114 Online Discussion (oral component)

Instructions: Please read and respond to the following posting regarding online classes. Consider your own experience—compare it to mine. What are the advantages and disadvantages? Is being an “online student” harder than you expected? Easier? What are specific problems you’ve encountered? Do you have tips or strategies to share with others?

I took my first online class in grad school in 2000 (if I recall correctly…seems so long ago). It was not taught via Blackboard like so many Internet courses are today. Our professor had a Website that contained all the resources we needed to fulfill the requirements of the class. We had no textbook; we could download materials, read articles, and submit our work via email—all at the click of a mouse. After years of college and one degree under my belt, this was heaven to me. I was able to work full-time and still continue my education without stepping foot in the classroom. I took most of my graduate courses at ECU online; we were what I believe to be cutting-edge at the time. I feel that I got my money’s worth; however, I’ll admit that it’s what you make it. You, the student, will determine how much you learn.

Internet classes have always been fairly easy for me in exception for one. And when I say easy, I simply mean “doable.” I’m dedicated and focused enough to sit down before a deadline and get it done. It may be five hours before it’s due, but if it takes working through the night until the wee hours of the morning, I DO IT. Can you? That’s the question you must ask yourself. Internet classes aren’t for everyone. There are some things that are imperative if you are to be a successful Internet student. You must be INDEPENDENT. If you need someone to hold your hand and walk you through everything, you’re not a good candidate. If you like immediate feedback (and a lot of it), you can forget it. If you do not have the technical resources, for example, a decent computer with up-to-date programs (and virus protection) in addition to the recommended high-speed connection, Internet courses will be very, very, very challenging for you.

You can simply “take” an Internet class, or you can get the most out of it. There’s more flexibility in graduate school to work with specific concentrations, but anyone regardless of level can go above and beyond—research more, write more, and interact more with his or her instructor and peers.

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Additional questions to consider: Do you think all classes can be effectively taught online? Do you think an online degree is equivalent to a degree obtained in the traditional classroom setting?