Minimizing Flu's Impact on Online Success
Coping With Illness as a Distance Education Student
Nov 7, 2009
Any potential student who researches online learning will find that regardless of the source, "flexibility and convenience" are listed under reasons why to take an online course. For example, Online Education Affiliates lists flexibility and convenience first. The reason is obvious. That is one of the major benefits of online learning.
However, when a student is ill, OEA's promise that "online education provides a convenient environment that can be tailored around your schedule" quickly becomes less appealing. Illness has no schedule and when the convenient environment is a sick bed, the possibility of an effective learning environment becomes minimal at best.
Illness Prevention
The Center for Disease Control offers a "fact sheet" with tips on how to prevent becoming ill with something such as the flu. Online students may wish to consider the following as well:
- Wash hands thoroughly after using someone else's keyboard (especially a public one like at a library).
- Using an alcohol swab, from time to time students should wipe down the keyboard and mouse on their computer.
- Never be tempted to think that illness is not a big deal since online classes are done from home anyway.
- Take steps to handle stress successfully.
- Stick with healthy habits such as exercising, eating right, and sleeping.
H1N1 Challenges
During the 2009-2010 season the H1N1 virus has become a particular problem as health officials seek to contain a potential pandemic. What this means for the online student is simply a continued warning to take the flu in all forms seriously.
Since online students may be tempted to think that this means little to them since they can still work from home in their pajamas, they may not take actions to prevent the flu or to allow their body to heal from it by proper rest.
Coping With Illness While Completing an Online Course
When a student becomes ill s/he should take the following steps:
- From the very onset of the illness, be sure to get plenty of rest and drink fluids.
- Find out his/her instructor's late policy.
- Open dialogue with his/her professor to find out whether a doctor's note or other items may be required should an extension be needed.
- Schedule work around naps.
- Try to complete assignments ahead of the instructor's schedule during the onset of an illness to circumvent any potential future problems.
- If the illness continues to progress, the student should discuss with the instructor the possibility of taking an incomplete or (if the class is just beginning, find out the penalties of dropping and re-taking later).
Ultimate Success
Ultimate success in a course means that the student has been able to complete an online course without putting his/her own health at risk. There is nothing to be gained by a student if s/he does not take an illness seriously and instead keeps pushing forward in course.
By ignoring one's physical needs one is preventing the body from getting back into a healthy state where learning can occur. Rest and healthy habits are a key to healthy life and ultimate success.
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