Internet courses may offer a unique opportunity, but do they also offer unique challenges? Every college course, whether taken on campus, through traditional distance learning means, or via a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), challenges the student academically. This is the nature of higher education. Distance learning, and in particular MOOCs, may impose special demands on students. Recognizing these specific difficulties should allow us to identify characteristics or skills that will help the student. The main difference between an Internet-based course and one presented in a traditional face-to-face environment is the physical isolation of the student. This isolation has several consequences. First, there are fewer opportunities to get direct feedback on queries. During a course or seminar, a student will, at least in principle, have the opportunity to seek advice immediately if he or she does not understand the material presented. In an online learning environment, these contacts will tend to be made via discussion forums. Using such channels requires a certain confidence in communicationvi...