Online vs. Classroom/Hybrid

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2014

I prefer online coursework anytime and any day over classroom-based education.

I'm a self-motivated student who can learn independently. If I'm stuck on a concept, I simply use the vast resources on the world wide web to clarify what I don't comprehend. I don't need hand-holding or the structure of a physical classroom to learn.

Another nice aspect of distance-based learning is the fact that my instructors do not know what I look like. I belong to a racial/ethnic background that has a legacy of being stereotyped as less bright than others. I've dealt with overt and covert bias in classroom settings when instructors have treated me as if I'm a slow learner, talked to me differently and/or expressed shock that "she knows her stuff."

I also dislike other classroom-based interactions, such as dealing with immature classmates who waste time or serve as distractions.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Oct 2, 2014

I LOVE online classes. I was super nervous when I started them this fall, but they are fantastic. No trying to rearrange work schedules, no annoying classmates, I can do homework in my pajamas, I can so my work after my kid goes to sleep, etc. It's tough to stay motivated sometimes, but I'm almost halfway through my semester already and happy with things so far.

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Oct 2, 2014

I love online classes as well. The program I'm in is blended so everything is pretty much online except for labs and tests. I perform so much better with online classes versus in class.

gearedup · Oct 3, 2014

They each have their place. I have done my prereqs online, I can work at my own pace, and don't have to deal with distractions from silly students. I can't imagine taking my nursing program online though. It does me some good to use all my senses. If the over-sharers would just hush it would be great :sleep:

Amireally? · Oct 5, 2014

Come on already with that overt and covert bias stuff....if your looking for something you are going to find it

hahcna · Oct 5, 2014

Come on already with that overt and covert bias stuff....if your looking for something you are going to find it

I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean. Would you please clarify your answer?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2014

I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean. Would you please clarify your answer?

This particular member is responding to something that had been mentioned in my previous post. I mentioned that I preferred online classes since they minimize negative bias, and poster responded in that manner.

I do agree that one will find something if (s)he looks hard enough. However, I am far from a passive victim who looks for things that are not there. Therefore, I'd greatly appreciate it if people wouldn't attempt to invalidate my experiences.

Better yet, if my post rubs one the wrong way, it is best to not respond. Thank you. :)

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2014

I prefer a mixture. For the difficult classes (Pharm and Pathophys), I prefer in class as I'm able to actually ask the professor questions on the spot. For management and informatics, I can do online.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2014

I've done both online, classroom and hybrid. All of my LPN and LPN to RN nursing classes were in the classroom and in clinicals.

All of my RN to BSN classes are online with the exception of two classes where we have to do a certain amount of hours shadowing a BSN in a particular area of nursing.

My BSN non-nursing classes are all on line and quite honestly, most people think ohh easy A. How can you fail an online class. I've found that the BSN have been more challenging and far less easy than one might think. The tests are difficult and the papers are crazy!

The only hybrid I've done is Micro and we did 'lecture', tests, papers etc online and the labs were at school. The other sciences A&P I and II, chemistry were all in school.

I much prefer the online learning. As the others said, I chose when to do things (of course while still meeting the due dates), I learn at my own pace and can move ahead to the next sections. As well, and THE biggest pro of online, no annoying, immature classmates who talk through the entire lecture, laugh/joke, come in late and make a big production out of entering the class etc. There are times that I am truly stuck on something (statistics for example) where I think it might be easier for me to grasp if I were in class with the teacher available at the moment something doesnt click.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Oct 5, 2014

For me- it depends on the class. When I was considering returning to school for my BSN (a mere 30 years after completing my AAS) I knew I would need a math course. I took that sitting in a seat at my local community college where I could get immediate feedback from the instructor and NOT get hopelessly lost. (Turns out- all that higher math I took in high school in the early 70s paid off- I smoked the kids 1/3 my age. It was priceless!)

But when I got to the actual nursing coursework- online was a godsend. And, despite being raised without technology, I managed to figure out the online learning environment pretty quickly.

RunBabyRN · Oct 5, 2014

Our program did sort of a hybrid. I wish some of the classes had been online, as we had one or two instructors who basically just read off of the PowerPoints and wasted the rest of the time talking about their personal lives, rather than about course material (thankfully they wrote good study guides, so we still did well in the course). In general, I really prefer classroom-based courses, because I like to be able to ask questions on the stop and hear the questions others have, as they often spark other questions or ideas I wouldn't have thought of. You can get a certain amount of this online in discussion, but I think there's less natural flow, in my experience. I think both styles have their place. It's a matter of how you learn and absorb the material. I'm self-motivated and able to complete online stuff okay, but I feel like I generally do better in a classroom.