Online schools - what is your opinion?

@maezee (41988)
United States
February 5, 2009 9:19pm CST
While searching for the perfect college to transfer into, I came across many advertisements for completely ONLINE colleges. What's your opinion of these types of schools? Can you learn in a purely-online environment, or do you need more "hands-on" learning? Have you ever been to an online school? In a way, I feel like online schools (especially online "full-time" colleges) cheat you out of the whole college campus experience. Do you agree?
2 people like this
12 responses
@rainzero (501)
6 Feb 09
distance learnng, right? well, do you also include online crash course just like the trend in korea or japan? or solely degree-courses? well as for degree-courses, i go for the actual one. interaction is one of the most important factors in developong the mental and wholistic being of the student. life after graduation (degree) is not purely virtual, real people, real world, hence online education is a bit absurd here...but for crash courses, i think, online could be more convenient than the actual one... cheers
2 people like this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
6 Feb 09
What's a "crash course"? And I agree with you.. I mean, unless you get an ONLINE JOB after you graduate, you really aren't preparing yourself very well. Thanks for the answer!
@rainzero (501)
6 Feb 09
im into online english class, that's why. i teach english to koreans over the phone.^_^
@maezee (41988)
• United States
6 Feb 09
That's so cool! I didn't even know you could take classes over the phone! Wow!
@mscott (1923)
• United States
6 Feb 09
I have taken online classes for my various degrees and they are both good and bad. I like being able to stay at home and get on and do work when I have the time. it can be much more convenient. However, there is something to be said for the in class social connections that are made from meeting with people face to face. The discussions are also much more worth while and meaningful face to face. If you can't get certain classes near by though online classes are really a benefit.
2 people like this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
6 Feb 09
I agree. I'm taking two online classes right now, but also two on-campus, so I'm getting a little of the "best of both worlds". Thanks for the answer!
@cbiznetz (88)
• United States
8 Feb 09
I had maybe an unusual experience...as my online school ended up costing me more than was promised by the financial adviser and it became a major event dealing with how to stop my scholarship, and take action to prevent damage to my credit. I did enjoy the course work and it also made me more disciplined at home however, if i can find a school i can trust now... i will try again. I mainly only want my microsoft certifications and continued up grades in software and PCs OS. But it is tempting to not want also to go the full major in business too. Glad you had a good experience, that gives me hope it can be done. cause i am not too cool for school even at 50 cbiznetz
@maezee (41988)
• United States
9 Feb 09
That sounds like a scary experience! Thanks for your input, it's good to see someone who's had some experience with online schools respond. :)
@eynjel05 (444)
• Philippines
7 Feb 09
Online Schools is okey. I mean there are lots of advantages being an online student.First, no need for you to go to school though itd raining hard outside. You only need to be in front of your computer and you'll have there your online teacher. Second, no need to deal with your naughty classmates because you are just at home. Actually there are lots of advantages but then there are also disadvantages of having an online studies. There are lots of online schools that can offer you a quality education same as you are studying in real school. But be careful of choosing one because at the end is your education that is at risk. Happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
7 Feb 09
Thanks for your response! I appreciate you looking at the advantages rather than immediately jumping to the disadvantages. I agree with you, for sure - having to go out of your home when it's raining or snowing is the WORST thing ever! Especially when you commute. :[ And that reason alone would almost make me consider going to an online school.
@CRIVAS (1815)
• Canada
6 Feb 09
Well since I am currently enrolled in an online school, I have to say that I think they are better than normal schools. The reason that I say this is because I personally find it easier to work at my own pace. I also find that it is easier to find the information that I need online as opposed to some of the confusing text books that schools tend to use. My husband also went to online school and he is now a licensed aircraft engineer for a private air charter company. They recognised his online degree as good enough and I think that most companies do the same. It is easier to do online schooling because of the fact that you don't have to commute. Everything you need is right at your finger tips. Personally I don't think that you do miss out on the campus experience but for people like me it's not something that I really miss.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
7 Feb 09
Do you think it has something to do with age? (I assume that because you're already married, you might be a little older than the average college student). Is the "campus" experience moreso necessary for those who go to college straight out of high school than people who start going a little later? And do you go to an online school in addition to working full time? Thanks for your input! It's nice to hear this from someone who has actual experience. :)
• Malaysia
7 Feb 09
totally agree with you..theres no experience to gain in online college. theres no use if being a teen and did not went to a college.in my opinion,college lifes is one of the best life experience in a person life so dont go wasting time studying in an online college.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
7 Feb 09
I appreciate your response. But I do have to ask: what if you're not a teen? What if you're an older adult who's looking for an education to further his/her career? Do you still think "college life" is necessary?
@vicky30 (4766)
• India
6 Feb 09
Online schools are very good to impart education to the remote areas in the world.Their mode of teaching is through video tutorials.They alaso answer doubts by emails.The also conduct the exams online and sent the certificates to the house address.I have never been to an online school.There can be chances of cheating we need to be careful.
@maezee (41988)
• United States
6 Feb 09
When I had to take a test for one of my online classes last week, they made me download this program that wouldn't let me open ANY other windows (on the computer) while I was taking it. This was very cool! I didn't know those softwares even existed. However, I still could have cheated by using handwritten materials. It makes you think, doesn't it? Thanks for your response!
@Zezloler (497)
• United Arab Emirates
6 Feb 09
I agree with you. I don't think that learning online can ever replace going through an actual classroom, writing things down, hearing others' explain it and hearing the questions other people have to ask that may help you. Firstly, I don't think that online collages are accepted for jobs as much as real-life collages are. It makes sense for the degree not to be as appreciated as one from an actual university because there you have professors that actually monitor your progress and you're not just sitting at home in front of a computer. Secondly, the computer offers a lot of distractions (as I'm sure we all know xD). It's very easy to get distracted and find yourself somewhere else (myLot) than where you're actually supposed to be. Thirdly, and as you mentioned, you're missing out on seeing other people and interacting with them. You probably won't ever go to a campus or see what it's like to be in an actual class with professors, and it's very difficult to learn without these things. I appreciate that technology is making these types of improvements that can benefit people that can't go to an actual university for some reason or another, but I think they'll never be able to replace the actual experience.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
8 Feb 09
Well said :) Although you can interact with others online, it's definitely different. :/ Thanks for responding!
@smartie0317 (1610)
• United States
6 Feb 09
I think for some people, online school is the only option due to time or disabilites. I would so choose this, but most online schools are not good and looked down upon. I think a person can learn anywhere if they really want to learn.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
6 Feb 09
That's a good perspective to have. And I agree, it seems like a lot of those schools aren't as highly accredited as most "in-real-life" schools, which is a bummer.
• India
6 Feb 09
not come across this sort phrase "online school" just come across only online tutor class i'll ask my friend and tell you the site where to study my friend happy mylotting
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@maezee (41988)
• United States
7 Feb 09
Oh, no thanks - I'm currently going to school. By "online school" I meant a "school" where you take your entire courseload ONLINE, without ever having to walk into a classroom. Thanks for responding, though!
@oadgmd (102)
• Philippines
6 Feb 09
I dont think an online college would work for me cause i like being with people when studying. I dont necessarily talk with them, but its the feel of the environment, the feeling that everyone is there to learn and improve themselves, that ispires me more to learn.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
6 Feb 09
I agree! Although I know I've been in some classes where students obviously DON'T care too much about learning (like going on facebook during lectures, even talking to others, & on their phones!) It's pretty ridiculous. But I agree, I like being around other people instead of in front of a computer. Thanks for answering!
@jshekhar (1562)
• India
6 Feb 09
I am against the idea of completely "ONLINE" colleges/schools and I have very strong reasons for it. 1. Online tutorials can NEVER replace the classroom teachers. It is very important for a student, specially in his/her early days at school, to be attended personally by teachers monitoring them. 2. The whole experience of going out of home, to a new place, learning to interact with unknown people, making friends and learning so much will be ruined.
@maezee (41988)
• United States
7 Feb 09
I can understand where you're coming from - college would be a lot less exciting if it were all online (where we don't get to do new things, meet new people, and so on). Do you favor online courses, though (in addition to traditional ones)? Or do you think ALL of college should be spent on campus? Thanks for your opinion!