You've are at least thinking about taking this course as an independent study, a format that has several distinct advantages. First and foremost, you are able to proceed at your own pace. Second, you and I will be able to develop a one-to-one relationship by way of our e-mail exchanges. You will also have the chance to exchange ideas with other independent study students via the webx discussion forum. Some of the best comments I've ever received from students have come from people who have completed one of my independent study courses.
But there are some down sides as well. The most important one has to do with the possibility that you will register for the course, pay for it, and never complete it. You may find that you have relied on the day-to-day and week-to-week scheduling that usually comes from your teachers, and that you tend to put this course at the end of your list of things that need doing. If you do, you will never finish. Even though you control the pacing, you need to make a plan and stick to it; if outside forces require a change, modify your schedule, but don't eliminate it. One good way to proceed is to set aside a regular time each week, and then if you don't get the lesson done then, make yourself catch up over the weekend.
Another potential barrier to completing an independent study course is perfectionism. Because the assignment isn't due at a particular time, you can be tempted to put too much time into getting it just right. Think of your lessons, including your comments in the webx Discussion Forum, as part of a dialogue with me and the other students. You don't have to think of everything. We will complete the course together, and it will flow much more smoothly if you don't take too long on any particular lesson.
Finally there are differences in learning styles. If you like to work independently, if you learn well from the written word, if you have decent writing skills, this can be a great course for you. If you learn better from the spoken word, or through the many informal exchanges with classmates that are possible in more traditional formats, if you prefer to work in groups, the format of this course is not as easy for you. It's not that you can't succeed, but you're going to have to be all the more disciplined. Maybe you could arrange for someone else to take it at the same time and talk about your lessons together. Maybe you'll want to e-mail me regularly or take advantage of my office hours to talk in person. (My office hours change each semester, but you can e-mail me at bmork@d.umn.edu to find out the current office hours.) Whatever you do, don't just put off the beginning of your work on this course. I believe that once launched on these lessons, you're going to find them interesting and worthwhile.