Online vs In Class

[The Kizzy]

My school offers lots of classes online for my degree. Can anyone tell me advantqages vs. disadvatages please? Thanks.

[araby]

online-you don't have to go

in class- you have to show up

all the reason you need

[horendus]

Distance (Online) learning is good for people that can keep themselves on track. It is easy to fall behind in those classes as there is little structure or routine. However, if you think that you can keep yourself on target, then distance learning is great. You can end up getting it done faster that way.

[Gaazy]

little harder to ask professors for help id say if you cant go to class

[Narrock]

There's actually a lot of structure and routine to the online format. I've been matriculated at an online college since last September. There is absolutely nothing negative about it. It was designed for people who work full time. Which would you rather do? Work a full day and then have to battle rush hour traffic to get to campus and then have to deal with trying to find a parking space, and then sit through a boring lecture? OR, work your full day at work, go home, log on to your "virtual classroom," and work on your assignments for the week at your own pace? It was a pretty easy choice for me.

[Insanityfair]

Online is a good option because no, then you don't have to go to school, but there is the keeping yourself on track. There are also some people I've seen that don't learn as well if they don't have the lectures/explanations etc. in class. I know that one of the schools I've gone to had an online test to see if distance is right for you. I don't know how accurate it is though.

[Gidan]

Online classes are great but they will never be as good as actually being in a classroom. You can not match having a prof there in the classroom where you can ask a question or have somone described for you there and then. You can do it face to face and not in some chat room. Class in person will always be the best way to learn.

If you are very good at structuring yourself, learning on your own then online courses can work for you.

[Narrock]

Online classes are great but they will never be as good as actually being in a classroom. You can not match having a prof there in the classroom where you can ask a question or have somone described for you there and then. You can do it face to face and not in some chat room. Class in person will always be the best way to learn.

If you are very good at structuring yourself, learning on your own then online courses can work for you.

That is incorrect sir. My instructors all have personal emails and office phone numbers so that you can either email them with a question or call them in their office during normal business hours. They have to provide this service as part of their employment contract. You don't need to be face-to-face to ask questions.

[Gaazy]

it sure is easier tho, specially like a math class or a class with formulas, like statistics or some kinds of econ

[brinstar]

what if some other student asks a question you hadn't thought of and the prof explains it and you learn extra

does that happen online

[Martrae]

My MIL does online school. Each class she takes is part of a group and all emails to the group are sent to everyone, so they have discussions that way. Also, as Mindia said, she has lots of personal emails back and forth with the professor as well. Much more personalized IMO.

Biggest drawback would be distractions at home. Going to class you don't have to deal with kids and phones and roommates, you could concentrate better. Doing the online thing is not dealing with parking, rushing across campus, and such nonsense.

[Diabolik]

One thing I will say about online learning is that you don't have That Guy in class that raises his hand 50 times in as many minutes with "insightful questions and commentary" and "witty anecdotes," or thinks the classroom is actually a "debate with the professor" session that makes you want to take him outside and shoot him.

You've all had That Guy in class. Imagine being able to put him on ignore. :D

[Narrock]

We have an online virtual "blackboard." It's really cool. It has a message/discussion board where the students can help each other out as well as get feedback from the instructor if they don't feel like emailing him/her. Part of the weekly assignments are: the instructor gives a topic for you to discuss on the blackboard based on the reading assignment for the week. (You can buy your text books anywhere you want. They give you the ISBN. I usually get mine on ebay for about 40% less than the campus online bookstore.) You are graded on depth, grammar, structure, etc. to see if you're "getting it." Then you are to respond critically to two of your classmates posts. You get graded on the depth of your critique and analysis of your classmates' posts too. Then you have your weekly essays (usually just a 3 page essay). Everything is cross-checked against an online plagiarism checker. Then you have a final, and also a final comprehensive essay (about 6 pages + appendix). Also, you have to have your final exams proctored by either a librarian, a clergyperson, or your supervisor at work. This is also strictly enforced.

The hardest part for me about this impacted program is getting the reading done every night so I don't fall behind. Remember, they are taking a normal 5 month semester and cramming it into 5 weeks, so you have to keep up on the reading or you're screwed. Or you can take the 2 year program and have a more relaxed homework atmosphere. I'm just kind of a spaz and I'm pretty intense and I want to get it done as fast as I can. I started last September with 10 classes needed, and now I have 3 classes left. To hell with that 2 year crap.

If you want more info, talk to an enrollment counselor. They will send you some info for free:

http://www.bridgepointeducation.com/undergrad/index.php

They go through Charter Oak State College for Bachelor's Degrees and Ashford University for Master's Degrees.

[Drem]

yeah i've had some classes through university of oregon blackboard, but 80% of my classes have been in the classroom and i don't think they really compare. the atmosphere, the real-time discussions, social interaction. but i get fed up with computers after too long on them at once, so i don't think i could do online courses only. i'd go crazy and i wouldn't have met countless friends that i've met through classes so far

[The Kizzy]

thanks for th advice, I appreciate it

[Martrae]

Which school is it, Kiz?

[Yamori]

You're probably going to learn a little bit more in a regular classroom, but if you're working full time or if you are a misanthrope like me online classes would probably be nice.

[Insanityfair]

One thing I will say about online learning is that you don't have That Guy in class that raises his hand 50 times in as many minutes with "insightful questions and commentary" and "witty anecdotes," or thinks the classroom is actually a "debate with the professor" session that makes you want to take him outside and shoot him.

You've all had That Guy in class. Imagine being able to put him on ignore. :D

That is so true!

[xaoshaen]

A classroom environment is definitely better for maximizing your total learning. An online environment is definitely more flexible. Both of these qualifications scale with the quality of the schools you are considering. A random state school may offer little to no improvement over a good online school's environment. Which is more important to you?

[KaiineTN]

I've completed Electronic Commerce and Corporate Finance online.. and I just dropped my online Math course I was taking this summer, because it was harder than I anticipated and there really isn't anyone to go to for help (I don't have the patience for long email chitchat).

Online classes can be easier and less stressful, but it really depends on the subject. If you think the class is fairly easy, I'd go for it, but if you'll need some help understanding concepts or completing assignments, you'd be better off in a classroom.

[labbats]

I agree with Kaiine above.

I'd also like to add that I was never a very structured person prior to college, so going to class was a way for me to meet new people and stay on track. Half of college is honing your social skills, something that online degrees don't address.

People are fun, go and meet some.

[10sun]

This thread reminded me that I have to get the ball rolling to get back into school this fall.

-Adam

[Narrock]

I actually thought my brick-and-mortar campus was easier in some respects. I prefer the online format overall when taking everything into consideration.

[Themosticles]

Check for colleges that offer both sycronis and a-syncronis online learning. The idea being that some schools, like Mindia stated, have virtual blackboards that are similar to this forum in most respects.

Your teacher posts and the class responds. The advantage is people can respond immediately but the obvious disadvantages include people missing responses while they type their questions...you see that happen on this board a lot.

Some colleges will offer online classes that are in real time. Meaning the teacher siting in his office will have a virtural blackboard that relays to all students, logged in, exactly what he's writing or typing. As in, he types it, you see it. He writes it, etc...sometimes they will include audio (one way) and that can be a real benefit.

Other options, as people have mentioned needing face time with classmates and profs, is Hybrid or Blended options. Many CC's and Career colleges offer these formats. I'll try to explain them both as best I can.

Hybrid, a good place to research this option is University of Phoenix (They call it Flex-Net), is a system where students show up for the first week of class at the school. Then for the next 5 weeks they log onto a virtual classroom and do everything online. The last week is back in the classroom. 7 weeks total and a mix of online/onground eduction. Best for those who can structure themselves but still want "some" traditional interaction.

Blended is a different mix of online and onground learning. The idea is you will spend 1 or 2 days a week in a classroom but the rest of the learning time is done online. Seems similar to hybrid but it differs because you are in a classroom each week and doing online learning each week. This is a good way to get your feet wet with online learning b/c if you don't like it you still get plenty of face time during a given week, until that class or term is over.

Hope that helps.

[Gidan]

Online classes are great but they will never be as good as actually being in a classroom. You can not match having a prof there in the classroom where you can ask a question or have somone described for you there and then. You can do it face to face and not in some chat room. Class in person will always be the best way to learn.

If you are very good at structuring yourself, learning on your own then online courses can work for you.

That is incorrect sir. My instructors all have personal emails and office phone numbers so that you can either email them with a question or call them in their office during normal business hours. They have to provide this service as part of their employment contract. You don't need to be face-to-face to ask questions.

Over the phone or through email just are not enough some times. Try doing complex math over the phone or through email sometime. There are just some things that are far beter done in person with an instructor face to face. Now if you are allowed to make appointments to actually go see your instructor in person, then your all set.