Online Education?

[Barbie]

Sounds easy, I know! But it's definately more work than I thought. DH is in the Army and we have moved every two years for the past 8. I got sick of losing credits so I signed up with Thomas Edison State College which has a pretty extensive distance education program. I just finished my first term. It goes three terms a year. I am taking 4 classes each term. I take my tests at a testing center, they are proctored,etc so it's not like I can cheat on them.

If I can do this right and not fail any classes, I will have my BA by next July. However, I'm wondering what the hell I am going to do with a BA? I just feel like I want that damn degree!

[GreatScot]

:ITA I am only taking MSOffice programs online and last year I took two concurrently and could barely muddle through. They are very deceptive :evile.

[Second Class Pyro]

I hate online classes. I have vowed never to take another one. I do poorly and I don't feel like I learn anything from them. For some reason, I can devote 3 hours a week to sitting in a class room, but I can't devote 3 hours a week to sitting in front of the computer. Very strange since I sit in front of the PC 8 hours a day, all week long.

[KerryL]

I'm taking two online courses this semester. I'm feeling a wee bit overwhelmed, because this is only my second semester back. I'll be doing all online until next fall, when I'll have to take Microbiology on-campus.

For the most part, I'm really enjoying it. I was pleasantly surprised that I've actually matured and become more self-disciplined in the 12 years since my last foray into post-secondary education. :lol

[gingah]

Well, if online learning is anything like correspondence (by old fashioned snail mail)... wugh.

I'm doing two courses by correspondence right now grade 12 Chemistry and Biology (pre reqs for Nursing). It is brutal. I find it takes me much longer to get through the work because if I have any questions I'm stuck figuring out the answers on my own. If I had someone in front of me to explain XYZ, I'm be moving along at a much better pace.

I know I can email the people who mark my assignments, but often I'm working late at night, or I'm not at home, and I'm stuck until I figure the question out... so I just plug along and do it on my own.

I'm really kicking myself, I should have just paid the extra to do these classes at community college or the college attached to the university which offers pre-reqs and other courses for 'mature students'.

Live and learn!

[Eryn]

I haven't taken an online class, but I did take a distance-learning class once and it did not go well. I think part of my problem is that I learn better from lecture than from reading, and it is hard not being able to hear things explained. I'm sure it works for some people though.

[UraBitch]

I took one online class that was great. I received prompt feedback, and the instructor was really great if you were having any problems with the work.

The second class I took online was horrible. I never received my grades. I had no idea how I was doing in the class and I am one of those people that just has to know my grades, etc. Part of that is because I am working to keep up my 4.0 and for that I need to know my early grades and what the instructor is grading on. KWIM? Besides the fact that I was expected to be on the computer at least four days a week, and I took the class so that I could work in my own time and get the work done all in one day. My schedule as a single mom just doesn't have the room to be on that often.

I ended up withdrawing from that class because I was uncomfortable with the situation and I am retaking it in the classroom this semester. I understand the work, I just didn't get the feedback I needed last sememster.

As a result I doubt I will take anymore online classes, unless I speak to the instructor beforehand. It just isn't worth the stress for me.

[Lasagna]

I took some online literature courses last year. I thought it was a time saver, surprisingly. Since they were lit classes, and grades were based on papers we wrote anyway, we didn't have to go anywhere to take tests---just email your "paper" to the instructor. It was the same amount of work as it would have been, except that I didn't have to drive a half hour to school and then back, and then sit in a classroom for however many hours. The time I spent each week looking at the teacher's site was probably only the equivalent of what travel time might have been.

I'd hate it for a math class though. Lit? Fine.

[Butchy]

So, how do you find a reputable online school? Online and distance education are my only options right now but I don't even know where to start. I live in a very rural town. We do have 2 major universities 3 hours each east and 3 hours west from me. I wonder if they have online or distance classes?

[Barbie]

Well, I looked at some schools that my DH was offered through "E Army U" figuring it was a start - they couldn't be notorious rip offs if they were approved for that, right :snicker

But anyway, I picked this one because it was a state school that had been doing distance education for a really long time. Also, many of the distance programs are aimed at computer/business degrees and that wasn't going to happen for me. Also, I was eligible for instate tuition because my Dh is active duty military, so that saved us a bundle.
He takes online classes through Franklin University in Ohio. He really likes the "virtual campus."

[Juni]

I took one fully online class this summer and I'm taking two this fall. I really don't like them all that much, but they are a lifesaver in the time requirements. I'm taking so many credits that it's hard to find more time to actually sit in a class.

But the online is hard for me because I find it difficult to remember to set time aside for actually working on it. I'm actually already behind in my med term class and it's only one week in.

My school offers all the nursing classes online but I'm definitely not going that route. It's just easier to devote the time to studying when I'm actually in front of the teacher all the time.

[Lasagna]

So, how do you find a reputable online school?

The school I was attending in person also offered online courses. I think more and more "regular" schools are adding online classes to the mix.