Online college = no joke - Page 4

MAILMAN · 09-09-2007, 11:41 AM

Yeah I've taken a few online classes...........they can be really frikkin hard/ alot of work.................I feel they work well for some and bad for others.

SleepyBoy · 09-09-2007, 12:04 PM

by the way, how much does 15 credits cost a semester?
Because i have been thinking of getting my masters eventually.

heavyduty · 09-09-2007, 12:16 PM

There is no point in cheating during online schools. You would have to be a moron! What are you going to do with a degree that you cheated to get? What are you going to do when your employer hires you then you have no clue how to do your job?

Online schools seem pretty tempting, they are cheaper too. Theres another online school called Penn Foster that is reputable. I just don't see how you could learn a trade skill through one of these online schools. Like carpentry for instance. Theres motorcycle mechanic ceritificates too. For the electrician certification they actually mail you a circuit breaker box to study with.

Roosterman · 09-09-2007, 01:12 PM

Online classes are great for core curriculum if the school you want a degree from will take them.
I mean your first couple of years of college are generally taught by ***got grad students anyway.

sua9931 · 09-09-2007, 01:55 PM

I can't believe you referenced UoP which actually one of the worst ones out there. Their fees are rediculous, their advisors are morons, and their instructors credentials are hardly ever verified.

If attending class is out of the question, online programs from brick&mortar universities is the way to go...esp state universities in which you reside....it'll be a HELLUVA LOT cheaper.

**Lubaolong** · 09-09-2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sua9931

I can't believe you referenced UoP which actually one of the worst ones out there. Their fees are rediculous, their advisors are morons, and their instructors credentials are hardly ever verified.

If attending class is out of the question, online programs from brick&mortar universities is the way to go...esp state universities in which you reside....it'll be a HELLUVA LOT cheaper.

I agree. I think online classes can be just as good as those at a brick and mortar university, but degrees from online universities like UOP and others are looked down upon by most employers. And UOP is crazy expensive and has a questionable track record. While you can't complete all requirements for a degree online from a brick and mortar university most of the time, it's probably the safer path to take.

AZ BJJ · 09-09-2007, 07:46 PM

Online-only degrees are useful, but only for specific types of degree programs and certain types of learners. Brick-and-mortar institutions aren't going away anytime soon. Especially when we are talking about the majority of graduate-level instruction. If you are just looking to get a master's degree for job qualification purposes, then you may be able to go the online route (e.g. MBA through University of Phoenix).

The real value in distance learning (including online, web-based) is for those who have jobs that preclude in-classroom instruction and for those who are geographically isolated from traditional campus setting. It is also useful as a supplement for traditional courses. In other words, online discussions, quizzes, etcetera.

Lastly, an important distinction must be made between undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Graduate students must be "self-starters" regardless of where they are studying. You don't take in-class BS quizzes, and nobody is going to just push you through. You have to be dedicated, disciplined, and self-motivated. Much of graduate instruction is a sort of self-learning. You will be expected to do insane amounts of reading and research on your own, and you will have much more interaction (or at least you should) with professors. I don't know how this interaction would translate into the online environment.

Online education has its merits, but it is still questionable whether it will become the medium of the future. I certainly think it will grow, but exactly how much is debatable. It also isn't right for everyone. For now however, the best instruction is still found in the classrooms on the best university campuses. However, not everyone wants or needs this level of instruction. Bottom line is that you have to look at your goals, do some serious research on available online programs, and decide if they will meet your nees. If so, more power to you.

3times1minus1 · 09-09-2007, 11:49 PM

i'm taking an online class this semester

Lord of Lies · 09-10-2007, 12:19 AM

I took 6 online classes through Stanford University, I thought they were really good. As someone said, UOP is a bad example, as they are overpriced (for the education).

5 Colors · 09-10-2007, 05:10 AM

I wouldn't have the discipline to do an online course. I barely had the discipline to do a normal course.

I don't think distance learning would ever be embraced for the sciences. Other fields, maybe. Unfortunately, for most people the main question with a degree program is "How does this help me get a job?" and in most cases the online program isn't as good as a traditional school setting for that sort of thing. Networking, for example.