Online Learning Made It Happen

Dr. Debra Mertz

Meet Debbie Mertz. Make that Dr. Debra Mertz.
Nobody thought she'd go from a struggling teenage orphan to earning an MBA and Ph.D, and be on her way to law school . . . all online!

Debbie is proof that you can beat the odds. Growing up under trying conditions, including working 3-4 jobs at a time, no one expected her to go on to college. But she did, earning an Associate Degree in business during the 70s.

While her husband finished his education at Kansas State University during the 1980s, Debbie held a series of administrative jobs at the university. She enjoyed the work, and it provided opportunities to meet important people like former President Ronald Reagan when he visited the university.

Eventually moving from Kansas and settling in the Ohio River Valley, Debbie decided to go back to school herself. And she's never stopped. She's still in school, both as a student and a teacher in the online environment.

By the end of the first course, and I'll never forget this feeling, I was thrilled. I had learned more in that class than I'd ever learned elsewhere. I was amazed. I was sold.

World Wide Learn caught up with Debbie to find out how she's been so successful with online learning.

World Wide Learn:	You've got a lot of education under your belt. What led you to pursue it?
Debbie Mertz:	Early on, an Associate's Degree was fantastic to have - it was plenty. I never thought I'd need a Bachelor's or more. Eventually I was in a job that required me to learn about computers and technology - when that was all new. I really enjoyed it. That probably got me in the door to continue my education. After we moved to Ohio, my husband worked at a technical college, so that allowed me to continue my education free - I eventually completed seven more Associate's Degrees during the early 1990s.
World Wide Learn:	Why did you choose "distance" learning?
Debbie Mertz:	The area we live in didn't have a lot of good jobs, so I worked out of town during the week. Rather than spend time after work going out socializing with colleagues, I worked on my Bachelor's degree by correspondence. It was a fantastic program! It was the era when correspondence courses were literally through the mail, and I often thought, "there's got to be a better way to do this."
World Wide Learn:	You had a basis for "distance" learning. How did you decide to continue your education with an "online" program?
Debbie Mertz:	In 1997 - after graduating with my Bachelor's, I began looking into MBA programs. I wanted a program held on Saturdays so I could attend during weekends while at home. But at that time, no local university had weekend programs. I was determined to somehow get a Master's. I knew that I had to have more education - that degree - to advance my career. By then I had started to use the Internet, and had found out about online degrees. It took me a long time before I got into one because I wanted to be sure online degrees were legitimate degrees and not "paper-mills."
World Wide Learn:	What research were you doing into the programs?
Debbie Mertz:	I wanted to make sure it was legitimate; that it would be worth something once I had completed it. I didn't just want a piece of paper that was worthless, and throw away my money. A lesson came back to haunt me from a previous under-accredited degree. It just had to be an accredited program.
World Wide Learn:	How did you actually choose a program? What factors were important to consider?
Debbie Mertz:	I did all kinds of background and comparison searches on the institutions researched. I inquired to find out if I'd actually have people to speak with, how the programs were running, what you had to go through, how to touch base with instructors, and more. After a lot of comparison, the University of Phoenix seemed like the best fit for me. Everything I compared it to was more in my favor than against. The final aspect came down to financial aid. It was a good, quality institution. It was going to be a valuable degree when I completed it. In the business world it would be looked at as a good, quality education-maybe not Harvard, but still good.
World Wide Learn:	What strategies did you use to succeed in the online environment? Did you have interaction with the instructor and/or other students?
Debbie Mertz:	The very first class was like a culture shock - I had no idea what to expect. I was not only learning the class material, but also learning the software tools, and how to deal with an online environment when you can't see anyone. There were several things that I had to adjust to while keeping motivated to stay with it and do my homework. Today, most universities have introductory courses to get you acclimated. The University of Phoenix takes you through a three-week course of how online works, how to adjust and prepare for the online experience vs. the classroom, how to keep up with your assignments, etc.
World Wide Learn:	Describe a bit about the experience
Debbie Mertz:	When you get into the class, the instructor posts lecture notes and a class syllabus. You have the course objectives. You generally find all texts are online. The instructor writes everything out, and may post different things, like a Word document, or a PowerPoint presentation, and today, even streaming video. During my MBA classes, there were 12 students in each course. The class began by every student posting a short bio in order to learn about each other. There are chat-rooms so you can connect with your classmates. (You are never alone!) The further I got into it, the more I liked it. The first couple of weeks were challenging, and I wondered what I'd gotten myself into. But once I adjusted to it, it was fascinating. By the end of the first course, and I'll never forget this feeling, I was thrilled. I had learned more in that class than I'd ever learned elsewhere. I was amazed. I was sold.
World Wide Learn:	And now you're both an online student and an instructor . . . what made you want to do that?
Debbie Mertz:	As I adjusted it became "old stuff." It just amazed me at how involved the instructors were. I knew that one day I'd be teaching like that, too. I never wanted to teach in my life, but I formed more bonds in the online environment than I ever did in on-ground classes. And I thought, if this is how it works I definitely want to be involved. Just think what I could share! It made me so enthused I knew I wanted to get into online teaching.

Debbie's Top 10 Tips for Success in Online Learning

1.	Be flexible and open to new learning. While online classes involve more effort than on ground classes because they are usually accelerated courses/programs, be sure to follow directions, they are there to aid you. Utilize the resources available to you. You have the instructor, your classmates, the online library, the Internet, organizations and more.
2.	Have patience with yourself and others. Don't be so hard on yourself. Allow yourself time to adjust to the new environment. It will not happen overnight, but give it a chance. Frustration builds all too quickly. Take it slow, one step at a time. Set aside priority time for yourself to study.
3.	Ask questions as needed. Clarify all expectations upfront. There are no dumb questions, other than the one(s) not asked.
4.	Watch all deadlines. Do not blame the instructor when it is your responsibility as a student to adhere to timeframes. If the unexpected happens, contact your instructor immediately-they are people and will understand things happen in life. Often times, this is overlooked.
5.	Check and double-check all of your work before submitting it, especially for a grade. This includes grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.
6.	Respect your instructor and classmates. They are people with real feelings, even if you can't see them because they are online.
7.	Actively participate. Be active in the classroom. Share your experiences and knowledge in the classroom. Back up your experience and knowledge with real data-this builds substance. This is where learning takes place. Participation is usually a very big item in online classes since this is where discussions build more learning and new knowledge. Take advantage of it, enjoy it!
8.	Have patience. Issues will arise. Expect the unexpected, especially with technology. Keep the tech support number handy at all times. Allow for this.
9.	Take time to read and comprehend all materials. Most students err here as they do not allocate enough time for reading and/or comprehension of materials and find themselves missing critical data/instructions.
10.	Take the online classroom environment seriously, while having FUN. While grades are important, it is not the major reason to take a class. Learning is fundamental and is the sole responsibility of the student, not the instructor. If you do not put in an "A" effort, do not expect an "A". If you only do mediocre work, accept it, and do not blame your instructor. Take full responsibility of your learning outcomes.

My father taught me to do the best I can and to achieve the best I can. He stressed to make the most of every moment, and he was so right. He was a fighter pilot held prisoner of war for two full years during WWII.
I also want to prove to the world that I can do something more than people ever thought was possible. I really have that drive. I don't take much for granted. I think that's probably because of all the adversity I've had in life. I want to do something, leave my mark, touch one life!!

Upcoming courses with Dr. Mertz
If you'd like to study with Debbie, watch for her business courses through the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) online.