Archive for November, 2008
Posted by Sharon Cece on November 28th, 2008
I had a number of fears prior to enrolling online, some relating specifically to online mechanisms and format, and others that dealt with the more with typical fears of a returning college student.
In regard to the first, though I had a general knowledge of computer applications, I certainly was no tech whiz. At first glance, being hit with the numerous course websites and academic pages as well as ”blackboard”, the online education platform, gave one the impression a new student might require a preliminary degree in “learning how to be an online student” before becoming an online student! Thankfully, this is not the case. There are numerous support vehicles in place to assist distance learning and online students, and after a few days of trial and error you soon become quite adept at maneuvering the various course sites, finding out where you need to be and gaining the information you need to have. Advisors, professors, mentors, and TA’s are very helpful; moreso, my fellow students were invaluable in pacifying e-course apprehensions.
I also was concerned that learning online would sequester me socially compared to attending a brick-and-mortar classes, where social interaction is a virtual inevitability (no pun intended). However, I found that online learning can offer similar social benefits, and soon “clicked” with a number of students with shared ideas and similar family circumstances. One student, who happens to be from Tallahassee where Florida State is located, was following the same course schedule as I and we became fast friends as well as study partners. When I drove from North Carolina to Tallahassee to walk for graduation, she was right there in the bleachers cheering me on. Our friendship continues, and I hope to do the same for her when she graduates.
Another fear I entertained was, quite frankly, that I would not be able to test well after so many years of being away from school, or find time to study with two small children to care for, or devote myself to coursework the way I did when I was the quintessential 18-21 year-old college student. My fears were unfounded. As an older student, I found I was more disciplined, more determined and–well–smarter than I used to be. My grades as a young, fresh-from-high-school student were varied, A’s to C’s (okay, a couple of D’s too). When I returned to FSU as an online student, I received straight A’s from my first class straight through to graduation. I mention this not as a bragging point or to minimize the scope of difficulty regarding online classes; on the contrary, some online courses were the most challenging I have ever had. Rather, I hope to highlight the possibility that our fears can in fact drive us to be more successful. That you have a fear at all means that you care, and to care makes you work harder to succeed.
Posted by Jeff Davis on November 27th, 2008
One of my biggest fears before enrolling in an online college was that I would not have enough time available or maybe how I would juggle my time between work, family, and school. All I could imagine is that this could be quite stressful. After all, it is not always easy balancing just work with family time and adding school on top of all my other responsibilities seemed almost impossible. I soon realized that this was really not a problem. The key to overcoming this fear was being able to balance my time effectively. If done properly, you would be amazed at how much extra time you can squeeze into your day. For me, it was important to develop a routine, find a quiet place to study, leave work at work, and to take time away from school each week. Once I developed a routine, I was more motivated. Once I found a quiet place to study, I was able to concentrate better. Once I made sure that I got my work done at work, I did not have to bring it home and could focus on my class work. Once I made sure to take at least a day off from school each week, I was able to relax more and enjoy quality time with my family. You have to remember, that in all circumstances, there will always be sacrifices that you will have to make, but just think about the great reward that will await you at the end.
Another fear of mine was how long it would take to finish my degree. I was afraid that it might take forever. But the fact is that most online degree programs today are based on accelerated learning. This means that most will take less time to complete than in a traditional learning environment. Since the online courses are typically based on shorter semesters, they can excel at delivering a quality education as quickly as possible and without sacrificing your ability to learn and absorb the material.
I was also fearful that employers would not take my degree seriously once I had graduated. I was concerned that since my degree would not be coming from some big name university, that employers might not view it as credible. Realistically, however, it has been my experience that most employers today view online degrees as not only credible, but just as equivalent as their traditional counterparts. I believe that as the demand for online education continues to grow, that more employers are realizing the validity of degrees earned online.
It has been my experience that online colleges are not that much different from traditional colleges. Having done both, I can now say that, for me, online education is the solution that I was looking for.
Posted by Pamela Gustafson on November 26th, 2008
In 2002 I considered myself a pioneer in online education. Shortly before my 50th birthday, I took a leave of absence from my teaching job and signed up for three online classes. To help support myself, I was a substitute teacher. I wanted to be a technology integration specialist before the job actually existed in our elementary schools.
Two classes used Yahoo groups and emails to teach the class; the other was from a university, using a platform called Blackboard. I was confident going into this, but the fear factor increased as I moved forward. The volume of emails I received was far beyond expected. The excitement at the outset evaporated into a cloud of fear and drudgery!
I dreaded going to the computer to check my email and quickly learned how to sort it with folders. Even with the sorting system, it was still overwhelming. I told one instructor I was involved in three classes — she said I should drop one. What I was attempting was nearly impossible. I asked why she didn’t use Blackboard (so you can keep messages online and never download them to your computer). She said the platform was cost prohibitive. Too bad!
For the first time ever, after a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, and many other credits; I took an incomplete in one class.
Going back to school was a big decision for me. I decided that it was a good time to start - I was in my late 20’s, no kids, no significant other, life was easy. I wanted to finish school before my life got too complicated. While that sounds very neatly packaged, I had several fears about returning to school. Could I do the work? Could I balance the schoolwork with my work and social life? Could I afford it? Would I stick with it? What happens if I’m not good at it? I had to work through each of those quesitons (and still do have to work through them) as I am still working on my degree.
Could I do the work? I think we are all afraid of failure to some degree. While I enrolled in a PhD program, I wasn’t sure I was ready. My master’s degree program came relatively easy for me - I got a 4.0. One reason I selected the school I enrolled in was because they graded on a Pass/Fail basis. That meant I didn’t have to strive for the A’s, but could do the best I could and likely would pass. That took some of the stress off.
Could I balance the schoolwork with my work and social life? While I was working on my courses, I took every opportunity to do my schoolwork. I read chapters during my lunch at work. I often stayed late at work to post or write papers (I was more focused at work and tended to slack off - oops, I mean become less disciplined - when I got home. I found that discipline was the most important key to success. My social life took a hit, but I tried not to lose too much of that. I didn’t want to miss out on all the fun - then being in school might have been too much for me.
Could I afford it? Money was a big challenge. It was costly to return to school and I wasn’t making a lot of money. I took out students, but I knew that if I did that for the whole degree, I would run out of available loan money. I have always paid my way through school and wasn’t going to start asking for handouts for this degree. I did eventually move in with my best friend to save on some living costs - that was a huge help!
Would I stick with it? Honestly, this was where the discipline came in. My track record has been, if it gets tough, get out. Why put myself through the pain if there was an easier way out. It has continued to be a long, challenging road, but I am determined to finish. I want those letters (PhD) after my name!
What happens if I’m not good at it? This was another major hurdle. I did not get a lot of feedback on the quality of my work. I thought it was good, but was it PhD level? I really didn’t find out for sure until I completed the Comprehensive Exam and was successful. That was my validation that I was good at this. Too bad that came after several years of classes.
I’m still afraid - but now I’m afraid of not finishing. I’ve put a lot of time, money, sweat, and tears into this pursuit. I think if I stopped now, I’d be letting myself down as well as those who have supported me. So I must persist. It’s still scary, but it’s doable.
Posted by Jen Zeman on November 24th, 2008
While earning my associate’s degree at a local community college, I completed an online class and loved the flexibility and the freedom it gave me. However, when I started my online bachelor degree program, a few fears crept into my brain: How hard will the classes be? How much work will be involved? How much time will I need to complete the work? Will I be able to handle three online classes a semester while working full time?
Before starting my classes I decided to come up with a game plan in order to quash my fears and guarantee my success. The game plan was simple: organization. Being organized is by far the number one way to guarantee success with an online college. It is essential to devise a plan of how you will study and complete assignments. Here are the five tactics I used:
- Plan out your semester prior to the start of the semester. If you work full-time, schedule days off strategically so you can give yourself enough time to complete major class assignments/projects without scrambling at the last minute. This will alleviate a ton of stress.
- Assign a separate binder for each class you take a semester. Print the syllabus and put it in the front of the binder. This eliminates confusion and a constant search for important documents. Even though all your required documents will be available to you online, having them at your fingertips makes life less stressful.
- Assign a designated room in your home as your “school zone”. Make it a place where you can close a door and have privacy for studying and completing assignments.
- In this room, hang a large white board on the wall. Use this to write down assignments and major projects for each class, along with corresponding due dates. It is a great feeling erasing completed projects off the board! This was a lifesaver for me.
- Allow yourself some down time to relax. For me it was allowing myself an hour each day to exercise. However, realize while you are in school you will not be able to participate in activities the way you did before – you simply will not have the time. Choose the activity you cannot part with and schedule it in. All others will have to fall off your radar until you graduate. It may seem harsh, but remember you won’t be in school forever.
You will find with organization comes discipline – discipline will keep you focused on your goal. Tell yourself you will succeed in your online courses and it will happen. Once you complete the first semester of online college following the tips above, you will ask yourself, “What was I so scared about?”
Posted by Rodney Burris on November 19th, 2008
It was a really tough decision for me to choose to become an online learner, but I’m glad I did.
In 2003, I graduated from a rather prestigious university. I began there, four years prior, with hopes of becoming a doctor. A year or two into my schooling, I realized that Medicine is not the field I wanted, so I chose to switch. If any of you ever had the ‘hopes & dreams’ of your family riding on your shoulders, then you will know how difficult of choice this was for me.
My heart, I realized, was working in education; but everything I applied for that was of interest to me, required a higher level of education, post-Bachelors. I couldn’t believe it; for years I was told, “If you go to college, and do well, you’ll land a nice job.” Not so. A year after graduation, I found myself married to my college sweetheart, and jobless.
I decided that the best option for me was to take up an ACCREDITTED online education, as it would afford me the flexibility to work from home, and possibly still get a job. But I was still daunted by the stigma that none of my friends & families would appreciate me being enrolled in a ‘fake’ online institution. The decision, for me however, was solidified, once I learned my wife was pregnant with our first child. It was at that moment that I realized that I HAD to get a job AND, I HAD to increase my employability, through education, if I were to stay in the field of my choice.
So, overcoming many mental obstacles & family-social roadblocks, I enrolled in Capella University in 2004, after having researched many of their degree programs & course offerings. Interestingly enough, the program was much more challenging than I could have anticipated. — And I actually appreciated this, because the challenge made me feel like I was actually ‘earning’ my education, and not just taking the easy way out via online learning.’
All in all, my online degree program taught me a higher level of self-discipline & determination. It’s been 3 years since I graduated from Capella with my Masters, and I can honestly say, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. Why? Because it allowed me to be a husband and a father while earning an education. Secondly, it has allowed me to proudly place “MS Degree” on my resume, which has resulted in numerous opportunities opening up.
Given the variety of educational offerings, formats & programs, I would recommend online learning to anyone.
Posted by Jen Zeman on November 18th, 2008
Living in a small, rural country town has many advantages. Having an easily accessible four-year college or university is not one of them. Accessibility became the main inspiration to pursuing an online university.
The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) provided me everything I needed online: application, course schedules, registration, book ordering, advising, library services, you name it. I didn’t have to step foot on the physical campus until commencement! Final exams couldn’t be taken online, but even that was convenient. I had the ability to take proctored exams at my local community college (which at the time I worked for them, making it that much more convenient). It was wonderful knowing I could achieve a bachelor’s degree (and now even master’s degree) without having to commute 45-75 miles to a physical campus. No wear and tear on my car, no extra money spent on gas, and no traffic! I could log-on to my coursework during lunch breaks, evenings, weekends, whenever it worked for me versus the rigid three-hour classroom requirement typically available. A point to remember – the coursework isn’t any easier because you’re not sitting in a classroom! There usually is plenty of reading, but if you account for the three hours normally spent in a classroom, the reading won’t be an issue.
One other reason I chose an online university was the ability to learn at my own pace. I’m an independent learner who normally moves quickly through assignments so an online atmosphere was ideal (i.e. I didn’t have to sit through an hour-long discussion on someone else’s question when I didn’t need the clarification). However, instructors were easily accessible if I did have questions.
If accessibility to a four-year institution is an issue for you, an online college or university is an ideal choice. It certainly beats the alternative – not getting a degree at all.
Posted by Jeff Davis on November 17th, 2008
Although it would be short and sweet if I were able to narrow it down to only one specific inspiration answer, I simply cannot do it since there were so many different factors that played an important role as to why I considered an online education. Don’t get me wrong, I have attended a “traditional” school (in the sense of the word) and came away with an Associate’s degree. However, I was not able to complete my Bachelor’s degree until years later when I attended online. My biggest problem with the traditional school was that with that type of learning environment, it simply would not fit into my schedule the way I really needed it to.
When I finally came to the realization that I needed to further my education in order to provide more career opportunities, I had decided to opt for a learning environment that would better fit my hectic lifestyle. This is where an online education really seemed to be the most ideal to me.
First of all, I liked the fact that while pursuing an online education, I would still be able to hold my regular job since so many of the online universities allowed for extreme flexibility in their class scheduling. I did not want education to interfere with my family life, so this type of learning environment really fit into my life schedule almost perfectly.
Next, I liked the fact that you could start almost immediately when considering an online education. During my research, I discovered that many online universities have rolling admissions and some even had classes starting every 4 weeks.
However, I would have to say that the biggest inspiration for deciding to pursue an online education overall was one of convenience. Since you don’t have to leave your home, there are no travel expenses and since you set your own schedule, you don’t ever have to worry about being late for class.
Posted by Pamela Gustafson on November 14th, 2008
My inspiration for an online education came from my need to schedule my continuing education around my own schedule, and my complete fascination with the online environment itself. My son was always online, creating and posting his own web page at the age of 12, long before the ease of uploading to FaceBook and My Space. Being a teacher, I didn’t want to squelch his curiosity, but at the same time I wanted to keep him safe. This meant that I had to learn about the online environment, to keep ahead of him. While I didn’t always succeed in keeping ahead of him; I learned to use the online environment for my job and my personal life.
I now prefer the online method of education including asynchronous discussion and scheduled synchronous chats and presentations.
The use of the online environment has put energy into my teaching at a time when my energy was waning. My middle school students think of me as a computer geek, when in reality I am just an old dog who has learned new tricks. These new tricks help to keep my students and me interested and involved in the important task of education.
Now I am using a combination on line/ on site method of teaching. My students complete the assignments posted on the student learning center and I grade them online. I have drastically decreased the amount of paper and I never worry about what I left at school. I can access student work whenever I am near a computer.
Online education. When I first enrolled in my online program, I had one thing in mind - convenience! I was working full time, and taught college classes part time at night. I was trying to earn a PhD, but there was no way I could give up my life (and my livelihood) to go to a traditional school full time to do this. So I started looking for alternatives. I settled on Capella University in Minneapolis - just after it transitioned from being The Graduate School of America. I had already selected my degree program - Organization and Management, so I just needed to find out where to go. When selecting a school, I was looking into a number of comparative factors - accreditation, scheduling, cost, residency requirements, quality of instruction and rigor. I didn’t want to just spend money to get a degree and have it be meaningless once I was done. I would suggest that anyone considering online education start with those basic factors (although a residency doesn’t apply to most undergraduate degrees).
Accreditation - there are two levels of accreditation - regional and national. When selecting a school, you should know whether or not it is accredited. Generally, if it is accredited it will advertise this fact on the school’s website. Accreditation means that the school has passed a review (sort of a calibration) to ensure the degree is being earned, not just given. Accrediting bodies do a regular review of the schools to ensure the standards aren’t slipping. Generally, your credits have a stronger chance of transferring to another school when you attend an accredited school.
Scheduling - there are so many factors to scheduling, you will want to learn how each school does their schedule and how that works with your schedule. For example, one school I teach for has online classes that go for 5 weeks and most students take one class at time, while another has classes that go for 10 weeks and most students are taking 2 at a time. It is up to you to find a school that has a schedule that will work best with your learning style and attention span. There are advantages and disadvantages to all the options.
Cost - look at this factor closely. How do you plan to pay for your education? Will you get tuition reimbursement from your employer? Will you get help from financial aid? Do you have the resources yourself to pay for school out-of-pocket. Some schools have fees per class or credit (make sure you know the breakdown of how those fees work so you can compare them fairly). Some schools have feels per semester or term - and you can take as many classes as you wish during that term while paying that flat amount. Knowing how the financials of school will work is essential to your long-term success.
Residency Requirements - this almost always required for PhD studies, but could be required for Master’s degree online programs as well. This is a time when you are required to physically attend a conference in-person. Again, how these work will vary by school, but find this out in advance.
Quality of instruction or rigor - accreditation is the first step to ensuring you will get a quality education. After that, you should do some additional research. Google the school you’re looking into and “review”. Look into news articles about the school. Find out what qualifications the instructors are required to have.
Making the decision to attend college online is a big decision, and often it is done swiftly, over the phone or over the web. Do your research to be sure that the structure of the education is what you want so you stick with it and see it through to graduation. I am still (slowly) finishing my final requirements for the dissertation and I hope graduation will not be far off!
