The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Online Classes

Many colleges and universities now offer a pretty good range of online courses in addition to traditional classroom choices. But are they for you? Most of the information you can find about whether or not to take online classes is full of information that doesn’t apply to real students, or that is so common sense as to be laughable. How can you know if you want to give online classes a try? Have a look at some of the real-world pros and cons of taking classes online and then decide if online or on-campus classes are something from which you could truly benefit.

About Online Classes

The majority of online classes are taught through an online program such as blackboard or a similar platform. Many times, instructors will post a written lecture for each week on the site. You then read that information from the computer screen, read the textbook, and do your homework. Assignments are uploaded to the class site and, in some cases, even exams are taken online.

Pros of Online Classes

There are many great benefits to taking online classes. Whether they will help you will depend, of course, upon your specific situation. Here are some of the things to love about taking classes online:

1. Since you don’t have to physically attend class, you can study in your pajamas and can attend class from home or any other location that has an Internet connection.
2. Because everything is available online, you can do the work at any time that is convenient to you.
3. Your schedule will be more open and flexible.
4. Online classes provide an appealing choice for classes that will be easy or are simply for review.
5. Most online classes allow you to work at your own pace, within reason.
6. They provide a good way to get classes out of the way that you don’t care about, but that are required.
7. Many of the tests will be online, meaning you can use your notes, your text, and the Internet.

Cons of Online Classes

1. The lack of a personal element can make it more difficult to learn the material.
2. Many online classes require a higher amount of work than their traditional counterparts.
3. Online study is not a good option for science, language, or math, as well as any other class that may be difficult to understand.
4. They may not fit all learning styles.
5. Teacher response to questions can take days.
6. Lack of structure can lead to procrastination.
7. More text reading is generally required.

While online classes may not be for everyone, they can be a great choice for people who live away from campus or for those who need a more flexible schedule. It is important to be careful, however, that you don’t take very difficult classes online because you may end up having to work twice as hard just to pass. The best idea is to measure your needs carefully before deciding whether or not to take online classes as part of your degree.