Online Learning: Examing the Successful Student Profile
J. Michael Blocher
Laura Sujo de Montes
Elizabeth M. Willis
Gary Tucker
Northern Arizona University
Abstract
Can anyone learn anywhere at anytime or are there required pre-requisite skills or strategies to achieve such learning? Certainly, it seems logical to assume that access, availability of hardware, and knowledge of software are some of the items required, but are there others? Are there strategies and skills that can be taught to promote greater success? Does the successful online learner need to possess specific skills or strategies to be successful? This paper details Phase I of a longitudinal study investigating distance learning students' technical skills, cognitive/metacognitive learning strategies, motivation, and stages of concern as they enter an online Masters of Education in Educational Technology degree program. Preliminary results indicate that the program seems to attract relatively new, young in-service teachers that are confident in their technology skills that might be seen as leaders in their field. Because the degree program demands a great deal of peer collaboration within the course work, particular attention was paid to data regarding the cognitive learning strategy of peer collaboration and help seeking. Although, these students indicated that they would utilize peer collaboration as a learning strategy, they might be more apt to utilize it from a help seeking aspect. However, they also indicated that if they did seek help it would probably be from the instructor first.
About the Author(s)...
Dr. J. Michael Blocher is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at Northern Arizona University. He teaches online classes in instructional design and multimedia authoring for Northern Arizona University’s Masters of Education in Educational Technology and is one of the Principal Investigators for the Arizona k-12 Center/Northern Arizona University’s Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers for Technology project. His primary research interests include learner interaction within distance learning environments. He can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Dr. Laura E. Sujo de Montes teaches online and face-to-face Educational Technology courses for undergraduate and graduate students at Northern Arizona University. Her research interests include the study and evaluation of online learning environments and the study of the impact of technology on ESL students. She can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Dr. Elizabeth M. Willis is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at the College of Education at Northern Arizona University. Dr. Willis coordinates the online Masters of Education in Educational Technology and the educational technology faculty. She also teaches the M.Ed. in Ed Tech Capstone course. Her primary research interests include the integration of technology in pre-service and in-service learning environments and online teaching and learning. She can be contacted by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
