Category: Cram Session
I'm thinking about taking onlines classes for the spring semester. What experiences have you had with taking them? How did you get lectures from your professors, turn in assignments, take tests, etc. Any advice is welcome.
I am taking an online class right now. However, I know the professor and have another class with her that is not online. So if I have any questions, I just stay after class and ask her in person. I think it is pretty easy because there are no lectures given. We just read the book, post weekly on the discussion board, and take weekly quizzes. The quizzes are very easy and work well with my JAWS. It's cool because depending on how strict your professors are, they may allow you a couple of attempts to retake the quiz. You can also see your scores right away. Uploading papers are a breeze. I use firefox with my blackboard and have no problems with it. Some people in my class use IE and they have trouble accessing bb sometimes. I would only suggest online courses to someone who is proficient with what ever screen reader they use. Hope this helps.
If you're taking online courses, make sure you're taking them through an accredited university. If the school isn't nationally recognized with accreditation, your course credits won't count if you try to transfer them or use them to get a job.
I agree with the previous poster. It is really important to get the online course from an accredited university or community college. As far as the course load, If you are taking other classes with the online class, I suggest you take it over the summer time so that your schedule won't be too occupied juggling your other courses and the online course. Another thing, since you don't have face to face instruction with your professor, try your best to stick with the syllabus. The course work is the same amount as with other courses. The only difference is that its an online course. Just stick with the time management and you'll be fine. Last but not the least, don't forget to check your e mail constantly.
The thing with online classes is that you have to be more disciplined. There is no one there every day telling you to get your work done. Depending on the teachers and how they run their classes, they will usually post an assignment and or discussion at the beginning of the week and give you all week to do it. Then it is pretty much up to you to manage your schedule and get the work done on time. It is easy to slack off a bit and put it off until you're rushing to do it at the very end. So you kind of have to force yourself to get it done early so you're not stressing at the last minute. Also you'll have to stay on top of things and check emails and posts from the professor for any sudden changes. Other than that it is fairly easy.. you just read the textbook, post something on the discussions and submit the assignments in the assignment page and take any quizzes which are usually really easy.
Anyway, hope this helps.
OK, I've taken 5 online classes and I loved 4 out of the 5. The 5th 1 I had some accessibility issues because of the way the professor uploaded her documents. I usually take 2 online and 2 regular that way I have a good mixture. Just make sure you stay on top of your work. Check your online stuff Every day. No joke because it's really easy to get behind if you aren't careful.
Online classes, like telecommuting to work, does take discipline, sure.
People don't hire you, or fund your college education, to babysit you anyway. And you already keep a schedule, whether you think you do or not, so just add in the coursework. The only thing I wouldn't take online is something with which you are entirely unfamiliar.
I recently took both a biohazards and boating safety course with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. These are totally new, so I went to the in-person class. Other courses like Incident Command, use your management experience, so I took most of those online. I just slotted days to do it, the same as if I'd up and gone to the station to do it.
Just my thoughts.
I know for mine, I had to log in twice a day to keep up with the discussion posts. That was the main thing.
Another thing that was weird was when I took an online class with a professor that I'd had in class before. I quickly found out that I liked her in classes better than her online. It was weird!