Distributed Learning Self-assessment
for the Prospective Instructor

Technology Skills:

I spend several hours a week using a computer at home or at work.
I am comfortable with electronic mail, web browsing, and word processing.
I am comfortable sending and receiving attachments via email.
I am comfortable downloading and using internet plug-ins.

Interaction:

I enjoy explaining things to my students if they are having difficulty.
I like to ask questions in class to see if the students understand the subject.
I consider classroom discussion important to my teaching.
I love working one-on-one with students during office hours.

Preparation Habits:

I like to plan out the entire semester before the class begins.
I never change what I'm teaching depending on how the class is doing.
I like to have my course plans written down in detail.

Written versus Oral Communication:

I can effectively organize and communicate my thoughts in writing.
Students generally understand my written assignments very well.
I am comfortable receiving written feedback from my students.

Collegiality:

There are not really any questions to ask here, but one final point to consider is how much you depend on working with and communicating with your colleagues. If you are still going to be teaching traditional courses, this may not change for you, but if you are going to be teaching only DL classes, it may mean that you will no longer be spending time in an office in a department. Your only contact with fellow professors may be only via email and an occasional meeting. How with this affect you?