Online classes suck!! What's your experience!!

Specialties NP

Published

Well, I'm doing it I'm going to school a BSN to MSN program!! Being a brick and mortar BSN recipient my experience with online is nil. I am going to a brick and mortar school with a BSN to MSN online program, so I thought it's got to be pretty good, right?

WRONG so very freaking WRONG!! I have never been so aggravated, stressed, and utterly in awe of the hurdles and problems. I'm not a rocket scientist I am pretty smart though and am stuck between wanting to drop and just amazed it can be like this.

Here is the problem EVERY online class you have a partner assigned to you by the Prof. The discussion forum is also monitored by the prof. or so it is supposed to be. In reality it seems like a easy way to get a paycheck to me.

We have a paper to write with our partner. Does my partner respond to emails, nope! Not a one, and then after 5 days and 13 emails (2 days before the paper is do) she says replies. "Hey sorry been out of town I'll write the paper and send it to you" then I get this 30 minutes later "I have NOT HEARD BACK FROM YOU????" are you kidding me. I send you multiple emails all week and you're going to get testy after a 30 minute wait.

I get the emails and respond that sounds great. She sends me freaking copy and pasted website information not in APA format it's a freaking joke clearly plagiarized!! What does the prof. say when I voice my opionion? "Well, the classes are structured around partners. Continue to focus on the material and work around each others schedule."

Huh!! I have a husband, 3 kids, and work and am supposed to wait until the last minute to do a paper? Why partners?

The second problem clearly on the Prof. shoulders is the discussion board. We all have to monitor a topic of discussion keep the conversation orderly and on task then comment. 2 posts per week per student and a reply from the person monitoring the discussion. Is there a deadline to post? NOPE!! I wait for posts, wait, wait, and then the day or two before it is to be reviewed people start posting. Again, why can't the prof. say 2 posts per week by Wednesday then let the discussion begin? It's so seat of the pants and my grade is dependent upon others input because I can't give my input until they post! It's bull! This is about my skill and learning not others, imo.

The other two classes are the same format though it's very very frustrating. Lastly, what happens when I go take a test on Blackboard? When I get finished it says "Answers 1-20 are incomplete do you wish to submit" this is a known problem, so I have to retake the test quickly before the time limit expires. I'm over by 5 minutes now I get 2 wrong off the bat because they weren't answered before the time limit expiration. This has happened 3 times and my appeals to Tech support and Prof. fall on deaf ears. Really is this how it works!!

My grade isn't dependent upon my work alone! It's dependent upon others posting, others commenting, joint papers, all waiting at the whim of some other persons life. While I sit in prison at a computer begging inside for the prof. to take control of the class.

My experience online is horrendous and I can't believe it is this bad. It truly makes me wonder if online should be a option. Any good experiences out there? I'll change schools because this is a joke and $312/hr too:yeah:

Tell me it's the school! Tell me there are better schools out there, please!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I took an online class with a discussion board. The instructor finally came out and told the students that she would start deducting points from those who waited until the weekend to post. This was after she kept making comments for the entire first half of the course. It wasn't fair to those who followed the rules from the beginning. I would definitely change programs based on what you have posted. This is clearly subpar and you are definitely not getting what your tuition dollars are worth. Good luck finding a better program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I took a few nursing pre-reqs online through u maryland. I deliberately chose UMUC because they seemed like a legit school ... what a disappointment.

Low quality of teaching, low quality of classmates, grades depending on actions of said classmates. It was a horrible experience and did not improve my opinion of online education.

And yes, these are easy jobs for those who haven't gotten hired into faculty positions. Many are PhD students or grads with multiple part-time jobs and frankly are NOT the pick of the crop. It shows.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I did my MSN online in Tennessee. I had a great experience with my education. All discussion boards had deadlines. There were only a couple of classes that required a partner for assignments. It does sound like you have an instructor who is not very organized. I am sorry for your bad experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My issue is I have a 3.63 UG gpa and if I don't want my overall gpa to drop because a Prof. runs the class like a spaz!

Has anyone had a good experience online? My husband won't be happy if I say I want to go to school at night. I 100% feel like if I were in a classroom I would get A's hands down, but since the class is so predicated on others and there is no structure I'll be lucky to get a B I think.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i took a few nursing pre-reqs online through u maryland. i deliberately chose umuc because they seemed like a legit school ... what a disappointment.

low quality of teaching, low quality of classmates, grades depending on actions of said classmates. it was a horrible experience and did not improve my opinion of online education.

and yes, these are easy jobs for those who haven't gotten hired into faculty positions. many are phd students or grads with multiple part-time jobs and frankly are not the pick of the crop. it shows.

sounds as if you discussed with course instructor, have you also discussed with program director? what did the syllabus require for participation? online works great for the right student, and as you said for the right professor. i have heard several schools do an assessment to see if the potential student is a good fit for online (i wish i had the example). i think the best option is a hybrid, a combination of online and classroom.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh, I feel for you. Although I am not a fan of the program I attend (all online)--we have deadlines for the initial and crosspost set in the syllabus. I would definately voice your concern with the instructor--and keep the copies of the conversation. Best of luck...Definately look around if you aren't in the clinical portion yet at other schools.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in General.
Oh, I feel for you. Although I am not a fan of the program I attend (all online)--we have deadlines for the initial and crosspost set in the syllabus. I would definately voice your concern with the instructor--and keep the copies of the conversation. Best of luck...Definately look around if you aren't in the clinical portion yet at other schools.

where are you gong to school i also did mine online had discussion boards and points were deducted for late posts

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac.

Unfortunately alot of online schools are run pretty much the same way. Although, I have never heard of the joint partner papers! It does sounds like your Prof is very unorganized and doesn't care. I second with going to the program director. You should have strict deadlines and if your Prof doesn't care that your partner is trying to plagiarized then there is a problem!

Trying finding an online school with a known reputation. I'm sure you can find alot of advice here on which schools are better than others.Good Luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'd switch if you are not going to be happy. I've never had a partner with distance education courses. We've had to respond to other student's work... and responses had to be quality ones. You got points based on the quality of your responses...and there were deadlines for posting so others would have time to respond.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I too am in an online program. I feel like I am 'self taught' but expect nothing less. However, for the most part, when we are partnered with someone or a group, there are rules about participation. And we can vote out members of our group if they aren't doing their share. MOST (not all) of our instructors are fairly accessible. If they are going to be out of town, they let us know, and leave an alt number. Sounds like you're working with a fairly 'new' program, one that doesn't have it's stuff together yet. I'd try to finish out the semester (to save $$) while looking for a new program. I'd give online another try. Yes, it will be frustrating, but nothing beats not having to arrange life around a bunch of nite classes.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I did my BSN and MSN via University of Phoenix online and did two post-MSN certificates at another local online college.

Some things I've done in the past to facilitate better grades and less frustration for me:

1. When I'm partnered with someone, I contact them immediately and say up front, here's the deadline, here's what I'll do, here's what you do and of course I expect proper APA format.

2. As to the discussion boards, again, our instructors had clearly set deadlines as to when to post, how much to post (at least 250 words usually), and they required two APA-formatted citations.

3. Have had some bad experiences too with MIA partners and this is how I handled it:

a. If someone doesn't meet my imposed deadlines, I give them 24 hours to come up with the material.

b. If they don't answer up, I put together the paper and submit it minus their names, with an explanation and a copy of all my emails and the answers from my partner

(I'm very much type A and don't have much patience with partners that can't bring it).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment