Are You Ready?

Preparing for Distance Learning

Are you ready? is a section you may want to review prior to enrolling in a distance learning course or program for the first time. There are three interactive sections. Each one can help you evaluate your preparedness for distance learning. How these sections can help you with decision-making follows:

  • How do you use your time?: Do you have time to start taking distance learning? Distance learning takes the same effort, if not more, as traditional courses. Use the time usage survey tool to help you see what time commitments you will need.
  • Holland Codes: Do you know in what educational program or career direction you want to head? This section shows you the relationship between interests “things people like to do” and possible educational majors and careers. Holland Codes are the most common way of categorizing educational programs and careers by interests. Having a firmer grasp on where you are headed can help you with the needed motivation to stay on the path you have chosen.
  • Career Beliefs: Choosing a career direction can be made more difficult if your assumptions about the career decision-making process are inaccurate. Review several career beliefs that can hinder your decision-making progress and possibly lead you astray.

Each of these sections have a worksheet you can complete online. You can save it for yourself or send it as an e-mail attachment as an assignment for a class or workshop.

Other resources:

General Career Assistance

  • The Ohio Career Exploration tool provides information for individuals who are looking for jobs or considering career changes in Ohio.
  • Ohio Occupational Profiles show skills needed and occupational wages available for hundreds of Ohio occupations.
  • Occupations by Education and Wages allows you to view occupations by the education, training and wage levels you specify.
  • O*NET helps you find occupations by searching for jobs/careers by category or by key words.
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook tells you about the training and education, earnings, job prospects, job duties and working conditions for hundreds of different types of jobs -- such as teacher, lawyer and nurse.

Changing Careers or Seeking New Opportunities

  • mySkills is a site that can help you find careers with similar skills you have, start exploring!
  • Ohio Means Jobs! Use this site to post your resume, plan your career, or look for a job!
  • Learning Express Library offers the practice tests, exercises, skill-building courses, eBooks, and information you need to achieve the results you want—at school, at work, or in life. Looking to land a job? You'll find an entire Learning Center dedicated to helping you get the one that's right for you.