Kelsey Mix – Online Editor/Copy Editor
There are so many mixed emotions and reviews when it comes to taking online classes. That’s why I waited until this past summer to test out the waters. I took a psychology class over the summer so I could get my prerequisites about of the way and (maybe) graduate on time. Even though that still doesn’t look promising, taking online classes over the breaks helps speed up your time at Southern; and doesn’t make as big of a hole in your pocket.
There’s something about taking an entire class on the computer, without any face-to-face interaction, that’s a little unsettling, yet seems so easy. There are various misconceptions about online classes, but it also depends on the class, the professor, and the syllabus.
I was slightly unfortunate because my professor over the summer got a computer virus, so the class was uploaded a week late. Now in my opinion, things like this should be taken care of ahead of time, or an alternative route should have been discussed prior. I understand things happen, but having paid $1300 for a prerequisite summer course, I was a little pissed off.
Not only was the class uploaded late, but my professor was extremely disorganized, which made the entire class confused and unsure of which assignments were due when. Most students would take this class as a blessing because of its easiness, but I wasn’t going to pay $1300 to not retain any useful information. So needless to say, I tried to make the best out of a bad situation. I ended up getting a B in the course, which I wasn’t exactly happy with, but it’s better than failing.
Although they aren’t cheap, taking an online class over the summer, winter or spring break will save you gas money and having to physically go to class. Having class in your bed, in your pajamas isn’t such a bad thing!
This semester, I’m taking an online and a hybrid class while taking three in-class courses; both of which aren’t as bad as I thought they were going to be. Almost everyone has to take the dreaded school health class per the tier system, so I decided to take it online rather than trekking to a classroom, only to fight the urge to fall asleep at 8:30 in the morning.
Unlike over the summer, every part of the course was uploaded on day one so you can work at your own pace to get the assignments done. Every week there is an online test and a corresponding assignment to complete after reading the PowerPoints and articles. The professor isn’t very pleasant, but you don’t just find that with online classes.
Hybrid classes are new to me as well. Only having to meet a few times a semester isn’t a bad deal; especially when the class is conducted on Google+ rather than dealing with Blackboard Learn. This class, being part of my major, is extremely important, so it takes some responsibility to stay on track with my assignments. I very much like the way this class is set up because it’s all projects and online discussions rather than papers and tests.
These two types of classes are always a hit or miss; clearly I got lucky with my classes during the semester, but over the summer wasn’t fantastic. The smartest thing to do for online classes, or any for that matter, is to do research before signing up for them. Check Rate My Professor and ask around about certain professors or courses; word of mouth is the most powerful form of research in this situation.
I personally think these classes are worth it if you can apply yourself and not forget to do your work. It’s so easy for these classes to slip your mind, so as long as you can handle it, it’s a great alternative to normal classes.
