Online Classes – Good and Bad


http://assets.thequietus.com/images/articles/1000/oldcomputer_1232113879_crop_450x411.jpgThis article does not address online-only universities. Its subject matter relates to the online classes which most 4-year universities have started offering in addition to normal classes.

Online classes generally cost a bit more per credit hour than you would expect. Community colleges will be cheaper, but expect to only use online classes as a supplement to your regular coursework unless you have a big piggy bank

Outside of e-mail, there is little to no actual student-professor interaction. If you live close enough to campus, I strongly advise that you try and meet with your professor at least twice during the semester during office hours. Don’t just slip through the semester in obscurity.

When it comes down to it, professors are humans. The students they know will always have the advantage.

You are your own teacher. You can spam your professor with e-mails, but an online class is essentially an independent study course. If you have not already, read this article on some new ways to improve study skills.

Responsibility is a must. If you are not yet at the point where you can set a study schedule and stick with it, you will be in trouble.

Since all of your work will be done on the computer, it is sometimes hard to avoid distractions. My suggestion is to make an alternate user account that does not have any non-educational programs installed. You can call it whatever you want, just make sure that your brain knows that when you log onto this username it is time to get down to business.

A friend of mine says his online class experience was often “out of sight, out of mind.” Without the requirement to go to class, many students simply forget to do assignments.

Some colleges require you to come on-campus to sit for final exams. If you live far away from campus, this should be a consideration.

I could sit here and make this a huge, robust article, but I feel it is not necessary. If you have enough money and are an independent learner, online classes will be perfect for you.

Please send in your experiences with online classes. I imagine they vary greatly between colleges, and I would appreciate your insight.

Comments (25)

25 Comments »

  1. I’m taking and 16 month online course. I love it and I hate it. It’s like a ball and chain, but I get to be home with my children. Since I have a 16 month old, he takes up lots of my time, and so I’m better off doing any school work later at night. So, I have no life, but it will pay off soon, I get my degree in September, and I’m doing really good in my classes, even though I want to pull my hair out sometimes! I just have to say that I think online classes are absolutely perfect for someone who does not have children!

    Comment by Deb — March 1, 2009 @ 8:35 pm
  2. I have taken 10 online classes at the local community college and in only one have a felt left to dry- she has us read 200 plus pages and take a test, has projects that should have prerequisites and has no feedback– so I am at 90 percent positive level– it works if you put in the effort.

    Comment by Lois — March 9, 2009 @ 9:09 pm
  3. hi

    Comment by Anonymous — April 26, 2010 @ 7:22 am
  4. lois, hi

    Comment by Anonymous — April 26, 2010 @ 7:23 am
  5. sam castronovo was here

    Comment by Anonymous — April 26, 2010 @ 7:24 am
  6. Is taking online schooling harder or easier than regular schools?

    Comment by Anonymous — April 26, 2010 @ 3:13 pm
  7. Megan and Gracie was here

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:12 am
  8. hi mitch

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:13 am
  9. hey luke

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:13 am
  10. waz up

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:14 am
  11. the celing

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:15 am
  12. wow dumb butt

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:17 am
  13. no u r

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:17 am
  14. your mom is

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:18 am
  15. tu madre

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:18 am
  16. how do you do this

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:19 am
  17. idk
    que hora es?

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:19 am
  18. fatte oo pope’

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:20 am
  19. la sopa

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:21 am
  20. rodrigo stupido uh pope’

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:22 am
  21. fou uo lsi lsiidf i lije os fouso

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:23 am
  22. uno dos tres bito

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:24 am
  23. tanto

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 7:29 am
  24. i washere

    Comment by Anonymous — April 27, 2010 @ 9:43 am
  25. such maturity…..

    Comment by Anonymous — August 22, 2010 @ 9:18 pm


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