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March 05, 2006
Online School
I'm enrolled at Baker College. I'm towards the end of my first class called College Success Online. Wow, has it been overwhelming. I thought online school would be just reading, watching videos, and submitting assignments. They expect much more out of you. I need to "participate" at least 5 out of 7 days a week. Participating is contributing real discussions and ideas to the class discussion board. Part of many assignments is to not only do your part, but to read other people's submissions and comment on theirs. So, not only do I have plenty class material to read, plenty to work on for my homework, but I also need to spend time reading other people's homework -- and then comment on it. My grade is affected by my participating or lack of participation.
All of that just to say to all of you considering online school - beware. If you have a steady enough schedule to attend college locally, do it. It is much easier to sit in class twice a week (part time school), than to put so much effort in every day of the week reading what other students have submitted as their homework. I only enrolled in school to get a Computer Science degree, not a teacher's. I have to admit, though, that I like getting feedback from other students on my homework. I believe in the idea that feedback from more people other than the teacher helps me to get a better picture of myself. I just don't have the time to devote to giving feedback on the other students' work.
Maybe other online schools aren't as time-demanding as Baker. I like the price of Baker College. Also, this is just the first class. I'm hoping that taking other classes that actually relate to my field of study will grab my attention more. This class has been full of learning about time management, planning life goals, working in groups, and even creating a mission statement for my life. All of those subjects are things I've been thinking I need to try to implement personally. A couple of them are also very unlike me. I'm not a planner, so anything that involves planning has the tendency of paralyzing and frustrating me. I've been trying to work on that, but to have all of it thrown at me within just two or three weeks has really hit me hard. I guess I would update my above statement to say that if you are a good planner, online school might not be a bad idea for you!
Posted by fabijo at March 5, 2006 10:49 PM
Responses
Wow Fab, your class sounds at least as hard and maybe harder than the online graduate course I took in 2000. It must be extra tough when you also have the other roles as father, husband and worker to fulfill at the same time!
I hope you can time-manage your way through this mine field!
Posted by: Pop at March 6, 2006 10:00 AM
this online school thing is a little taxing on our family time, but you can count on me to support you, and help in any way I can. I know how important going to school is for you, and for our family for the future, so we're behind you, 200%!!
Posted by: glassgirl at March 6, 2006 03:41 PM
I am proud of you, Fab for not giving up on your education. Knowledge is truly necesary to accomplish your dreams. I have been discovering that anyone that accomplishes thier Long Term dreams does so by investing much of thier time to reading and learning every thing about thier dream. Action toward dreams are always so exciting to me.
Posted by: Aaron at March 10, 2006 09:15 AM
Hey Fabio!
When I tell people that I'm taking classes online, they probably think it's a cake-walk without any work.
I'm so glad someone FINALLY knows what it's REALLY like! It's a LOT of work!! I do enjoy it because it allows for me to stay home with Tayler, but on the other hand, it's extremely time consuming.
I had a few classes where you had to comment on other people's work, but not all of them have been that way. I don't know how Baker structures their courses, but I hope not all your classes are like this.
I'll be praying for you!
Posted by: Nadia at March 13, 2006 02:28 PM