A & P online or in the classroom???

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Aug 9, 2009

I think you could get more out of it if the class was face to face. I can't imagine having to learn so much info. online... but some people can do it.

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Aug 9, 2009

I took it online and just finished AP2 the same way (other classes too). It is a lot of work online, but I figure its the same way in regular classes. I didn't have memorization to do, but 18 page lab reports took their place. I am bad with memorization, good with reports...so it worked well for me. Doing it online did save me commute time and I could do my exams first thing when everyone was still sleeping and I was in my PJ's. Love it!

I thought I was getting A's because the online classes were 'easier'. But when I went to a nursing information session at the highly regarded state university, the director of the program said they have done studies showing the knowledge learned is pretty much equal for both groups. The university even does about 1/3 of their nursing classes online so schedules can be open for clinicals.

BTW, I did all of it online through ccconline, I bought a lab kit and did the labs at home. Fetal pig, sheet heart and kidney, cow eyeball....all of it. It was great!

Mandys76RN · Aug 9, 2009

When I was in A&P I started off taking it in class. I felt like I couldn't get a grasp on it and knew I wasn't going to get the grade I wanted. I dropped out of the class and ended up taking A&P 1 and 2 online. I absolutely loved it. The discussion boards were extremely helpful and I had an instructor that checked it. I didn't feel dumb asking questions. I have found I do the best with online classes over all. Since then I have finished nursing school and am now an RN. I felt like I learned a lot from all of my online classes... at least enough to do a good job in nursing school. :nurse:

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2009

I took A&P 1 and 2 this summer, two 6-week sessions back to back with the same awesome prof (this is now my last week, woot!!) ... I'm so beat, but so happy I did it this way! My first session was in-class lecture and in-person lab. My second session was online lecture and in-person lab. I sooo much preferred the online lecture and I tell you why for 4 reasons: (1) The commute to the campus (which was 10 minutes each way) and sitting there for 90 minutes 4 days a week, not to mention the getting-ready time before and wind down time thereafter was just too much of a break in my day especially with a full-time job at the same time, (2) The lectures were not boring, given that my professor was excellent but it was nice to have the Powerpoint online that I could review at my own pace, (3) Having done most of my earlier education during an age when cell phones did not exist, as an older student I hate having lectures interrupted by someone's shrilling cell phone going off despite professor's reminders to keep cell phones off or on vibrate, (4) The incessant, distracting and annoying whispering of nonsense mid-lecture by teeny-bopper co-eds sitting behind you who don't really appreciate as you do the value of an education and would much rather be at the mall than sitting there (trust me, I actually overheard them say that once between Powerpoint slides). I can do without all that, but unfortunately I won't have online lecture options for everything so I will have to put up with these nuisances at those times.

I should note that labs in person were something I did not mind at all, and I think I much rather do those in person all the time. The experience of dissecting a cat in real life with lab partners will never be replicated by an online lab.

The ONE thing I hated about the online lectures was the discussions part, and maybe that was because my particular class really did not take advantage of it as it was intended. Meaning, it was supposed to be a discussion between professor and students and among students about the material, at least that is how I envisioned it. We were required to post one original message and reply to 4 different posts minimum for each module. For some, turned out to be a rote and dreaded task to get done for some. Some people were just cutting and pasting information from the internet without really responding thoughfully to the original post. In fact, the professor's interaction was so minimal; his posts were more like those of a moderator, reprimanding students for not explaining things or repeating what someone else had said (though I should add, rightfully so).

Despite that one disadvantage, I did learn a lot on my own and the online quizzes documented my mastery of the subject. I did get an "A" in my 1st session and I hope to get another in this session. Which reminds me, I should get on that last quiz soon :) ...

AccelCNL, MSN, RN · Aug 9, 2009

It depends on you as a student. I am all in favor of taking classes online. However, if you know that you learnbetter in more structured environment then by all means take the classes online. AP is a very dense subject. I personally have taken prereqs like nutrition and stats online, however, AP was one subject that I was going to be taking in a lecture hall.

Honestly due tothe density of the subject I would recommend an inclass course.

sweetienc · Aug 9, 2009

I took it online and absolutely loved it. The teacher recorded her lectures and made them available to the online student. I was able to study at my own pace and get a head if I knew that I had something to do and take some time off. The labs were fairly easy to do at home and my teacher was always willing to open the lab at school and allow students to come. It was what she called open lab. The resources available online were great, my textbook even had a site. I made A's both semesters and would tell anyone to take it online. Also I didn't have to listen to the other students who were as dedicated and holding up the class. I was able to pause lectures and come back to them later.

PrincessLa · Aug 13, 2009

I think you should take it in the classroom so you can get a better understanding. But if you have great time management skills and very disciplined it wouldn't hurt to take it online. At least when you go to your labs you can still get that face to face. Good luck!