Online courses

Has anyone taken any of these "distance learning" courses?

I recently signed up for an online college course I had to take for my career. I am quite the "education snob" and thought it would be like "slumming". I am actually delighted by my experience so far.

This is a graduate course in, of all things, psychopharmacology at a school called Capella Univerfsity. Even though the material is quite technical, the course is conducted by each student answering two brief essays each week and then requiring us to respond to at least two essays of other students. We also have to write a term paper and we use fairly standard textbooks.

I find myself going online a few times a day (like Roadfood?) to respond to new posts and to look at responses to my posts. I find I am thinking of the ideas all the time this way and it is quite interactive, even for technical material.

Now, we do need a Roadfood University. What will be your major? What will be our school colors? Song? Mascot? And, wow, great dishes in the cafeteria!!!

Online universities are increasing every day. It would not surprise me if they begin to dominate within the next 25 years. As real estate becomes more expensive and state run universities require more capital, the idea of a online degree becomes more intriging and cheaper.

Online can never replace lab experience or other similar needs but for courses that do not require hands on, this is the way to go. Major universities have begun to offer this alternate.

Paul E. Smith
knoxville, TN

I took online college courses for 3 years and really enjoyed them. Each course was run a little different, one instructor "booked" a certain time slot that we could all log in to and do a live chat, another issued a CD of himself doing a traditional lecture along with visuals. It's pretty cool how you can actually form bonds with other students by working in teams on projects but I also liked working alone at my own pace and time. When I went to tradional college 40 years ago, I rarely ever spoke or interacted in class, I found that online I was much more verbal and willing to participate.

I "went" online to the University of Illinois at Springfield for what it's worth but also took online classes through Southern Illinois University. A friend on mine got her PhD through Capella University, it's a good school!

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7


Online can never replace lab experience or other similar needs but for courses that do not require hands on, this is the way to go. Major universities have begun to offer this alternate.

Paul E. Smith
knoxville, TN

Actually one of my classes was in Biology and we did have "lab" that we could do in our homes our community.

quote:

Originally posted by kland01s

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7


Online can never replace lab experience or other similar needs but for courses that do not require hands on, this is the way to go. Major universities have begun to offer this alternate.

Paul E. Smith
knoxville, TN

Actually one of my classes was in Biology and we did have "lab" that we could do in our homes our community.

Who knows??

Perhaps online will replace brick and mortar universities at some point and time.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7


Who knows??
Perhaps online will replace brick and mortar universities at some point and time.

I think American breweries would not like to think about that.

I taught Macro and Micro Economics for a Community College in SoCal using the Online Technology 10 years ago. We had three mandatory meetings on Campus during the semester, and the rest of the 16 week term was conducted in weekly 'chapters' on the college web-site. After the opening meeting, the other two were for the Mid-term and the Final..I understand that those sessions are no longer required as the individual programs have replaced the 'group test'. I had about 40 students in my sections so my reading time was quite a load (2 sections a term) as I was working full-time in the local School district also.

Someday we ought to start a "Futurism" Forum here to allow us to describe our "Vision" of various facets of life in the future. I say this in response to Sundancer's comment about using on-line services for education instead of the brick building concept we use now. Think of the changes in the concern for Public Safety, The Tax Benefits (if we didn't have to support those building and staffing costs), and the thoughts about the values our children are picking up outside the home. It would put the responsibility for the progress of our kids right back on the heads of the parents. HHMMMMMM That's something to think about !

In light of the events occurring today at Virginia Tech, the cost of maintaining brick and mortar class, the cost of todays high paid university presidents which are approaching professional sports and the drain on state budgets, I believe that the idea of online education is fast approaching reality.

The classic idea of going to class, dressing appropiately and the idea of people getting together and learning together will never be replaced by online but technology is improving and life is changing. Just think about how technology has changed during the last few years.

I use to have to use my computer to get email. I no longer have to do that. My Blackberry allows me to get my email anywhere, anytime, and anyhour.

Live TV from any class room is available almost everywhere now. HDTV allows spectacular views and my guess will allow lab test to be available.

Brick and mortar will have much less value due to todays events plus the availability of modern online educations.

I believe this is imminent.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I don't see the American university system going anywhere. In fact, enrollment is at an all time high.

The graduate course I am taking at New Mexico State University scarcely requires attendance, because my professor transfers his lecture to an MP3 file, all assignments are handed in online. The computer lab is necessary for some students who do not have the software on their PCs at home, or lack the processor capable to warehouse it. Other than that, the only time someone needs be present is to do an in-class presentation. Since all these presentations are URLs and/or Powerpoint, they are highly transferrable. The entire file structure, all submittals of these presentations are also available on a remote access server where students are free to log in 24/7.

I think Sundancer is right.

Scorereader, It isn't a matter of closing the universities, it is a matter of how to "sell" the product (education) using a technology that delivers the product without much of the overhead that the current system requires. The H S I worked at had 150 teachers and a ton of support staff and cops and bunches of other folks on the payroll. Restructure that around an internet delivery system using a master teacher and enough enabled software to score the entered data by the students and you can cut payroll costs by 75% or more. Put that in a College environment and you can lower the price and increase enrollment because the student isn't faced with the high cost of the "credit hour", AND the transportation and books and all the other 'stuff' that makes college costs so high these days. This doen't replace the 'group activities' like the arts, but it does put the responsibility for success or failure back on the individual student. I think we will see a lot of this integrated into the current system within our life-time.

Linked to this is the need for the student to have adequate supervision thru this educational experience. In the past that was the role of the parent. In today's world, many like to push that responsibility onto the "Village". Well controlling ones family should (in my book) be kept within the family..for the teaching of day to day life and customs and values. This system would encourage that family link.
Problem..You bet. But the overall savings in the economy plus the improvement in the quality of learning would make working out the details worthwhile...IMHO

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen


Scorereader, It isn't a matter of closing the universities, it is a matter of how to "sell" the product (education) using a technology that delivers the product without much of the overhead that the current system requires. The H S I worked at had 150 teachers and a ton of support staff and cops and bunches of other folks on the payroll. Restructure that around an internet delivery system using a master teacher and enough enabled software to score the entered data by the students and you can cut payroll costs by 75% or more. Put that in a College environment and you can lower the price and increase enrollment because the student isn't faced with the high cost of the "credit hour", AND the transportation and books and all the other 'stuff' that makes college costs so high these days. This doen't replace the 'group activities' like the arts, but it does put the responsibility for success or failure back on the individual student. I think we will see a lot of this integrated into the current system within our life-time.

Linked to this is the need for the student to have adequate supervision thru this educational experience. In the past that was the role of the parent. In today's world, many like to push that responsibility onto the "Village". Well controlling ones family should (in my book) be kept within the family..for the teaching of day to day life and customs and values. This system would encourage that family link.
Problem..You bet. But the overall savings in the economy plus the improvement in the quality of learning would make working out the details worthwhile...IMHO

what you end up with, is a different standard of college degrees. The ones who went to college and learned under the tutelege of a Professor, and one who took courses on-line.

I"m not bashing on-line degrees. I may get a PhD in Education from Walden. Why not, no fixed class schedule and a degree to add to my resume, which is only lacking in the number of letters next to my name. A higher degree is essential for jobs where a higher degree wan't a minimmum requirement before. So, the online stuff is great for that. But IMHO, the undergraduate college experience is still essential. Albeit, the undergraduate programs and classroom structure are changing, but the on campus experience, the mentorship and tutelege provided through an on campus setting is essential. You can't get letters of recommendation from a professor you never met.
Will those letters also become extinct? I, for one, hope not. If a degree becomes simply a self-study program through a relatively impersonal method of operation, the degree itself could become less reputable. Which in turn, would make on-campus education all the more elite and could lead to an even wider spread of wealthy vs. non-wealthy.

There's no question that online learning is increasing (University of Phoenix, online campus has the largest enrollment of any degree granting institution in the county with over double enrollment over the #2 school, which is Ohio State) but I son't see the American university system suffering from it, since more and more co-eds find their way on campus every year.

I would like A+ certification in computer repair (as a side-line $ flow), but those courses available online in my state say I have to take it as "part" of a degree oriented series of courses. I find that absurd.

My son-in-law, who is a Chase vice president, is close to getting his doctorate from The University of Phoenix. He's been at it for nearly three years, and is also an adjunct professor of business, which helps pay the costs. In addition to the on-line work he has to be there a couple of times a year for a week at a time.

I have taken them, taught them, as well as taught some "live" courses utilizing television to several distance learning centers. And while I agree that they can be a component and/or supplement to the college or university education for many of the reasons outlined by others. However, I found that it lacked much of the social and personnel interaction,learning experiences,life lessons, etc. of the tradional bricks and mortar educational experience. PLUS:

While I can have a beer while working at my computer, I don't think that it is as much fun and/or possibly as educational as having a couple of pitchers of beer and some pizza while talking with my fellow students in a local pub.

While I can pick up my computer, I can say for certain it is not as much fun as picking up a co-ed.
Nor would I learn how do deal with the rejection that comes when a co-ed rebuffs my feeble attempts at being witty and charming.

While I can could do a chinese fire drill with my computer, I don't think it would be as much of a thrill as doing the drill with a bunch of friends.

While I can "moon" my computer, somehow it doesn't evoke the same juvenile silliness of "mooning" real live people.

While I can "converse" with an instructor through e-mail and instant messaging, the verbal and non-verbal learning of having a real conversation isn't there. Plus my computer can't really put much feeling into telling me that I am full of **** as some of my instructors have.

And while the University of Phoenix may have twice the enrollment as OSU, does the University of Phoenix have nationally ranked football, mens and womens basketball, hockey and/or baseball teams. etc. And the excitement that goes with that part of the college experience.

And while I could save money by being schooled in the confines of my home, while I would be safe in the confines of my own home, in front of my computer, where would I get my life lessons, where do I get to spread my wings bit, where am I going to be held accountable for my actions, where would I interact with people I am different from? How would I learn to wake up when the alrm goes off, and nobody cares whether I get and go to class or not. Where would I learn to make ramen noodles, canned tuna, and some eggs look like a gourmet meal, or at least edible, especially if I had some potato chips to crumble on top of that mess.

I went to fouryear unversity for my undergraduate degrees and learned more about life and people, and social situations, and how to learn, and what to learn, and whatever else I picked up. The experiences benefited me more then the actual academics. Although I did learn the appropriate buzz words, and the mumbo jumbo that one needed to get hired, and was more conversant in the arts, literature, public policy, politics, history, etc., those things that helps in in social situations. And this was after spending several years in the military right after high school.


Online education has its place, and will continue to grow in useage, but I hope it doesn't replace the face to face learning process of bricks and mortar. Plus I'd still rather cuddle up with a co-ed, wrapped in a blanket, having a beer and watching a football game in a stadium full of people, the sitting in front of this damn screen. Call me crazy.

quote:

Originally posted by CCJPOAnd this was after spending several years in the military right after high school.

I tried that route, and ended up with a mountain of debt when His Gipperness, Ronald Reagan, pulled my GI bill out from under me while I was a freshman at Milwaukee School of Engineering. Life lesson: Be a Libertarian. They believe in government of the people, by the people, and for the people, even if it means Adam and Steve get married. I defy anyone to tell me how that impacts my relationship with my wife, who, for the record, is a member of the opposite sex, and married me in a church in a ceremony was performed by our pastor. Okay, the pastor was female, but otherwise, it was a straight up traditional wedding ceremony, just like the bride and myself.

Online courses? That's not a bad idea in my major, graphic arts. I'll sit in front of a Mac for a living, so

• I might as well get used to it in school,
• It's a good test of my willingness to do so for eight to twelve hours a day and do something productive,
• Let's be honest, if it will save me a few bucks, I'm okay with that.

quote:

Originally posted by CCJPOAnd this was after spending several years in the military right after high school.

I tried that route, and ended up with a mountain of debt when His Gipperness, Ronald Reagan, pulled my GI bill out from under me while I was a freshman at Milwaukee School of Engineering. Life lesson: Be a Libertarian. They believe in government of the people, by the people, and for the people, even if it means Adam and Steve get married. I defy anyone to tell me how that impacts my relationship with my wife, who, for the record, is a member of the opposite sex, and married me in a church in a ceremony was performed by our pastor. Okay, the pastor was female, but otherwise, it was a straight up traditional wedding ceremony, just like the bride and myself.

Online courses? That's not a bad idea in my major, graphic arts. I'll sit in front of a Mac for a living, so

• I might as well get used to it in school,
• It's a good test of my willingness to do so for eight to twelve hours a day and do something productive,
• Let's be honest, if it will save me a few bucks, I'm okay with that.

I don't know about school mascots or colors, but I bet you can find a good song (where else?) right here on Roadfood.com http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1145&whichpage=9&SearchTerms=food+songs

Call me Luddite. I've taken both classroom and online courses, and much prefer the classroom. Maybe it's the real-time sharing and exchange and mutual learning, and the opportunity for interative face-to-face with the professor, including challenging him or her as appropriate, or necessary. Maybe it's because showing up and interacting in a class requires less discipline and less work than interacting and contributing in a classroom way online -- talk is easier?

No question, though, that online classes work better for many, on a number of different levels, including personal, professional, geographical, family and so on. And that online courses and the expanding extension of education is a good and very desirable thing.

No doubt that the classroom/campus experience is the best but time and money changes everything. I am not sure that online will overtake the brick and mortar experience but it will continue to grow. I am not sure that moms and dads can continue to afford the traditional campus experience for their children.

I am not sure what the annual average cost for students are now but I know my duaghter has already began to save for their two boys. They are 4 and 6 now.

Who knows what the college experience will be by the time they reach 18?

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

The issue will be whether the professional world will accept an on-line earned degree to the extent of a degree from a traditional college or university is accepted.
Sometimes, when things become too accessible, the value of that thing is deminished. So the value of a college degree, or at least a college degree from an online program, will decrease as more and more online degrees are awarded.

There's no stopping enterprise, so on-line universities will increase. Also, I suspect that certain course work at traditional colleges could be taken online through the same university. But core subject in your major area should really be done in a more traditional setting.

Originally posted by Sundancer7

No doubt that the classroom/campus experience is the best but time and money changes everything. I am not sure that online will overtake the brick and mortar experience but it will continue to grow. I am not sure that moms and dads can continue to afford the traditional campus experience for their children.




I'm not sure that online is that big a bargain. I paid $1705.00 for my one course.

Also it seems there is such a variety of unline models. Many just seem like reading notes and then somehow taking a test. Others are this sync session when everyone goes online at the same time, My expereince is that you go on anytime you want, but there is new material everyweek and you have to respond to others' posts so it's sort of interactive.

Is it "education"? "Training?" etc.

I think that a person could adapt quite well to an on-line course. From what I have seen through public university offerings there is a screening tool that helps one filter in or out if they are prospective candidates for the program. On the other hand, in an on-line series of courses leading to a degree program: I am a bit wary of, although I know of people who have had success in this area. My next step educationally wise would be a Ph.D. I cannot see how clinicals and/or disertations could be submitted completely "on-line" without one-on-one consultation with one's advisors.