So you’re considering taking an online college course?
(Part I of a multi-part series) The era of on-line classroom education is upon us. Taking an on-line class means you’ll be communicating electronically over the world-wide-web from your computer with your instructors and their computers. There are literally hundreds of accredited colleges and universities offering you an education that is 100% on-line. A quick scan of your current or intended institution of higher learning will most likely reveal a variety of courses and maybe even entire programs that are offered partially or fully on-line.
Although colleges and universities have not abandoned the traditional classroom setting where students meet their teachers in a physical classroom on a regularly scheduled basis, on-line educational opportunities have woven their way into the fabric of our educational offerings. Today, with the proper preparation and tools, you have the capability to succeed in the cyber classroom.
On-line classes are offered in both “hybrid” and “on-line” formats.
A hybrid class is one that meets sometimes in a traditional classroom setting but also sets aside a number of classes dedicated to on-line activities. If you’re thinking of enrolling for a hybrid class, be prepared to meet in class with your teacher perhaps 20% – 50% of the time, while the remaining time will be devoted to activities like working through on-line lectures and videos, completing assignments on-line and then submitting the results of those assignments to your teacher electronically.
Whereas hybrid classes are only partially offered on-line, a class designated as “on-line” will most likely be 100% on-line – meaning you may never actually meet your teacher in the flesh. Instead, all lecture notes, coursework, assignments, exams, etc., will take place between your computer and theirs.
Although you don’t need to be a full-fledged computer techie to succeed as a student taking on-line courses, it would help if you were literate in the ways of the information age. If you are considering enrolling in a hybrid or on-line course, you should be successful if you:
- have a working computer with preferably high speed Internet access (like a cable or satellite modem);
- can create and save files and folders to your computer’s hard-drive; and, manage and organize those files and folders;
- are comfortable instant-messaging, receiving e-mail, sending e-mail with attachments, and surfing the web.
Some courses may require the purchase of additional software packages specifically designed to support a particular class. If you’ve ever downloaded software from the web, or if you’ve ever installed software on your computer from an installation CD, then you should be just fine. In addition to an adequate home computer setup and some requisite computer skills, one also needs to be self-disciplined, motivated, able to work solo, and prepared to do the work.
The University of Washington became the first college in the U.S. to shift to online classes over coronavirus concerns, canceling in-person classes and having students work remotely for the remainder of its winter quarter, which ends March 20 https://t.co/zCHvpQnGon
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 6, 2020
You won’t be in class every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with your teacher giving you regular and routine instruction. The responsibility for completing the various on-line tasks and activities is totally up to you.
Taking college courses on-line is a reality. With the proper tools and dedication, you can succeed in the on-line world of academia.
By: Richard Webster
