So, I'm a 100% online student. Options

[*Libertie*]

So, as many of you know, I just moved back home to Texas. However, rather than switching colleges, I decided to stay with the same college and continue my degree with their "distance learning" program. I'm taking six classes online:

- Accounting II (Managerial)
- Programming I
- Multimedia Development
- Orientation to Computer Technology
- Intro to Networking
- Spanish II

Anyway, someone asked what it was like taking online classes, and I thought I'd tell you about it. :XD

Basically, you go to the login page, and it takes you to a list of your classes (images are thumbed).



Then you click on a class and this is the "classroom" once you get in..



You can do pretty much everything online and without having to make a trip to the college. I ordered my textbooks online (they came just in time thank god), and if they need a form they send it to you in the mail for you to sign and send back. The hard part is keeping organized.

I took some cell phone pictures of my little study area. XD This is how I'm keeping track of assignments. Today is Monday, so the board is pretty much full right now, but throughout the week I'll erase things as I complete them.



Annd my desk:



I have my own little corner in the dining area to do my work, but it gets hard to concentrate sometimes. And yes, my desk is extremely cluttered because I'm an extremely messy person.

So far I'm doing really well in my classes, but we'll see at the end of the semester whether or not I actually learn anything.

[malimars]

Wow thats really neat!! I dont know of anyone who did schooling online

[Just_Dream]

OMG I have one of those baskets, like the little red one on the left! Hehe they're really durable. Except mines is green.

Wait, how do you take tests? I mean, hypothetically speaking, you could open a book and get answers. Not that I'm saying you would cheat or anything! Or do they send a test to a certain place in a school in your area and you take the tests there with supervision? Just wondering. :P Of course, this question is only directed towards the Spanish course, since the other classes wouldn't really have tests that are written or anythign like that... Yea you know what I mean =X

hehe it's like you're being homeschool, but online! lol. IDK how I could concentrate, if I were to be learning while online. The computer is really distracting. It even distracts me from getting enough sleep!

BTW, your desk is realllllly clean compared to mine!

[HakunaMatata]

Ohhh believe me, that's not a cluttered desk. And that's so awesome! I hope you actually do end up learning stuff; I'm sure you will, you seem really organized and commited. Is it cheap to take classes online?

[voguelove]

niice. at our school, we can take just about any class online. i think it's a lot easier.

[*Libertie*]

Wait, how do you take tests? I mean, hypothetically speaking, you could open a book and get answers. Not that I'm saying you would cheat or anything! Or do they send a test to a certain place in a school in your area and you take the tests there with supervision? Just wondering. :P Of course, this question is only directed towards the Spanish course, since the other classes wouldn't really have tests that are written or anythign like that... Yea you know what I mean =X

For my Multimedia Development, Accounting, and Spanish classes, I just take the test online - it's timed, and I can use the book but I pretty much have to know the answers because I won't always have time to look it up. For the other classes, and I talked about it a bit in this topic, I have to be supervised by a proctor in order to keep me from stealing answers out of the book. :P

The computer definitely is distracting, that's why I force myself to sit at the desk. If I'm on the couch or in bed with my laptop, I have a tendency to be more relaxed and I don't get a lot done. I get distracted easily. Having the dry-erase board forces me to be organized. I'm EXTREMELY motivated this semester, I need to bring up my GPA.

As far as costs go, it's WAY more expensive online. Before, regular in-class courses PLUS books were usually under $2000 per semester. Now, it's closer to $5000. My college is pretty cheap compared to a lot of colleges, though.

And LOL Christina, I love the little basket, my mom gave it to me. XD Right now it's holding my dry erase markers. :)

[Jinny]

OMG
wow thaaats so cool

[viugiufgjhfhjfhg...]

My study area ._.

Current subjects of study are the spanish constitution (inside the Asus motherboard box), and the guvernmental structure of Spain; from town hall government to the country's presidency office (notes not shown in the picture, currently laying in a pile on the floor.).

[HakunaMatata]

Danielle, have you ever noticed that all I ever do in your topics is like, ask you questions? I mean, they're honest questions; but it's just something I've noticed.

I hope your GPA goes up. I'm totally jealous that you can stay that concentrated, I'd be so tempted to just tab Firefox and click around just for a few minutes....

[miiichellley]

I've heard about online classes all the time.
I think they're good in a way. But i think they also have downsides. You can't interact closely with the professors and get all your questions and details answered. And like kayceeisms said, a person like me would want to hit up myspace or blogger while i'm at it. But i think you're doing quite well. keep it up.

[*x1227x*]

I never knew that you could take online classes before! Trust me, your desk isn't messy as mine... I don't think you'd like to see a picture, because it's THAT messy!

[*Libertie*]

Danielle, have you ever noticed that all I ever do in your topics is like, ask you questions? I mean, they're honest questions; but it's just something I've noticed.

I hope your GPA goes up. I'm totally jealous that you can stay that concentrated, I'd be so tempted to just tab Firefox and click around just for a few minutes....

LOL That's okay. XDD Makes discussion more interesting I suppose!

I think I'll be okay grade-wise this semester. About the tabbing thing, I'm totally doing that right now. I'm bad about that.

[iDecay]

Dang. Your board has more than I do in a month at school. I'd consider taking all online classes if I could.

And since everyone's (shut up i know it's only 2) taking pictures of their stufy areas.. I guess I'd post one I took with my phone. ._.



Uhh.. Yeah.. Hella messy. I have another place too that's as messy.

[*sofakinglazy*]

Dani = eDegrees?

[*Libertie*]

^My degree plan is software development, it's available entirely online.

[sprezzatura]

That might be off topic but I have that exact same computer table that you've got.

It's from Wal-Mart right?

I wish I can take online classes during the summer so I won't waste my time.

[*Libertie*]

^ROFL yes, we got it at Wal-Mart. It was way too convenient to pass up. XD

[*Intercourse.*]

Haha, your desk doesn't look very cluttered by the picture. My dad did the whole online student thing so I got to see all of that. It seems neat though, my dad told me that I should do it for some of the classes so you don't get stuck with a lot of projects and just have to write papers every now and then.

[moninja]

LOL NERD.

































i like your desk, it's clean.

[HakunaMatata]

Ooohweee, more questions for Danielle.

Does being an online student give you a lot of free time? Are there video lectures, too? I know those exist at UC Berkely, but I'm not sure if that's reached online schools yet.

[*mzkandi*]

I had thought about taking my degree online through the Art Academy of San Fran but decided against it because I like hands on learning, especially for my art based classes. I have taken Gen Eds online and found the experience to be pleasent. I'm online a lot anyways so there was really no excuse not have my work done.

[multifaceted]

i go to an online high school..

for tests, they allow you to use your books (most of it is multiple choice) and have less than 5 opene ended questions.

for finals and midterms, they still allow you to use your books and it is the same format as the tests (only abolut 5 open ended questions)

for quizzes, you can check it youself and if it is wrong you can change it and get 100 guarrentee. (unless you are too lazy)

homework is just doing an open ended question that they grade. for things like math, there is no homework technically. all they grade is the tests, and the finals/midterms.

for other subjects, they grade the open ended homework, the tests, and the final and midterm. and the one project you have to write.

and you take the tests/midterms/finals/homework whenever and however long you want.

but if you have a short attention span (like me) it still takes a long time to do work!

[datass]

What actually happens if you don't understand something?

[*Libertie*]

^I still have a teacher, he/she gives me the assignment (actually all my teachers are male this semester) and I can e-mail him or post in the threaded discussion when I have a question.

Does being an online student give you a lot of free time? Are there video lectures, too? I know those exist at UC Berkely, but I'm not sure if that's reached online schools yet.

Oh gosh, right now I have TONS of free time but pretty soon I start work again so I'll be sorta busy. For one class they send us video lectures, but not for all of them. I guess it depends on how much work the professor wants to put into it as to whether or not they prepare video lectures.

[Stefanny]

dang, dani.

you make me frightened that i'll be worse than this in college.