About the eLearners Advisor

Four Factors

The eLearners Advisor organizes its questions and feedback into four factors/areas of success for online students (technology access, personal factors, technical skills, and learning styles). We do this to improve the usability of the feedback we provide, but not necessarily because research has shown that these are the only four factors of importance. Also, they should not necessarily be weighted equally in importance by the user. For example, your technology (computer and Internet connection) and your technical skills (computer and Internet use) are the easiest factors to improve in a timely manner. Personal Factors, which include your motivation and scheduling issues may be an issue for you, and may not be easy for you to change. Learning style (your learning style as it relates to online degree programs) has developed over your life as a student, and may be a good fit for certain methods of online instruction and a worse fit with others. The overall compatibility factor is a combination of the four sub factors.

Scores

We have based the scores for this tool on a 100 point scale and have calibrated them to a range you may expect on a typical exam. However, please keep in mind that the eLearners Advisor is not a test, and in most cases there are no “correct” or “incorrect” answers. A low score on any factor, or the overall factor, simply suggests possible challenges in that aspect of study as an online student. The goal is to help you identify and overcome these challenges and to give you a baseline to help you make a decision to further explore study in an online degree program. The overall compatibility factor is a combination of the four sub factors, weighted to provide an accurate assessment of your readiness for study in an online degree program.

Programs / Schools

The Matching Programs section of the results is designed to help match prospective students to online degree programs that meet their requirements as they relate to area of study and degree level (e.g., Master’s in Accounting). We cannot guarantee that the Matching Programs we provide for you are appropriate matches for your specific learning needs. Because instructional and delivery methods and technology vary significantly among schools, and even within a school’s programs, we highly recommend that you review your full results and then develop a list of questions to ask each school about the programs you are considering. This is time well spent before enrolling, to ensure an appropriate fit with your unique needs.

Development / History

The concept of the eLearners Advisor was developed by C.J. DeSantis, founder and President of eLearners.com. C.J. created a framework for the tool, and has been its primary editor and guiding force. C.J. earned an M.A. degree online in educational technology leadership from The George Washington University in 1998. Joshua Baron, a graduate from the same pioneering master’s program, Director of Academic Technology and eLearning at Marist College and eLearners consultant, was the initial researcher and developer of the tool’s questions and feedback. Along with many other contributors from eLearners.com Inc., the eLearners Advisor was born. The eLearners Advisor has been developed based upon a thorough review of current research and studies in the area of online student success. This body of knowledge, while presently limited, is growing at a rapid rate as online learning becomes more mainstream. eLearners.com continually stays abreast of new research, and modifications will be made to this tool as findings from new research justify changes. The tool will also be continually validated based on ongoing research studies to ensure that it accurately assesses readiness for online education.