Our online classes are taught by highly qualified instructors and you are in class with a group of peers. The classes are NOT self-paced tutorials. We limit class size to help ensure that there is a great deal of interaction among students and teachers in every class. The classes have a structure and there are readings and deadlines and assignments just like in face-to-face coursework. But because the classes are asynchronous, during a given week you can participate during the times that are convenient for you. With asynchronous threaded discussion, class conversations unfold over periods of time, and therefore you must check into class at least three times a week for a fall or spring class, and five times per week for a summer class since summer is a compressed semester. On occasion we may run a synchronous session via chat or webcasting, generally as an optional session. If there is to be a required synchronous session in a class it will appear in the course description so you know about it in advance.

Are you one of those adult learners who would succeed in an online program? Think about your characteristics in the following areas:

Successful online students tend to be

• self-motivated
• fairly organized
• comfortable learning by reading and writing
• people who stay on top of their work rather than needing reminding about deadlines
• busy people who understand that learning takes time and do not expect online classes to take fewer hours than face-to-face classes

To be successful you don't have to be a computer whiz kid, but you must have experience with

• word processing
• email
• sending, receiving, and saving attachments in a variety of file formats, such as Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and PDFs
• file management on your computer
• navigating websites
• basic Internet searching
• you should feel relatively comfortable when you have to try something new with your computer.

You must have

• regular access to the Internet because you will have to get into class at least several times a week, and
• you should have your own email account.

When you enroll with us you will have access to a 24/7 helpdesk, available by phone toll-free or via email, to help you solve technical problems you might encounter.

You can verify that you have a desktop computer appropriate for accessing our online courses by going to http://rutgersonline.net and checking the technical requirements, which are listed through a link on the left of the webpage.

Can online learning really provide a rich educational environment? Our experience after eight years of providing distance education at the graduate level is yes. Here's what students in previous semesters in our certificate programs have told us about online learning:

"The Rutgers program is great. I learned a lot and did feel like I got to know the faculty and the other students. I even missed the program when I was finished."
Susan Swords Steffen, Library Director, Elmhurst College (IL).

"I have found online learning . simply terrific. I hadn't ever taken an online class before and I admit to having been a bit skeptical. Would I get to know my classmates? Would my teacher get to know me? Would I actually learn anything? A rousing yes to all of the above. I highly recommend the online program at Rutgers ."
Cheryl Coon, author of Books to Grow With: A Guide to Using the Best Children's Fiction for Everyday Issues and Tough Challenges (Lutra Press; May 2004; www.lutrapress.com)

"What a great experience! No driving to campus, looking for a parking place, dinner on the run, etc.; instead I was comfortable, at home, participating in thought-provoking discussions and learning about the many issues I am now encountering in my job as a middle school Media Specialist. As a member of the 50+ club, I highly recommend this newer type of coursework - it's effective and flexible."
Edie Klink, Media Specialist, Randolph (NJ) Middle School

 "Initially I struggled with responding. I was very self-conscious and had to really take my time. What surprises me . is how much easier it is for me to write now."

An instructor in our Youth Literature Online Certificate Program, GraceAnne A. DeCandido, published an article
about her experience teaching online after her first year with us. It was published
in the Horn Book Magazine , May/Jun2002, Vol. 78 Issue 3, beginning on page 293, and
is available here with the kind permission of Horn Book.
It may give you more insight into online learning.