A grin came to my face recently while doing research on a piece about online learning. Like many authors, I sometimes generate new ideas by reviewing PLR (Private Label Rights) articles Ive either collected or paid for over the years. I laughed out loud when one of these articles sounded the death knell of the "real" brick-and-mortar university degree in no uncertain, albeit comical terms. Imagine, opined the incredulous author, that some people actually still play solitaire with a real deck of cards!

Even if factors such as convenience and flexibility have made online learning extremely popular, the truth is that earning an online degree isnt always so easy. To succeed, distance learners need better than average understanding of basic computer skills. While cut-and-paste, a good working knowledge of a word processor and knowing how to access the Internet are easily mastered abilities, other tools in the skill set arent so easy to pick up.

Here are three important factors to consider:

1. Topping the list is discipline. Given the fact that online learning is at its core a solitary activity, quite a few students aren't able to focus on their work without the benefit of one-on-one interaction with instructors and other students. A high percentage of distance learners let assignments slide since theres no real deadline or pressure from a professor to complete an assignment on time. This is especially applicable to working adults or learn-at-home moms who have to integrate online learning with the pressures of a job or the needs of their children.

2. Discipline alone isnt enough. Organizational skills are also very important since online learners typically work full-time or care for a family at the same time theyre earning a degree. Theres never enough time for online learners to pull an all-nighter before a paper is due or before final exams. Therefore, distance learners have to have the skills to organize their other activities in order to have enough time for assigments and class preparation.

3. Even distance learners who can muster the self-control and organizational talent to succeed may still lack the learning style that best matches the online environment. Online learning makes heavy use of audio-visual naterials, either in the form of reading assigments or audio and video-based instruction. If you need a hands-on approach to learn, that is, by examining or even building something, it's possible you may have difficulties with distance learning.

You can learn more about your online learning skills by completing one of several online tests that help pinpoint your own learning style. Try searching Google, MSN or Yahoo for "learning styles" or "online learning styles" to find several different tests. Theyre all easy to complete and they'll give you a much better idea of how well qualified you are for distance learning. Well-known online universities also have counsellors and advisors to help you evaluate your prospects of successfully earning an online degree.