Well, this is my sixth quarter at COTC but my first online class. Since I live in Granville getting to the Newark campus is not an issue, but I would like to graduate before quarters turn into semesters. So this factored into my decision to take the online version of this class.
I first had to consider how a subject would translate online. I wouldn't want to take my required photography class online since I'm an Auto-Exposure kind of guy. This being more of a 'history' type of class made more sense to me. This still made me apprehensive in taking an online class. Even if I have a question that will eventually get answered, there are always questions that another student has that I may not thought of to help me fill in the blanks.
Online classes can provide more learning opportunities to more people. More buildings would not be needed to accommodate more students. This would also alleviate traffic, eliminate heating and cooling cost for colleges along with the basic upkeeps to campuses. The advantages are obvious, so online classes will continue to evolve. The in-class experience will never be eliminated and online classes would really serve as a tool to provide more educational opportunities to those in need. I am sure the techniques of teaching and taking online classes will always improve.
I have not felt a difference in how much I am learning and absorbing in this online class as opposed to taking the in-class version. I'm still doing the same amount of reading and research. I still have the same amount of homework so adjusting to a new way of learning has so far worked for me. I will still be forced to take future online classes but the trick will be picking classes that translate over into the online environment, but I will always prefer the in-class experience. As the saying goes, "evolve or die".
Keep moving forward.
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