Preparing Students for a Distance Learning Environment: A Comparison of Learning Strategies of in-Class and Distance Learners

By 2010, college enrollments are expected to increase by one-third, yet this growth happens at a time when colleges and universities are faced with limited or reduced funding [1]. The result is a demand for cost-effective methods of instruction like distance learning [2]. But to be successful in a distance learning environment, students must not only be self-disciplined but also have effective learning skills [3]. What learning skills do the students need and how can they acquire them? This article examines the learning and study strategies of in-class and distance learners. It indicates the skills they need and the skills they have. It also suggests sources and methods of how they might acquire the skills they lack.