Online Classes

MiaKeaRN · Oct 29, 2007

Hi there,

I take my nursing lectures/theory online, then have my labs at school one night a week and clinicals on Saturday. It works out great for me because I have to continue working while in school, but it does take some dedication in staying focused on classwork. I also did many of my pre-reqs online.

Good luck!!

MB37 · Oct 29, 2007

We are only allowed to take certain classes online for NS - only one of our core classes is offered that way. I took ethical/legal online last semester and am in nursing research right now. A couple of ours are only offered online, while for other classes we have a choice. I don't live close to campus, and I HATE getting up in the morning, so if I have the option I take them online. So far our online classes involve weekly discussion boards and/or quizzes, a paper or two, and maybe a few other assignments. We take community online this summer, and while all the didactic will be online we still have to go to a weekly clinical. When I took A&P, our labs were all online as well - even for people who took the lecture in person. It was odd, but probably saves the school a ton of money.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2007

Hi, chaoticj89, and welcome to allnurses! :welcome:

I've taken several online classes. Some courses just do well online when they were primarily lecture classes and you just read the book, attended lectures and were tested.

The main thing you need to know about online classes is that you will have to keep organized. They are usually done through some online software program into which you need to logon to get assignments, lectures (often in Powerpoint), go to specific websites for information, and give feedback to the instructor. Don't be afraid to e-mail with your instructor. I had one instructor who set up one hour a week for a conference phone call where we could all call in and have a group discussion about anything pertaining to the course. Access your online program software frequently and keep up to date with your assignments. You won't have a live instructor reminding you when to turn assignments in, so don't miss due dates. Our software program locked us out once a due date passed and we could no longer submit an assignment. I also kept a notebook and printed out e-mails and assignments on paper only because I am anal about things and like to see them on paper at any time.

I initially had a problem with online tests as I only have dial up Internet access here at home and my connection cut off in the middle of taking one of my first online tests. I was immediately locked out of the test. I panic'd. Since it happened very early in the semester, the instructor was gracious and unlocked my access to the test. Thereafter, however, I took the remainder of the tests on a library computer that has DSL connections so that wouldn't happen again.

Probably the biggest change is that you usually don't know who the other class members are unless you recognize their names on the class roster or you start e-mailing with some of them and get responses back. I really liked my one online class. The instructor had us going to all kinds of websites and hunting for information. Kind of like Internet field trips! I learned so much from that class that I don't think I would have gotten in a regular classroom where we sat and listened to boring lectures.

NightOwl0624 · Dec 2, 2007

Online classes are convenient, but they vary as much as regular classes do, depending on the content and the instructor.

I have an online class worth 1 credit hour, and I spend hours and hours every week on this class. There is a lot of busywork involved (case studies, discussion boards, etc), and the class itself is rather difficult. There are quizzes every other week, and mid-term and final are on campus in the testing center.

I have another online class this semester worth 4 credit hours and it is going very well. We have our assignment given to us Sunday morning, and it is due by midnight Saturday. The tests are essay and needed to be completed within 2 hours. It does not involve a great deal of studying, and if you get the work done, you do just fine.

I probably spend less time on this 4 credit class than I do on the 1 credit class.

It would be best to do a bit of research on how the instructor runs the class. Just because you don't need to go on campus for a lecture, they can still be very time consuming, demanding and frustrating.