Throughout any experience in life I have always considered the ability to listen and follow instructions very valuable and important to one's success. Online learning is definitely no different, if anything, the ability to follow instructions is critical to success. In this case listening equates to thoroughly reading all courseroom information that is available and understanding every detail of every assignment and course resource.
Capella offers a very detailed syllabus that is offered as a summary format and broken out by individual requirements. The courseroom offers links to additional documents that support the current assignment and provide informatin about what the instructor is looking for. I learned the hard way last quarter not to ingnore those links and additional resources. The first assignment that I turned in for the quarter came back with a 70% - aack!! I never do this poorly on assignments. When I reviewed the instructors comments and went to the document that he referenced, I realized that I had completely missed the boat. I used the referenced document to send the instructor a second assignment - mostly because I needed to get my course topic approved than anything else. However, he was a kind instructor and adjusted my grade, leaving me with a 79% to start the quarter - not grate, but I was extremely thankful.
Now in my final course, the value of thoroughly reading and understanding the available documents is critical. In our first assignment and weekly discussion we had to discuss the option we wanted for the quarter. We can choose between Comprehensive Exam, Research Proposal, or a Practical Application project. The information available for each option is extensive and the instructor encouraged everyone to read everything thoroughly so that we understood the options. He also attached a grading document to the post for the week that explained the grading philosophy and expectation for each discussion question.
Questions have ranged from: What topics can we select for the comprehensive project to whether or not we have to post to other learners? The grading rubric is very clear that we must reply to a minimum of two other learners to receive full participation points, but it also explains that the post must be substantive. For this instructor he defines substantive as a response that makes the other person think about what they have posted and induces further thought - basic critical thinking approach to learning. The questions about participation and posting are available in the syllabus and within the same grading document mentioned earlier.
If you find that it is difficult to understand written instructions you may want to stay away from online learning. The online environment is rich with reading requirements and the ability to understand the written word, without benefit of verbal reinforcement. I think that in two years of graduate study I have spoken with an instructor once and that was because he had additional questions for me and wanted to encourage me to take an incomplete to finish the course paper and not just let the class go. By talking he was able to understand my personal situation a little better and allowed me an Incomplete - which I completed within 10 days of the class ending.
Bottom line: Reading everything, even the little stuff and if you think you missed something, read it all again.
Thank you,
Nickel