you work or what your best intentions may be, sometimes circumstances prevent students from completing a course during the quarter or semester in which they've enrolled. Policies vary from school to school. At Oregon State, for example, the decision about granting an incomplete rests with the professor. Most professors have written policies but if you don't see one, you should ask. Remember, granting an incomplete means that your professor is signing on for a lot more work than normal to help you finish the course so there may be reluctance to grant such a request. Ask only if absolutely necessary. If you've demonstrated that you are hard working and have performed well up to the time you had to miss class, your instructor may grant your request. As always, remember to be polite when you communicate with your instructor.
• Initiative and persistence
The most important strengths that you can bring to any course are initiative and persistence. Initiative is your ability to seek solutions independently and take action without waiting to be told what to do. In distance education, the internet can provide vast resources to assist you in success but you have to be willing and able to take advantage of those. For example, let's say one of the pre-reqs of a course includes some basic statistics, like standard deviations. Maybe you've had that material but it was a long time ago. What should you do? You can do a Google search on "standard deviation" and 'tutorial." Lo! You have tons of resources to use for refreshing your memory.
Persistence means not giving up in spite of obstacles and delays. By your military training, you have already learned how to persist. When you focus this skill on your education, you raise your odds of success enormously. Regardless of your goal, with discipline, hard work, and a sense of purpose, you can advance your education while serving your country and look forward to a great career when your military service is complete.
