Online Course Recap...How to waste my time some more...

[Buffalo Phil]

Technology still evades me sometimes, so I come to you guys with this question because the lot of you here have spent more time in college than I. I've never taken an Online Course or done any sort of learning outside of sitting in a classroom staring at the clock.

What exactly is an Online Class? To put it nicely, how the fuck does it work?

I ask this because for the past week or so I've been throwing around the idea of furthering my writing skills in either a poetry class or a screenwriting class. To the dismay of many, I actually do sit down and write poetry and lyrics whenever the inspiration strikes, and recently it has been pummeling me, so much that I've decided to hone my skills into something I can be proud of.

'Should I even bother?' is what I have been asking myself and one of the big turn-offs would be the sheer amount of Lunatics in any type of creative poetry class. I feel as if I would need to grow dreadlocks and slam my face into a series of illicit drugs for weeks on end before I attend one of these classes. Let the stereotypes fly as they must, but I've seen them to be true more times than not.

Online classes seem like they take the critical part of interactive learning though, eliminating the social structure of a school-like environment and planting you behind your computer. Not sure if I want that, but the last thing I need to do is head down to Hemp Central and read my poetry at Las Vetas to bongo drums; not my style.

But anyway, back to my original question: What is an Online Course and how does it work? This concept is alien to me and I have no intention of getting a Degree either. I'm simply doing this for myself as it is my only hobby that has yet to cost me money (other than the mental anguish of my boss constantly asking me why I am singing to myself while polishing firearms).

Any help would be appreciated.

[Lawn Guyland]

ive taken a few online courses while i was here at new paltz.

IMO i really didn't like them...i like being in the classroom, getting to know my professor, and so on. basically what we had to do was readings every week and write a response...there were tests too where the professor would post powerpoint presentations and then put the tests online for us to take and we'd have a time span where we had to complete it....

it's harder to ask questions and get answers through online courses too...professors can ignore emails all they want, but when you're in a classroom face to face they really have no choice but to response

[Pedro]

I took a couple online classes at school. Not to terrible, but none were writing classes so I can't really compare a business class to a writing class. What happened in mine was not to hard. There was an online "forum" that the classmates and the professor could talk. The prof would let us know of assignments, deadlines, etc. through the forum. Then we would post our responses and sometimes critique what others did.

My roommate took a few online classes this semester and all he did was write essays every week and turn them in. Still not sure if taking these classes would give you much help tho as you seem to grasp the english language and writing very well as it is. I feel it might be a waste of money. Maybe there are other cheaper alternatives of where you can get your work critiqued or heard? Maybe local meetings or something somewhere?

[Pedro]

ive taken a few online courses while i was here at new paltz.

IMO i really didn't like them...i like being in the classroom, getting to know my professor, and so on. basically what we had to do was readings every week and write a response...there were tests too where the professor would post powerpoint presentations and then put the tests online for us to take and we'd have a time span where we had to complete it....

it's harder to ask questions and get answers through online courses too...professors can ignore emails all they want, but when you're in a classroom face to face they really have no choice but to response

I will definitely agree with this. Pretty much how I felt about it.

[Buffalo Phil]

You both bring up valid points, points in which I have visited from time to time. I need to be in a classroom in the end as my Computer is plagued with distractions.

I'll start my search soon, maybe I can find some normal classes, even at the Community College level and see what is available.

[HeavyMetal]

if u do the CC thing.
do NCC, not HCC. for the love of god

but u knew that.

[Lawn Guyland]

remember, NCC gives you a free cap and gown!

[Zullock Holmes]

organized learning through institutional means is pointless when it comes to self betterment, the only thing college does is give you a piece of paper. Every valuable skill i have ever learned has been learned for the most part, outside of school in work or a real like scenario. (Technical and trade schools are the only exception)

That being said, you wanna better your writing, then read. Go to library get some books on poetry, find your favorite poets material and read it, you will learn more this way than through anything some class will teach you and its free.



ohhh and NCC was the best college i attended, i actually liked it there. I hate Gateway for numerous reasons i cannot say.

[Buffalo Phil]

if u do the CC thing.
do NCC, not HCC. for the love of god

but u knew that.

My mother has worked at both NCC and HCC so maybe I should go bother her...

But yeah, fuck HCC.

[Buffalo Phil]

organized learning through institutional means is pointless when it comes to self betterment, the only thing college does is give you a piece of paper. Every valuable skill i have ever learned has been learned for the most part, outside of school in work or a real like scenario. (Technical and trade schools are the only exception)

That being said, you wanna better your writing, then read. Go to library get some books on poetry, find your favorite poets material and read it, you will learn more this way than through anything some class will teach you and its free.



ohhh and NCC was the best college i attended, i actually liked it there. I hate Gateway for numerous reasons i cannot say.

Self Betterment in the writing community comes from critiques, as poor or brilliant as they may be. Sitting in a library reading other people's filth will do me no good as I'm trying to create myself, not imitate others (and on top of that, my greatest inspiration would be considered by other to be nothing more than a raving drugged-up lunatic, full circle, maybe) I've tried it and I'm not a fan. Sifting through pages of poor, unorganized work is not what I consider educational other than 'what not to write'.

I require an interactive environment.

[Pedro]

organized learning through institutional means is pointless when it comes to self betterment, the only thing college does is give you a piece of paper. Every valuable skill i have ever learned has been learned for the most part, outside of school in work or a real like scenario. (Technical and trade schools are the only exception)

I used to think this, but now that I went through it I disagree. College teaches you great life skills like time management, how to live on your own, and budgeting, just to name a few. I agree that you can learn an incredible amount from experience (and I have) but there are a lot of things that I learned in college that I may never have if I didnt go. It has also made me understand what I want to do, how to get there, and how to look better than that other guy who applied for the job. Just getting a degree means more to an employer than that you just got decent enough grades to pass. It means that you also posses life skills, self determination, and motivation.

[rweaver138]

i took my first online course this semester and honestly, didnt learn jack shit. i only opened the book when a test or assignment was due. it was a "principles of management" class and i probably couldn't tell you one thing that i have learned from this "class."

being in an actual classroom forces you to learn the required text, but the online course fit my schedule much better. oh well, an easy A and 3 credits.

[Magilla]

I feel as if I would need to grow dreadlocks and slam my face into a series of illicit drugs for weeks on end before I attend one of these classes.

Not sure if I want that, but the last thing I need to do is head down to Hemp Central and read my poetry at Las Vetas to bongo drums; not my style.

im down

[Krazors001]

organized learning through institutional means is pointless when it comes to self betterment, the only thing college does is give you a piece of paper. Every valuable skill i have ever learned has been learned for the most part, outside of school in work or a real like scenario.

Terribly generic statement. Pete brings up some very good points of why college is good. Having work full time through school, I did learn self betterment as I was able to take what i learned in courses and apply it to my work. I was able to see faults in the way I looked at scenarios, either improving my own way of doing things or seeing the ways that others were incorrect.

i took my first online course this semester and honestly, didnt learn jack shit. i only opened the book when a test or assignment was due. it was a "principles of management" class and i probably couldn't tell you one thing that i have learned from this "class."

being in an actual classroom forces you to learn the required text, but the online course fit my schedule much better. oh well, an easy A and 3 credits.

Online courses being an easy A are only when you have teachers that don't give a shit. Yes they happen, but I have taken both easy A's and real courses that I learned from others as well. For the most part, they are similar to an online forum, but will also have tests and individual assignments. Some teachers will also record adobe presentations that you follow along with like you are in the classroom, but are better since you can pause and keep up easier.

I took a english course online last year from NCC that was good in the sense that it made me learn to budget my time and be able to develop my thoughts better and write more.

[Customjob]

I go to university of phoenix online. Ive never gone to a college. The "classroom" sort of reminds me of sis. Its just a forum. This is what it looks like.

You are given reading assignments and questions. You answer the questions in a discussion with the class such as "Week 4 DQ1"
If you promise not to post anything ill let you check it out under my name if you want a better look.