Anybody ever take an online course? I'm thinking about taking Biology online over the summer (along with two other classes), but am unsure of if it's worth it or not.
Online Courses
- Thread starter SplitIdentity
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I took Bio 101 online in the fall. More difficult than I thought it was going to be. I tended to drift off while listening to the online lectures and always ended up putting them off to the last minute so I would have 7 or 8 lectures to watch in a row before the tests. If I did it again, I probably wouldn't do it online (actually I'd pick a different BS elective).
The only online course I took was the equivalent to Econ 102. I took it through NICC (was actually through Kirkwood's website). Needless to say it was an easy class. As Sousaclone mentioned it is hard to pay attention to lectures or reading for a class that is online, especially over the summer.
I took that basic Comp Sci course online a few semesters ago. To be honest, I didn't watch the online lectures - I read the textbook, and that was enough. The class was ridiculously easy, though, so that's an important note.
103? I took 103 online last semester (I think online is the only choice) and it was an absolute joke. Didn't open the book and only looked at the slide notes in lecture to get the answers to the homework. Biggest joke class I've taken so far at ISU.
Yeah, that was it. I shouldn't have even bothered to read the book (except I'm a goody-goody about that stuff). What I loved was that it went over accessing the internet and what a mouse was... but I was taking the course online. :no: It was ridiculous.
Take Bio 173(environmental biology) online with John Pleasants. I am lazy and it still was an easy A. There is about 2.5 hours of lectures every two weeks before the tests.
I'm doing my whole M.S. program online right now. I'm 18 credits into it and have really liked it. It's flexible and requires less time but I think I'm actually getting more out of it since it requires me to incorporate what I learn into my teaching and write reflections on it. I'm thinking not all online courses are the same though so it's kind of hit or miss, especially at ISU (I took 2 online courses and they were very different!).
I am getting a graduate degree completely online, and am taking 3 classes right now. For me, it has been a LOT of work. People tell me that online classes are generally more work, and now that I have almost completed some, I would agree.
The flexibility is great, but I have had a ton of reading, projects, and papers. Procrastination simply isn't an option, and I am a notorious procrastinator.
The flexibility is great, but I have had a ton of reading, projects, and papers. Procrastination simply isn't an option, and I am a notorious procrastinator.
ComSci 103 Online, is the easiest class I have ever taken, easier than 6th grade science, easier than high school foods class, easier than middle school P.E. It's a guranteed A and it's worth 4 credits so it's a good GPA booster.
A couple years ago my roommate I both took 155. He took it online while I was in the normal lecture section. It may have just been how it was that semester, but my class sucked. Prof was horrible and I didn't learn anything. My roommate however just had online quizzes he had to take. I also had these quizzes so it seemed to me going to lecture was pointless but attendance was taken via clickers. Looking back, I wish I would have taken it online for sure
I teach at both the Juco(ground) and Master's Level(online) and I will tell you teaching the online version of material is much more work. I have seen the 'easy' word used in this thread and I think that is highly subjective.
Specifically, online learning requires disipline...and a lot of writing. I have found that getting my master's in both ground and online forums the online version to be much more labor intensive, and I had very little room to "hide".
Best of luck in your decision.
j
I would try it and see how it goes. Taking 3 of them may be a little too much to chew unless you won't be doing anything else (no work, etc.)