My sophomore year of college I was editor-in-chief of my community college newspaper. With all of our meetings and daytime production, I didn”t have time to go to class.
To obtain the credits I needed and get ahead for when I transferred to the University of Idaho, I turned to online classes.
I actually started taking online classes my freshman year, but by the end of my sophomore year, my schedule was made up of about half online and half traditional courses.
Katelyn Hilsenbeck
Argonaut
Taking online classes requires a different type of dedication. Often syllabi are received on the first day and little to no reminders for assignments are sent after. In order to be successful, writing down deadlines and working ahead of time is a must.
Online classes come in a wide variety of shapes and forms. A common format is busy work quizzes and discussion posts. Most students can probably agree that commenting on multiple classmates” posts provides little benefit to the learning experience.
However, with proper formatting, online classes can be worthwhile. I took a series of literature classes online at my previous school where I felt I digested the material well. It consisted of a discussion post and an essay each week.
At UI, I”ve completed two online courses. Each consisted of some busy work to make sure the material was read, but they also contained more substance. One course consisted of two large projects throughout the term to supplement weekly quizzes. Another consisted of watching and then analyzing movies and TV shows in essay format, which was directly tied to the course”s theme.
When it comes down to it, it”s up to the teacher to decide to make a course worthwhile. Faculty often find 300-word discussion posts and 150-word comments on peers” posts sufficient, along with weekly quizzes. The truth is, these practices are not fulfilling. The same can go for regular courses as well.
The benefit of online classes can depend on how a student learns.
Most of the time, I can read a textbook and understand the material. So, doing an online course cuts down the time I have to sit in class. For auditory learners, digital lectures may be necessary to make online classes realistic.
Online classes can be beneficial to students, including those already on campus. They provide busy students with the chance to take courses with a more flexible schedule or help combat scheduling conflicts.
Although most of my commitments for The Argonaut are in the evening, online classes have helped me take more credits in less time.
Everything is moving digital, and an increasing amount of technology is at our disposal. UI is working to acquire new technology and train faculty on how to use it. Much of this can be used to students” benefit.
It”s up to faculty to create online courses that are actually beneficial to students. When they do, these classes are valuable time savers, and students should take advantage.
Katelyn Hilsenbeck can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Katelyn_mh