On-line learning vs.tele-conferencing

[suzanne4, RN]

I am trying to narrow my choices down for work on my doctorate,

and since I am living on the other side of the world, I am trying to

decide which would be a better type of program.

With the tele-conferencing, you would be able to listen to the lectures live

and have feed-back with the instructor, with on-line, only meet once a year

for a week or so on campus.

Which do you prefer in your schooling? What has been the most

beneficial?

Thanks in advance for your responses. :balloons:

[wtpmjgda1]

Suzzane,

I have had online training and the effectiveness depends on the tools used and the instructor.

A few questions. Which schools offer teleconferencing? Will all class members see each other? Could you be anywhere in the world? Are you talking about videoconferencing (via computer) or teleconferencing via public or private airwaves?

Cheers

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Good luck and congrats on your decision.

I don't do tele conferencing and never have. But I've made the decision to get my BSN 100% online because working nights, I like having the choice of when I go online to study and do coursework. (However, there is I believe some chat requirements.)

This way I don't have to build my schedule and my life around some classtime. If you're the type of person that needs that to discipline yourself then teleconferencing would be the way to go. If you'd rather have more control, then online is the way to go.

[futurenp]

Just curious what your pHD will be in - is it nursing?

[TooterIA]

I am in the online BSN program at University of Phoenix and I am learning more than I ever imagined I would. I briefly considered doing the teleconferencing at a nearby community college, but I would have had to go once a week for eight hours and I have serious problems sitting in class for eight hours.

You say with the online you only meet once a year, but you would be online regularly, wouldnt you? In my online environment I am required to post discussion topics four out of seven days so it really is like a classroom.

Good luck!

[KMSRN]

I am working on my MSN in a program that uses teleconferencing and online courses. I prefer the online classes because I can work on my own schedule. The classes I have taken, both online and teleconference, use the Blackboard program that has different areas where you can communicate via discussion groups on a bulletin board or sometimes in a chat room - so there is contact with fellow classmates and the instructor. It also depends on the course, some are more amenable to online learning and some (like research and statistics) are better with live interaction. If you do online classes you need to set up regular time to work without the external motivation of actually attending a class. But if you are working on a doctorate, I'm sure you know that and have the discipline and motivation to follow through on your own.