Anyone have good luck with Portage Learning?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing Nursing Q/A

I am hoping to be accepted to an accelerated nursing program in either Fall 2016 or January 2017 (the nursing program has three start times per year). I have about six classes of pre-reqs that weren't able to transfer from my prior undergrad work. All but two of them can be taken through Portage learning, according to the adviser at the school who I spoke with.

However, I am apprehensive because as good as it sounds (all online! no books! cheaper than the local community college!) I have never taken an online, or even hybrid, course before. They weren't A Thing when I was in school 10 years ago. I am fairly good at keeping myself on track and can keep deadlines and things, but I'm still nervous.

If you used Portage, were you pleased with the results? How often did you get to speak with an actual instructor and would they be people you could possibly get an academic reference from?

What do you mean by they don't recognize it? Any transcripts you earn through Portage are issued by Geneva College.

Can anyone comment on how long it has taken them to go through a portage course like micro or A & P? I have to get micro done in 5-6 weeks, is this possible?

emmjayy said:
Probably not unless you devote your entire life to micro and stay very focused and on top of things. I took 10-12 weeks on both A&P's, but that was partly because I was also working a full-time job and parenting.

I'm starting Human Lifespan Development for anyone wondering how Portage's non-science courses are. The format looks similar to A&P, etc. in that you have modules and a lot of content-dense reading, but there's a lot of video lectures sprinkled in. Also, you have to write a paper for it! That was a change from the science courses as well, where I never had to write any papers. Still, it's just the one, so it could be worse - and you still don't have to buy any textbooks, so wooo!!!

I also learned that you can get your financial aid to cover Portage courses during nursing school if your school agrees to do a consortium agreement with them.

Quick question through portage is there a payment plan or the course must be paid in full?

Specializes in Critical Care.
jacksonr said:
Quick question through portage is there a payment plan or the course must be paid in full?

I've always paid in full, so I'm not sure - call and ask them about a payment plan. If you are currently in nursing school, your school may be able to execute a consortium agreement with Portage whereby you'll be reimbursed through your financial aid package for the out-of-pocket cost of the course.

Hi!

Quick question - for the reading materials, are they all online? or do they have printable versions so that you can take with you when you're not logged into Portage?

Thanks in advance!

I asked on one other Portage Learning thread because I'm scared--has anyone else had trouble getting the credits to transfer? There was a college that asked for the syllabus of the course and when I provided it, they told me the chemistry class wouldn't be accepted because the labs aren't face to face. I'm not too worried about taking non-lab classes through them like Nutrition, but I wanted to take A & P and microbiology through them, too.

Hi,

Did you take Anatomy and Physiology I or II? I have to complete II and have never taken an online biology class with lab. Do you have any recommendations? How many questions are exams typically and are they mostly multiple choice or short answer? How are the labs? Thanks in advance.

emmjayy said:
I'm using Portage Learning right now for Anatomy & Physiology. The only minor complaint I have is that occasionally things are mis-spelled and I need to double check with Google to make sure I've got the spelling correct. Tests are dead easy as long as you pay attention to the material. I supplement with Quizlet as a way to "interact" with and supplement the material I'm learning. I'm a very self-directed learner and haven't had to contact the professor except for one question so far.... she emailed me back in less than a day with a clear and helpful answer.

I highly doubt you can use the professors as academic recommendation sources, but I have liked it so far and am having no trouble with the program.

Hi,

Did you take Anatomy and Physiology I or II? I have to complete II and have never taken an online biology class with lab. Do you have any recommendations? How many questions are exams typically and are they mostly multiple choice or short answer? How are the labs? Thanks in advance.

Specializes in Critical Care.
marmar90 said:
Hi,

Did you take Anatomy and Physiology I or II? I have to complete II and have never taken an online biology class with lab. Do you have any recommendations? How many questions are exams typically and are they mostly multiple choice or short answer? How are the labs? Thanks in advance.

I took both A&P's. It was fine, as long as you are motivated to learn the material. The exams weren't bad at all, I'm pretty sure all except the final had less than 30 questions. Mostly multiple choice, some labelling and short answers asking you to think critically about the material you learned. Easy-peasy for sure though.

The labs were just videos, usually 20-45 minutes. Take good notes on them, because the lab exams are open book and you can use your notes to help answer the questions. All Portage classes I took were very easy A's.

Thanks so much!

emmjayy said:
I took both A&P's. It was fine, as long as you are motivated to learn the material. The exams weren't bad at all, I'm pretty sure all except the final had less than 30 questions. Mostly multiple choice, some labelling and short answers asking you to think critically about the material you learned. Easy-peasy for sure though.

The labs were just videos, usually 20-45 minutes. Take good notes on them, because the lab exams are open book and you can use your notes to help answer the questions. All Portage classes I took were very easy A's.

Thank so much!

How long did it take you to complete both A&P 1 & 2?

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