What are online classes like? I'm thinking about taking American Government...?

[Jenn]

I need to take a political science... but the schedule at school is weird! i dont want to sit around for 2 hours or go home and come back to take the class... so i'm thinking about taking it online... but i'm not sure because i have no clue what it's going to be like...

anybody care to explain? for example... do you still read a textbook? how do you get lectures... from a CD? or do you like... webcam or go on a forum or something? *clueless*

thanks!

[ChicoInfierno]

Doing course work online is more difficult because requires a student to be very organized. You are expected to read a textbook , write reports and contribute comments to the class, You may possibly have to do a class project in a team or group you are assigned to by the instructor. It is not easier than going to class.

[sharkychick1]

usually you read the textbook, review lectures on powerpoint slides which sometimes have a voice recording on it. sometimes you have a professor video record lectures, and you watch them. your grade will probably consist of either essays and discussion board postings or online tests and discussion board postings or some combination of thereof. i actually love online classes, but you have to be disciplined and schedule your time accordingly so you don't miss important deadlines. a lot of the classes are not self paced but rather have due dates and weekly discussion board to keep you on track.

[Grick]

I took an online marketing class. We had to buy the book and take 2 tests online. The teacher would communicate through e-mail and encouraged going to see him furing his office hours if you needed any help.

I wasn't a big fan because the class seemed so impersonal. Not having the class structure of going to lectures made it waay to easy to procrastinate. When the tests came around, I found that I had a lot more reading to do than I would have liked. If you can keep up with the work, it should be fine.

[Zoomer1]

Lectures are easy, you log into the college classroom site and participate in a Chat room with the Instructor and the rest of the class. The lectures are the same time everyday depending on the course . You will have to be able to get onto the Internet with out any interruptions. (same time every week). Some courses require a text book,(like math courses) some don't. Most of the reading material and the lessons are on line in the course home site. The best thing to do is to ask your student adviser if taking the course on-line is best. I feel you get more out of the actual classroom setting. Hope this helps...

[KS]

I dont like online courses at all. For the same amount of money (atleast at my school it is), you dont get nearly as valueable information. You just get whats out of the book. Take the block of time where you would go home and use it to study! That way, when you do go home, you have less school work to do and you can focus on hanging out with friends.