The Journey
A newsletter for chapter advisors, chapter officers, and
regional officers.
February/
March 2001
Issue
Online
Courses:
Convenient or Problematic?
Many Phi Theta Kappa members and advisors are taking and teaching online courses. A survey by Headquarters revealed that feelings concerning these courses vary widely. However, the majority of the respondents say they love the convenience online courses provide. Below are excerpts of the comments received:
“My online course is more self-paced and less time – oriented than the traditional courses I have taken. If I want to study or do my coursework at 3 a.m., I am allowed to do so, whatever coincides with my schedule. I feel students learn more from Internet courses due to the fact that they must put more effort into the courses to comprehend the material efficiently. I would take another course online. This is my third online course so far, and I love it!”
Larry Salazar, Chapter Treasurer
McLennan Community College
Waco, Texas
“With the online classroom comes more flexibility and also much more responsibility. While you can complete assignments and coursework at your own pace, you also have to be motivated enough to keep up with the work and not let yourself fall behind. In other words, online classes are great, provided you aren’t a chronic procrastinator. I also feel that the interaction level among students is greatly hampered in this environment. In a regular classroom, you are in a room full of people, making it much easier to engage in conversation. Online, it is much more impersonal.”
Joyce Skidmore, Chapter Treasurer
Mountain Empire Community College
Big Stone Gap, Virginia
“In online courses more of the responsibility for learning is placed on the student. I have taught online classes for almost three years. Interaction is minimal. I do not use a chat room. Some students interact and receive free tutoring in our Learning Center. Online courses are certainly not for everyone, but I feel that they serve a need of our students. Our online enrollments at our school have grown from less than 20 students three years ago to more than 400 students this semester.”
Bill Graesser, Advisor
Ivy Tech State College
Richmond, Indiana
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