Did you learn anything from online courses?

Calzonan RN · Sep 11, 2005

I've taken several classes online, two of which were Bio201/202. I would have preferred to take them in person, but didn't have the time to get to classes two days a week. I really feel I learned a lot, the classes were well organized and I really did have to get to know the book in order to do well. I'm not sure how I would have done in person, I did take micro in person and actually felt like I learned less than I did with my 201/202 classes. I think it was because I was forced to learn the information on my own, YKWIM? I also took HCC130/145 online and would advise anyone else to take those online as well. HTH

akmegs2 · Sep 11, 2005

Hello everyone,
I finished Bio 205 - Micro - online last week. I wanted to take it in person, but I couldn't get into a class until this fall. I decided to go the faster route, and took it through Rio Salado.
It was extremely well organized, and I had access to all of the needed materials, and I did pretty well in the class. But - now that the semester is over - I am beginning to feel that I didn't really retain that much. My other friends - who have taken the class in person - seem to have studied and worked much harder, and retained more. My friends who have taken it online feel the same way I do. Because of this, I'm opting to take Pathophysiology in person.
Anyway, my question is this - do you think a person can (in your experience with online class) learn just as much online? Are there any classes that you would never recommend someone take in person (like HCC 130), or any that you would NEVER take online? What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.
CrazyPremed

Where are you taking pathophysiology? I was considering taking it online, but like you I feel like I will retain more if I take it in person. Sometimes its just difficult to take "live" classes because I work full time.

boomerfriend · Sep 12, 2005

I have never taken an online course and probably never will. I'm not that type of learner. I need the personal interaction in the classroom setting. I cannot learn as much from just reading.

I took my HCC courses in a condensed format (over the Christmas holidays) which is the very best way. Those classes are a waste of time and the faster you get through them the better. The HCC 145 I took over the summer in 4 weeks. That was a bit challenging but I did it.

Just my 2 cents.

sunnyjohn · Sep 12, 2005

I'm a reader. Most teachers bore me to tears.

Online classes have been my saving grace for quite some time. I love them! I've taken many classes this way. It does take more effort take in the information, I always enjoy the work,

Question, that Rio Salado Micro calss? Is it totally online? Do you ever have to go on campus for testing and labs?

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Sep 12, 2005

I loved my online classes. I prefer a classroom but my schedule just doesn't permit that much time. To be successful in an online class you have to be self-motivated. I am when it comes to work and studying now if I could only get self-motivated when it comes to the laundry! Any suggestions? :)

CardioTrans, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2005

I have taken several online classes and think that I have actually learned more from them, than I would have in a classroom.

With online classes, I have to pay attention and concentrate more than I do if I were in a classroom.

boomerfriend · Sep 13, 2005

Aren't we all blessed to have so many forms of learning available to us these days? I just got to thinking about it and realized that there are many different ways we learn. I'm very visual. I get a lot from tables, pictures, examples. I hate it when my texts don't have pictures. I also do well with the interaction of others in class. Fortunately, however, there are online classes for those that don't do well in that kind of format. These are the independent learners and do great just reading the material on their own.

I'm just so glad there's many different types of "education" out there nowadays. We live in a great day and age!

sunnyjohn · Sep 13, 2005

I was thinking the same thing Boomerfriend. It is so great that you can find just what you need to get the job done.

I used to have a hard time with Math. Ever since 7th grade when Sister Mary would wrap on my knuckles when I got a problem wrong. A few years ago I found and online interactive Math class. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I would play the CD over and over and hear the lecture and watch the examples until I got it. It opened up a whole new world of mathematics.

I *heart* online learning! :kiss

Nemhain · Sep 14, 2005

I've had a few online classes and I loved them. I actually learned quite a bit! However, I am a reader and I am diciplined. It helps if you know what subject areas think you'd need to be attending a lecture. I would NEVER be able to take a math class online, especially statistics 'cause I even needed to be tutored on how to use that darn calculator!

nursemomruns · Sep 14, 2005

I have taken several online classes and think that I have actually learned more from them, than I would have in a classroom.
With online classes, I have to pay attention and concentrate more than I do if I were in a classroom.

I agree about learning more in an online course. I also think they're harder and you have to be organized and manage time well. The majority of the classes for my PhD are online.

MsBruiser · Sep 14, 2005

I have both a BA and an MA - this is a career change - and the online Rio classes are quite rigorous. The "problem" so to speak, is the lack of subjectivity in the classes - you are given huge lists of material to learn and no hints whatsover about what will appear on the exams. No helpful winks from the profs such as "I would know this for the exam." Also, memorizing 4 essays per lesson for the exams is not easy! So I find the studying process for exams to be very time consuming. I have managed straight A(s), but that is the result of lots of hard work.

As for retaining the material, I have found no difference between online and in-person classes. I tend to memorize and forget by nature...for better or for worse, that's just me.

I just finished Bio 202 - so I'm one happy camper right now!