Are Online College Courses Harder

You May Actually Do Better In Online Classes

While its not guaranteed, there is certainly the potential for online classes to provide a lift. If youre organized enough to keep track of deadlines for upcoming assignments, readings and projects and dont easily procrastinate, you might enjoy the amount of control you have over how to get it all done.

Online lectures are a great option if you tend to feel lost in the crowd of a classroom. They give you the ability to pause and take thorough notes or even re-watch parts you didnt quite understand the first time. Plus, you can always reach out to your course instructor through a message to ask questions about material you didnt understand.

Misconception #: It Will Still Take Four Years To Finish My Degree

This all depends on your pacing and whether you have any transfer credits that you can bring into your degree program. Its worth chatting with an admission counselor or academic advisor about your timeline and what factors may alter it.

For example, if you go to a transfer-friendly online school, you may learn your path is a lot shorter than you expected. Or, if you choose to take one course at a time, that pacing can also affect your plan.

When Aguilar first began her degree online at SNHU, she took one course per term. But, after learning she could accelerate her journey by taking two classes at a time, she went for it. That’s when I made the choice to double up on classes so I can cut that time in half, Aguilar said. Between her pacing and the number of transfer credits she was able to take with her, she finished her bachelors degree in about two years.

Why Are Accelerated Classes The Fastest Way To Finish College

Traditional courses, whether taken online or in person, are usually arranged in trimesters or semesters that are each 10 to 16 weeks long. It can take several years to finish a program like that. For example, a bachelors degree earned on a traditional schedule may take four or more years to achieve.

Accelerated class terms last from five weeks to eight weeks. This type of schedule can speed up the overall time that it takes to finish your degree.

Plus, accelerated programs often offer year-round classes. By not taking long breaks in the middle of the year, you may be able to have your degree in hand sooner.

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Communicate With Your Professor

Just because you are completing the course outside of the classroom doesnt mean that your professor isnt there to help. When you have questions or need help, dont hesitate to reach out to your professor via email or discussion boards.

Knowing that your professor is there to help you can reduce stress and will most certainly help you succeed.

Myth #: Las Online Courses Require Less Time Than Face

Reality: LAS Online courses require THE SAME OR MORE time as face-to-face courses.

LAS Online courses may provide students more flexibility and convenience when scheduling their academic day, but the idea that online classes and coursework require less time than face-to-face courses is just not true.

Generally, students spend 7 to 10 hours week for each online course they take. Imagine all the time you spend attending lecture, studying for exams, and completing assignments for face-to-face courses that is a good estimate of the time you will spend working on LAS Online course material.

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Massive Open Online Courses Explained

There are no hard-and-fast rules to free online courses , but there are some commonalities that can be found in most of them. One thing learners can usually find when investigating available courses is the syllabus for the course, which will outline what is covered.

Most MOOCs consist of a series of video lectures that are intended to instruct the learner on the material. Often, the course will include quizzes after some or all of the lectures. These are intended to make sure the learner is grasping the material. Depending on the MOOC structure, getting a passing grade on a quiz may be required to begin the next set of lectures.

In addition to quizzes, some MOOCs may include homework assignments. These assignments may be reading supplemental materials . Some homework assignments may be completing problems, doing a lab or other typical homework.

Finally, some MOOCs may have a final examination or assignment. If receiving a certification or college credit is an option, completing this final examination or assignment will almost certainly be a requirement for passing the course.

You Can Make Or Break It With Time Management

Its your responsibility to take the initiative to keep up with your work when enrolled in online classes. It can be easy to let assignments slide and miss due dates because of the wiggle room and flexibility that come with online courses.

Procrastination is a slippery slope and can affect your grade negatively. Its important to stay organized and follow a schedule because its difficult to catch up once you fall behind.

Many students underestimate the amount of time theyll spend studying for class. You should expect online courses to take about the same amount of time as traditional courses.

I wish there were resources to help you schedule your time while taking an online class. I didn’t know that there would still be strict deadlines in many of the courses, so although you’re not meeting during class time, a lot of scheduling and planning still has to be done for the course, says Gianna Sollitt of Newberry Public Relations & Marketing.

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Students Still Need To Submit Assignments And Receive Feedback

Rather than being able to simply click through their online courses, students should be asked to provide substantive evidence for their learning and receive feedback from an expert instructor.

When it comes to K-12 online learning, we firmly believe that all online courses should be taught by a trained instructor who is an expert in their subject matter. Thats why all of our courses are taught by Michigan-certified, highly qualified teachers.

In an online classroom with an instructor, students will need to demonstrate content mastery in order to pass their class. The instructor serves as the responsible unit for ensuring a student has met course expectations and is ready to proceed to the next lesson.

Because students can work through course content at their own pace, the primary role of the instructor is to provide students with individualized feedback to help them move to the next level in their learning.

The silver lining: For many students, this 1:1 feedback is an advantage to online learning. The individualized attention they receive from their instructor helps to foster their growth.

Basic Technology Skills Are A Must

Sure, our current generation of learners are pretty tech-savvy. But despite their prowess on social media, they may still have a few things to learn when it comes to the technology skills required to succeed in an online course.

At a basic level, online learners need to know how to:

• Create and/or save a document
• Use various technology tools
• Identify various file formats

If a student has not yet been asked to create a GoogleSlide and upload it as a PDF before, for example, this task may initially present a learning curve that is unrelated to the academic content of the assignment.

The silver lining: Of course, todays students are adaptable in digital environments. Once they learn how to navigate these various tools and file formats, they will have acquired some of the basic digital literacy skills that will be required of them in college courses and future workplaces.

At a more philosophical level, the way humans learn is changing. As adults, the majority of us have become accustomed to using Google or YouTube or Wikipedia to find answers to the problems were facing.

The Internet offers a rich, ever-growing pool of educational content, and its not going away anytime soon. Its critical for our students to learn how to use the Internet to acquire new information in order to remain life-long learners in our increasingly digital society.

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What Are Accelerated Courses

Traditional schools offer two main blocks of classes each year: a fall semester and a spring semester. At these universities, it typically takes four to five years to earn your bachelors degree. If you dont plan to stay in school that long, youre in the right place.

• Accelerated classes offer comparable content, but they do it in one-third of the time!
• Accelerated online college classes are offered year-round
• You can start classes right away since you dont have to wait for the Fall or Spring semester
• You can learn and get college credits at a faster pace

Accelerated classes come in a variety of lengths: five-week courses, six-week courses, and eight-week online courses being the most common.

Undergraduate students arent the only ones who can benefit from accelerated classes. Graduate students can also enroll in 5-week or 6-week classes leading to online masters degrees.

Are Accelerated Online Programs Cheaper Than Traditional Ones

It depends. Accelerated courses can be less expensive, but the costs vary widely depending on the university.

The best way to find out the total cost is to narrow down your school choices:

• Does the university offer your college major?
• Does the university have accelerated classes?
• Are there any tuition discounts for military or first responders?
• Is there a special online tuition rate or eTuition rate?
• Does the university offer financial aid: scholarships, grants, loans, or payment plans?

At some schools, the amount of time that you spend enrolled in the degree program determines your final costs. For example, when you pay a flat fee rather than paying by the credit hour. Therefore, if you finish quickly, you may pay less. Other schools sometimes require extra online fees that you wouldnt have to pay if you attended classes on campus. But on the flip side, campus programs often charge additional fees like parking, activity center fees, and so on. This is where a net price calculator can come in handy.

Another thing to keep in mindfinishing your degree quickly could mean that you land your dream job sooner. For that reason alone, fast-track classes might make the most financial sense.

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Misconception #1: It Can Be Just As Expensive As Going In Person

When you get your degree online, you may get to bypass specific fees such as room and board and tuition could be less expensive, too, depending on where you go. Some schools, such as SNHU, offer lower online tuition and havent raised it in more than a decade.

I’ve saved thousands of dollars, Stetz said. SNHU is less than I ever expected to spend on college… I don’t feel like I’m burying myself in debt like, I can walk away from college and kind of wipe my hands and go out and financially be able to do the things that I want to do.

Reid got his bachelors degree in psychology and Master of Public Health online at a cost per credit that amazed him. I was able to complete both degrees with what most people would probably pay for a bachelor’s degree, he said.

Youll also still have the option to seek financial support if thats something you want to do. By submitting your FAFSA application, you can learn what types of financial aid youre eligible for, including loans, grants and work-study jobs.

I’m lucky enough that I can get financial aid still for my classes, Lamoureux said. What I was able to get for financial aid ultimately covered both my classes and so I have ultimately only had to pay for books for each term.

What Are Some Potential Drawbacks Of Attending College On

Even though many students benefit from in-person learning, there are still a few reasons why online programs might be the better option for you. Here are a few crucial points to consider before you commit to an on-campus program.

Less Control Over Scheduling

In a traditional, on-campus degree program, you have much less control over when and where you attend classes than you would in an online program. If you have a crammed calendar, or if your availability tends to fluctuate for instance, if youre an independent contractor who goes through slow periods and busy periods you might want to opt for an online program. This can grant you a greater degree of control over your class schedule.

Commuting to Classes

If you attend your classes in person, youll need to commute to and from campus. Depending on your living arrangements, that can guzzle up gas, time, and money not to mention put you through stressful traffic jams every day. If you plan to enroll in an on-campus program, be sure to think carefully about the logistics around your daily commute.

Higher Tuition Expenses

Traditional students tend to have higher expenses due to factors such as student housing, on-campus meal programs, and public transit or gas for commuting.

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Shane Gasped And Returned To His Command Meaning Remained Muffled And Deep

The Advantages Of Online Classes

The ability to take complete college courses and programs online is invaluable for so many students.

And while there are some disadvantages , the benefits tend to outweigh them, which is why so many people today are opting to enroll online.

In fact, nearly 5.8 million people are enrolled in online college courses, with 28% of all college students enrolling in at least one online course.

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Weighing The Pros And Cons Of Online Vs In

Thanks to advancements in technology, distance education has become more accessible than ever before, with most U.S. colleges and universities now offering a wide range of online graduate and undergraduate degree programs. Recently, in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, more and more students are choosing to attend college online. Whether youre interested in studying healthcare, engineering, computer science, business, education, or another field altogether, theres a good chance youll be able to earn your degree, certificate, or credential online.

However, while online learning can offer many benefits, distance education isnt necessarily the right choice for everyone. Some students may achieve better educational outcomes in a traditional, on-campus setting, which comes with advantages of its own. In order to get the most out of your degree, its important to determine which style of learning works best for you.

To help you make the right decision, weve compiled this guide comparing the pros and cons of online college vs. traditional college. When choosing between online or in-person learning, its important to take into account factors like scheduling flexibility, course structure, learning environment, the role of technology, the need for self-motivation, and exposure to networking opportunities.

Are Summer Classes Harder Only If You Want Them To Be

Are summer classes harder or easier than regular school year classes? Its an age-old question that many panicky, pent-up students start asking themselves when they realize that their next few months arent going to be solely spent reading trashy romance novels by the pool.

But who says you cant mix school with pleasure?

Im going to lay out how you can plan your summer schedule to be as hard or as easy as you want it to be. Its up to you to knock out a harder course during summer school or simply punch the clock to get course credit for an easier class.

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Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

• Online Textbooks

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College currently offers several certificate, diploma, and degree programs that can be completed entirely online. We offer over 350 online courses that are taught by MGCCC instructors. Our partnership with the Mississippi Virtual Community College Consortium increases our offerings to nearly 3,000 courses, making it even easier to find classes that meet your educational needs and fit your schedule. Please talk to an enrollment specialist or faculty advisor for additional information about programs that will help you reach your goals.