Does Anyone Have Experience With Taking College Classes Online?

Q: Does anyone have experience with taking college classes online? If so, I'd like to hear your review. Do you recommend taking them online? Is a classroom environment better? After being out of HS for awhile now, I decided last semester that now is the time to educate myself further. I enjoy learning new topics and it was something to do after work. This semester I'm thinking about trying some classes online and seeing how it goes. It won't be anything major; Eng102, Econ101, Hist101-- the basic credits still-- and nothing that would require an intense amount of teacher question asking (where in person would be the best format). So, if you have experience with online classes I'd like to hear some pros and cons about it.

A:- I go to Uof Missouri-St. Louis and have taken 2 classes online. They are great if the material isn't too abstract. You also must have some decent self discipline to keep up. All in all, it beats me driving 20 minutes to class a couple times a week. You have the ability to communicate with everyone in the class including the teacher if help is needed. I like online classes. - I take online graduate school courses at U of Phoenix. Not bad, all in all. You can learn a lot, but you need to be self motivated- online classes, for me, lack some of the energy and challenge of the classroom environment. I would always recommend "on-ground" classes if you have the choice between the two. - I have never taken an on-line course, so I can't address your basic questions. Regardless, your list of the "basic credits" inspired me to respond anyway -- hopefully in a constructive manner. I realize that most people consider the core curriculum to be a rather mundane requirement along the way to some more illustrious professional goal. This is not necessarily the case. In retrospect, the college course that made the biggest impression on me was my required 1st-year English course. However, without the pleasure of in-class instruction by the most inspiring college instructor I ever knew, I doubt I would feel the same way. This woman demanded discipline, multiple revisions of numerous papers, a journal entry for each class session, and gave consistently helpful and thorough feedback. Her lively and inspired in-class instruction made the course come alive. She is probably nearing retirement about now, but any USM alumni who had the pleasure of taking "College Writing" with Judith Hanneman will likely agree that the basic credits are not to be taken lightly. I realize that most folks have probably not had the same experience, but perhaps my example will remind you to keep an open mind regarding the potential of required courses.

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