Posted by dreese0421 on July 22nd, 2008
When deciding to attend an online school, many questions flood your mind. Is the education top-notch? Will I be abe to maneuver the website? Is it expensive? What if I cannot keep up with the work? What are learning groups? I am sure many more come to mind.
First, let me say that all these questions are valid. This is fairly new to many people. We are accustomed to sitting in a desk while listening to a teacher lecture on a subject, give classwork and then complete homework. Of course, we also read a textbook, or not. I mean, who enjoys the text book?
Online education is slightly different from the traditional classroom. No longer do you have a teacher. There is now a facilitator who monitors the class. Each facilitator is different. Some post lectures about the week’s subject. Some do not. All of them create a syllabus that includes a little about their background, availibility, brief course introduction, assignment calendar, and weekly requirements. I like to call it the class bible. This is the roadmap for the entire class period. Print it, read it, use it.
Each class has online folders which control the direction of the class. The facilitator will post discussion questions (DQs), Questions for the professor, and assignment submissions. Along with these individual areas, there are also learning group postings. This is the area you will create, brainstorm, and communicate with your learning group members.
The biggest difference that I have experienced while being an online student is writing papers. No more tests. All I do is write, write, write, which I love. I am able to express myself fully through writing. I had to learn American Psychological Association (APA) format, but the manual helps greatly. I have become quite fluent with this writing format. If you hate to write, I would not recommend online learning.
Expect to make friends from around the world. I have made friends in Japan, Germany, and many states in the USA. Expect to learn. I have learned so much from taking online courses. I have learned time management, patience, time zone differences, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and so much more.
Another important factor to expect is financial aid assistance. the financial aid department does everything to get you the money you need. A word of caution, however, if you only need enough money to pay tuition and books, tell you counselor. The people in this department are trained to get you all the money they can. Sometimes this means a lot more than you need. If you do not want to pay for this overage, send it back if you receive a check. Otherwise, mark on your school application that you only want enough funds to cover your tuition and books.
All things considered, online schools are excellent places of learning. I highly recommend them. If you are short on time, have no wheels, or just want to take classes on your time schedule, try it. You just might find your calling there.
Posted by dreese0421 on July 15th, 2008
One might say that I am a professional student. I received my first Master’s Degree in Secondary Education back in May of last year through the University of Phoenix online school. Then I decided to go back this past August to work on my second Masters. This time in ESL.
There really was no discussion for me in regards to whether I should go to the local university or enroll online. My local university is okay, but I am very busy. I work two jobs, am raising two great kids and am married. Going back to school in a brick and mortar building with the school dictating to me when I had to go was out of the question. I needed flexibility and I needed a school that had excellent teachers as well as the finest resources available.
If you decide to search the web for online schools, you will get a boat load of URLs. It’s important to understand that not all the schools are accredited. You want to choose one that is accredited statewide and nationally. These are the schools that will get noticed on the resumes.
My choice was the University of Phoenix. Several reasons governed my decision. First, I had already completed one degree with them. I was used to their system and felt it did not require me to take a training class.
Second, this school has been around since 1976. They were one of the first universities to provide classes online. They have a reputation of being the best. I agree. Their teachers are top notch for the most part. The University of Phoenix, or Apollo Group, has stringent rules for becoming a facilitator. According to Apollo group website,
“To qualify as a University of Phoenix faculty member, you must meet the following minimum criteria*:
- A master’s or doctoral degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution (or international equivalent) related to the subject you wish to teach. Some courses require a doctoral degree or more specific qualifications.
- Work experience related to the subject you wish to teach. Requirements vary by course and program.
*Each candidate’s experience and academic preparation are reviewed to meet the established requirements developed for each program and specific course. Some degree programs require more specific qualifications”
I trust their teachers and I have learned a great deal from them.
Third I get to make my own hours. The teachers post the syllabus and I get to choose when I post to the class. I can do this 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It matters not when, as long as I follow the rules set by the teacher. If I want to wait until my kids are in bed, then I do it after 11 pm. If I work up early and cannot get back to sleep, I can go online and do school work. Try to do that at the local university.
Fourth, I meet many people in my field of study from all around the world. I feel as though I have many friends in Japan, Jamaica and all across the USA. We can network and get to know one another through our class discussions. Talk about social networks.
Fifth, financial aid applications are a breeze at UOP. You fill out forms online at the school and then you are directed to the FAFSA site. They do the rest. Now it sometimes can take awhile, but once you get the first check, the other fall in line in a timely manner. You don’t have to go to the financial aid office and get the paperwork. You don’t even have to mail it back to the university. With electronic signature, it is all done online. All this from the comfort of your own home. Talk about saving gas money!
Lastly, because I am an online student, I have had to write many papers. I have found my writing skills have improved immensely. I am proud of the work I create and know when I receive my GPA, it is because I have worked hard at following the APA format and completing my assignments exactly in the manner requested by my facilitator.
Online school requires time management skills and determination. There is no one breathing down your back to make sure you get your work done on time. Well, except your learning team members. If you are not self-disciplined, online study is not for you. But if you want a quality education and the opportunity to work at your schedule, I would highly recommend online school. You no longer have to say, “I don’t have the time.” It’s the best move I ever made.
