Online classes. Yay or Nay?

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Specializes in home health, developmental disabilities.

Was wondering if any of you are taking classes online? What did you think? Workload, amount of time needed to dedicate, etc. Thanks and good luck to all!:)

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Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.

I take online classes every semester and I love it. I can go at my own pace and don't have to leave home. However, if you have little ones it may be difficult. It really depends on how you prefer to learn, how dedicated you are to timlines on your own, and of course whether or not you have distractions at home. For me it works great. Good luck with your decision.:)

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I hate online classes with a passion, although sometimes they are necessary. I cringe everytime I have to sign up for one.

To me, it's just a lot of busy work. I like being able to ask a qustion live in class, not through email which I may not hear back from until the next day when I don't even remember what I was talking about myself.

Of course, I could have a bias because my school does it a little differently. Most online classes you are allowed to work ahead or at least within a time frame. The online classes at my school for things like exams, you have one day to complete it. So the exam will open up at 6am and close at 6pm or sometimes 11:55pm that night. The problem I have with this is that the 6-6 ones do not give working students or regular students to go through it properly if it's a 1.5 hour exam to start with.

My advise would be to tip toe into online classes, one or two at first and see how you like it.

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Specializes in STNA.

I prefer on campus classes, because I have to study less if I'm listening to the lectures and I like the social interaction with other students, but online classes are a great option. I've taken many many many online classes over the years. They were especially great when I had little ones at home because I did not have to put them in day care or find a sitter on the days that my husband worked. I would just do my schoolwork on the days that he was off. My school's online classes always had pretty wide windows of opportunity for completing tests and whatnot, so it was easy to schedule and very flexible. If you can easily teach yourself stuff from books and lecture notes, than I highly recommend online classes. When you read a textbook can you easily think of questions that might be on a test and identify concepts that you need to understand? If you struggle sometimes and need someone to explain it to you in person, than it might not be a good fit.

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It depends on the type of class if it's a math or science i'd prefer to take those on campus. If it's anything except for those two subjects i'd rather do online. As long as you keep up with coursework I find it pretty easy.

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I like online classes. One of the nursing schools I'm going to apply to told me though that they wouldn't accept some online courses for the pre-reqs.

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Specializes in STNA.
I like online classes. One of the nursing schools I'm going to apply to told me though that they wouldn't accept some online courses for the pre-reqs.

Hmm, interesting. My transcripts don't differentiate between online and regular classes, so any transfer institutions (including nursing schools) would have no idea whether they were online classes or not when looking at my transcripts. It is my understanding that as long as the online class is taken at an accredited school that there is no difference between an online class and a regular one. That said, most of the heavy science pre-reqs like A&P and chemistry are not offered online at my school, but the intro biology class is. Most of the pre-req classes that I've taken online were things like Soc and Psych.

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I will be taking two on-classes this summer, which will be my first experience with the on-line method of instruction. I have to retake a computer course because it's been more than 10 years since I took it and my school will not accept those credits and Human Growth & Development. I'm taking General Psych now and I feel comfortable that I can learn these subjects without attending a physical class every week.

But, I don't think I would want to take a science or nursing course on-line even if it were available.

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Hmm, interesting. My transcripts don't differentiate between online and regular classes, so any transfer institutions (including nursing schools) would have no idea whether they were online classes or not when looking at my transcripts. It is my understanding that as long as the online class is taken at an accredited school that there is no difference between an online class and a regular one. That said, most of the heavy science pre-reqs like A&P and chemistry are not offered online at my school, but the intro biology class is. Most of the pre-req classes that I've taken online were things like Soc and Psych.

Yeah, not sure how they would tell unless you somehow had a transcript for a college in a state where you don't live. My current school offers a hybrid option for classes with labs, where the class is online and the lab is on campus. I'm going to be taking psych online in the summer and I took statistics online.

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I have now taken 3 classes online and I love it. Honestly with my work schedule it is so convienent. I am a Respiratory Therapist and work 3 12 hour shifts a week which are not set so its difficult to committ to a class schedule. Massachusetts Institute of Health Professions in Boston offers all science pre-reqs online including A&P with lab, Micro & Chem. All the labs are virtual.. this is a great option if you can't get to the classes. Otherwise science classes are likely better on campus.

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Specializes in home health, developmental disabilities.

I'm going to be going to Holyoke CC in massachusetts. I'd prob be taking non math and science pre reqs such as Nutrition and Psych over the summer, to get ahead. I'm TERRIBLE at math and I need to take Intermediate algebra. I thought maybe online I could have a better chance of passing with a C. (last time I tried in real classi got a D. :down:) I beleive this school uses the Web CT system which I hear other schools also use.

Thanks for the replies!

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I depends on the class, and your strengths and weaknesses. I have loved every class I've taken online, except for Statistics. That was a nightmare...

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