Introduction

Whether you’ve ever taken an online class before, you’ve probably learned online before. In fact, about 9 out of 10 adults in America have daily Internet access, according to Pew Research Center surveys in 2018, meaning the Internet and its various sources of information — good, bad, and super weird — are broadly available.

However, learning online in a formal class is different than tuning in to a video to find out how to fix a sink, record a better demo, or improve your makeup skills. Online learning in college requires some of the same skills that in-person learning always has, but it presents unique challenges, too.

This book is built on the idea that learning online doesn’t come naturally. It’s built to help a reader build a plan for learning online that will work for you, whether you’re taking five online classes for a fully online schedule, a single online course just to test the waters, or no formal online courses (yet). If you’re wondering how you might be able to teach yourself a new skill through online materials, this book can help you, too, but it’s built primarily for college students who are enrolled in (or about to be enrolled in) online courses.

License/Copyright

The book is available under a Creative Commons-Attribution license, which means it’s free to use, to print, to remix, and to distribute without paying any royalties, as long as you credit where you found it. All images used are held under the same license, unless otherwise marked.

Author info

This book was written by Jenn Kepka, a faculty member in Oregon with experience in educational technology, adult education, and writing instruction. If you find a mistake in the book, have a question about the material, or generally just want to talk online learning, you can reach her at this e-mail address.