ccconline micro

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Oct 13, 2008

I'm taking bio (with labs) via ccconline, not micro but I can tell you how it works for me. Everything is online, you can sign up online and everything, you never have to show up at a campus.

Bio works like this. We have 6 assessments (exams). 1,2,4 and 5 are all 30 q's worth 2 points each. The midterm and final are cumulative and have 70 q's, so they are worth 140 points in total. There are 6 unit discussions (the teacher will post the topic when she wants you to start). Those are worth 10 points each. Then there are chapter Apply Your Knowledge 'essays'. There are 16 of those at 10 points each. There is a 3-5 page term paper worth 35 points and 9 labs worth 25 points, with 2 extra credit ones as well. So in total you can earn 1000 points, plus 50 extra credit points.

The tests are open book, but timed. But I worked it out and its like 3 min per question. If you can't find it in the book in that time your in trouble! I did however get 1 wrong on my first assessment, I found it in the book but didn't understand it... I still don't after I asked the prof to explain it to me. Ugh.

The lab kit you purchase comes with the lab manual on a CD, you have to follow it for your labs. We only have to do select labs, not all of them, so that was nice. You attach it to hand it in and that's it. It's a great system.

Hope that helps shed some light. If you want to know anything else about it, just ask. :)

Satori77, ADN · Oct 14, 2008

Do you ever have set times when everyone gets online to have discussions? Can you talk to other students in the class? How much is the lab kit, and do you get it through them?

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Oct 14, 2008

No, its not a chat. It's just like this board. There are discussions that you start, reply to and are linked. You can send private email to people, like the teacher or other students if you want. The lab kits you get from a place called labpac.com...the bookstore will tell you which one to get. I tend to go onto the bookstore, find the books I need and get them someplace else, often Amazon. You have dates when assignments and labs and exams are due, but other than that your time is how you want to spend it. I am loving my classes so far, although I'm not taking Micro until next fall.

hopefullysoon · Oct 15, 2008

SandDollar, Thanks for the info. For the labs how do you hand them in? Are the essays and the tests really hard?

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Oct 15, 2008

Hi hopefullysoon!

You follow the lab procedures that are provided on a CD with the labpac. Then you do up a lab report... pretty easy actually (I was making it harder than the prof wanted), you save it as a rtf format. Then you go to the 'lab drop box' and just attach the file to it. You can leave a note to your prof if you want and then send it off. You will see an icon under the name of the class when its been marked.

The essays in the Bio class are called 'Assess your knowledge'. The prof gives you a question concerning the chapter for you to answer. You know all of them when the class starts, so I just copied them onto one sheet. For example, "Describe and give an example of an acid/base reaction. Be sure to explain what is happening to the atoms, pH, chemical bonds, etc." was the question asked for chapter 2. They ask for a minimum of two paragraphs. I haven't found them too challenging, I've done 6 so far and gotten 10/10 in all of them, and I get mine about 2-3 paragraphs. If you want to see my answer for chapter 2 just send me a pm, I'm sure the prof doesn't want answers posted.

The tests aren't *too* bad. I got 1 wrong on the first exam (ch 1-3), but the 2nd I got 3 wrong (ch 4&5). I think its still an A, but since there are 2 extra credit labs I can do for a total of 50 points, I should be able to make up the difference there. The exams are open book. I study by taking my own notes, then going over them with the power point slides and adding anything I missed. I thought about skipping the notes part since they take me a few hours, but I'm not willing to risk messing up my marks. I never access my notes during a test however, I stick with the text. I do though have open the power points and my quizlet flashcards in case I need to access them during the test. You find out your marks immediately on exams.

All of the stuff, exams, AYKs and labs have spread out due dates. The tests are 'open' for a week before the due date so if your like me and want to get it done early, then you can. I'm sure a lot of people do them at the due date.. I see that a lot on our English ones that have to be posted.

Have you taken AP1 yet? I plan on doing it next semester, along with dietary nutrition and general psych.

Oh, I forgot to mention to Satori77, the labpac cost $169.00 for BK-105 (general bio)

WhitePillow · Oct 15, 2008

Hello everyone, I need to get a+p done soon. I was wondering if anyone who has taken microbiology at ccconline had to do labs at home that required growing things and so on. What does the lab consist of doing and how does the professor grade the labs and are all the tests and quizzes timed. Was the class really doable and is anyhting proctored or done where you have to go to the campus? Anyone who has taken this class at ccconline or knows the answers to these questions your help would be appreciated. Thanks a bunch

I took Micro and A&P II online with CCCOnline. You will not only have to buy the lab kit but you will also need to purchase the microscope and oil lens immersion kit. There is a CD with all of the lab procedures and yes they do send everything to your house. You have to refridgerate most of it and yes there are a lot of growing things in the micro class. All I did was to buy a lamp and use the thermometer that comes with the lab kit to get it to the right temp. I had to leave some of my things for a week with the lamp on all the time. There were other people in class who used a shoe box but I'm not sure how they fit the agar samples in there. There is a lab help section if you have any issues and the lab instructor usually responds within 24 hours. My advice if you do take the class is to make sure all the experiments are done ahead of time. So, if it takes 3 days to grow something make sure you start it on a Saturday if it is due the next Friday. That way you will have time to re-grow something if it doesn't turn out quite right. It was a fun class. I had two 5-page papers that I had to do in addition to all of the labs. I think there were 14 or 15 and tests on a weekly basis in addition to the weekly discussions. Please let me know if you have any questions. I just finished the class last semester. Thanks

Satori77, ADN · Oct 15, 2008

The classes sound really great. I learn well independently, and I have microscopes at work (wonder if I could just use one of those and not buy one) It would be hard coming up with the money, but in the long run I think it would be worth it...instead of trying to work around my work schedule, or take time off from work, then possibly have to pay for childcare. Maybe it wouldn't cost more, now that I think about it. I will look into taking classes in January when we do our taxes, that should help with the cost. Thanks a lot, you have been a big help!

Satori77, ADN · Oct 15, 2008

Oh, one more thing. You can get financial aid for this, right? Because you have to apply to one of the community colleges first, and the credits are through that college (if I am understanding how it works), so you just apply for fafsa through the college?

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Oct 15, 2008

Oh, one more thing. You can get financial aid for this, right? Because you have to apply to one of the community colleges first, and the credits are through that college (if I am understanding how it works), so you just apply for fafsa through the college?

Sorry Satori77, I can't answer about the FAFSA, I'm not eligible. I did it via payment terms and was able to pay cash in bits and pieces. Give them a call, they should be able to help. :)

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Oct 15, 2008

The classes sound really great. I learn well independently, and I have microscopes at work (wonder if I could just use one of those and not buy one) It would be hard coming up with the money, but in the long run I think it would be worth it...instead of trying to work around my work schedule, or take time off from work, then possibly have to pay for childcare. Maybe it wouldn't cost more, now that I think about it. I will look into taking classes in January when we do our taxes, that should help with the cost. Thanks a lot, you have been a big help!

I am so happy with CCConline I can't say it enough. My schedule is so fluid it changes from week to week and I need the flexibility to be able to work when I can. And I can work in my jammies if I want - gotta love it.

I'm sure you could borrow the microscope. But when you get your taxes money you may want to consider buying one, especially if your going to take more classes with labs. I am looking at one from labpaq with an oil lens for about 165 (when you buy a kit).

Satori77, ADN · Oct 16, 2008

Definitely sounds like it is worth the money.