Do you REALLY learn in on-line classes?

[JBMmom]

I'm taking two on-line classes this semester to finish my co-reqs. I've got a psych and sociology class and after taking these classes I have to say I think that on-line degrees are a complete joke. Granted I needed the flexibility of being able to finish two classes without being out of the house 2-4 nights a week, otherwise I'd never see my kids. I think there are many people that can use the flexibility but I wonder if it's really as good as a class in person. I can see how they could be well done, so maybe it's just mine that aren't. In one class, 85% of the grade is multiple choice exams, in the other it's 50%. The remaining 15% (and 50%) are based on the discussion boards. The professors do nothing to facilitate the discussions or give any feedback. One professor posts maybe one post a week, the other has never posted a thing. The exams are supposedly "closed book", but the distribution of grades is extremely high. I never remember classes in college where no one scored lower than 80% on exams, so yes, I think that some people are cheating. Especially based on reading the quality of the answers posted by some students. For me, I've already got a BS and MS, I'm not taking classes that are the basis for what I might be doing as a nurse, so I don't care much. But I think that some schools are offering these on-line classes as a way to get some easy money and they're really giving out credit for sub-standard classes. Anyone taking GOOD on-line classes. Are you writing papers or getting good interaction from professors? Just wondering.

[Guest 360983]

I feel the same way about most of my online classes. I take them as often as possible because my work schedule makes going to class difficult, but I feel like I'd be learning a lot more if I was actually in class. It doesn't bug me too much, since I'm taking classes like government, english, and sociology online. Oh, sure, the nursing school says they're important classes, but I doubt I'll need to know how to analyze poems when I'm a nurse.

I don't know anyone else's grades in my classes, but when I honestly can't follow your train of thought in your posting... it makes me sad. One thing that really got under my skin was when one classmate claimed to be in the nursing program at City University. City University doesn't have a nursing program. I know that lying isn't an internet only phenomena but it's certainly easier online.

I'm exceptionally frustrated by the sociology class I'm taking online this semester, because I have a terrible professor. Our "mini assignment" ended up being at least 30 pages long for most of the class, but the professor just blamed us for writing too much. We turned that in 5 weeks ago and she still hasn't given us our grades despite repeated promises that they would be posted in just a few days. I feel like the professor is able to hide behind the anonymity of the internet, and that she would be more accountable to us if we had regular in person interaction.

I'm doing all online classes next semester, though, so I guess I haven't learned my lesson yet

[Sand_Dollar, BSN]

I have taken all my pre-reqs online and I have worked for my high grades. There are some classes which are a breeze, like nutrition... but others like AP 1&2, I worked my butt off in. I took it during the summer and had 18 page lab reports due in AP2 every week, along with a case study and other required work. And yes, there were discussions too. I can't stand the discussions myself, I want to bang my head on the desk because some people are so *dumb*, but I do them for the grades. Interaction from the teachers totally depends on the teacher, I have had good and bad, I think it's the same way in regular classes.

I see some of the substandard work some people submit and I just shrug, I really don't care about anyone's work but my own (except that it makes my work look that much better). My Anthro teacher says I go over the top in my work and assignments, but I have high expectations for myself and my work.

I doubted myself when I started and thought the online classes must be easier than regular classes because I kept getting high grades. But, when I went to an info session at the University I applied to, they specifically said online classes were accepted. They went on to say they have done studies showing that students who take online classes learned just as much as those who were in a brick and mortar classroom. The University even has about 1/3 of their NS classes online to help students be available for clinicals. The director of the nursing program said the university has been doing online and hybrid type classes for 30 years themselves.

I'm taking 5 classes this semester, 1 math and 4 social sciences. I find them terribly tedious: read, discuss, write an essay, repeat. Ugh. Next semester will be 6 classes and then I'm finished my pre-reqs. I have completed all the sciences and I am missing them - they were challenging and not at all tedious!

[guiltysins]

I'm not taking online classes but my sister is and for some classes it's pretty simple for her, but classes such as English and Psych are extremely long because papers are due every two weeks. Not only that but you have to read the chapter, ask a question, then answer and respond to at least 20 other posts within two weeks.

My thing is, I think if you're taking the annoying pre-reqs, I don't think online classes are all that bad. Classes such as science and math I wouldn't even attempt online though. My sister had enrolled for a Math class and dropped it the day before class after looking at the work. You had to do something like 6 exams on Mymathlab thing and then you had to mail in your math hw, I told her it would just be easier to go and do it in a class especially since she's not good at Math.

[Sand_Dollar, BSN]

I am doing algebra and although I think it would be much easier in person because you can ask the prof questions, I am doing OK so far, and I haven't taken it in 18 years. We have a list of questions from the chapter, we pick one and then have to do a full explanation with check and post it to the group. We can do an extra one for each unit for 5 extra credit points too (or get EC if we find a mistake in the book). There are 7 exams plus the final. I was going to drop it after the first exam, but glad I stuck with it. If I don't majorly crash on the last 3 tests I might actually finish with an A. If you can search for answers and methods yourself, you should do OK. Youtube videos are awesome! Mailing in your homework sounds LAME!