Realistic Course Previews for Online Students  
The first day of class is an important time for both students and instructors. 
Online student expectations are likely to affect course success as well as 
instructor evaluations. An approach designed to foster more realistic expectations 
among online students is described. This approach, the “Realistic Course Preview” 
(RCP), provides new students with recommendations and information from veteran 
students. Several issues relating to the development and implementation of online 
RCPs as well as how instructors can vary their RCPs are also discussed in the paper.