The tools that online learners need to use, such as discussion forums or integrated course management systems, have a learning curve and don’t always behave in intuitive ways. Waiting for communication (responses to a question, work from another learner on a collaborative project, feedback on an assignment, etc.) can be terribly frustrating. Some frustrations seem “built in,” but they actually result from less-than-optimal design. Because the online learning experience is, by its nature, frustrating, anyone who can take unnecessary frustration out should do so, because frustration leads to anxiety and frustration, reduced ability to learn, and attrition.