Back to School already

So classes started today for some of us. Other students may have done this before, but this is my first time taking an online course. It's essentially an organized forum with discussions moderated by our Professor. I'm comfortable enough reading forums, and I'm more than used to deep thoughts surrounding issues, but as a semi-lurker around my favorite forums, I'm sort of queasy about being forced to get out there and 'speak.' I don't know how I come across in this medium, but I'm a pretty quiet person IRL. I like to think before I speak, and if I feel like I have nothing substantial to offer to the conversation, I'm likely to not say anything at all.

Though I enjoy a good intellectual argument, I do not like to get in such things online as such things seem to dwindle to hatefulness rather quickly without the subtleties of little things like facial expressions behind the words.

I'm not totally sure why I'm even posting here, I guess I'm avoiding the people who are new to me over there. Practice makes perfect?
Cheers

Elitist jerk.

Its not that bad. The discussions rarely devolve that badly. Being active duty, I've taken quite a few of the online courses and I haven't had a bad one yet. They're truly worth it.

I'm taking three online courses this fall, so I'm hoping it won't be too bad!

I'll always prefer a live class, as I just don't think online courses can compare to actually being in a classroom. Still, these discussions can be pretty good (they're frequently used to build discussions outside of regular classes, too), depending on the class.

I wouldn't worry about them getting negative... these aren't game boards or something like that. If anything, the worst possibility for class discussion boards is tedium from other students not involving themselves. They're great if people get engaged and discuss things, but sometimes people can be kind of "meh" on these things. Try to get involved and put out good thoughts, and hopefully people will respond in kind.

If for some reason someone does get out of line, your teacher should do something about it. Even if they don't, the person getting out of line is pretty small... they're definitely not going to be worth getting bent out of shape about. When people get tetschy on the boards here, for instance, I just ignore them, especially when it becomes clear they have no interest in a real discussion.

Yeah, a lot of education is alive with the idea of internet schooling, and it does have its place (heck, we've had distance learning for a long time), but I think it gets trumpeted far too much. The University of Phoenix has a commercial with a bunch of professors talking about how they love to connect with their students, turn on "lightbulbs," etc.

Thing is, with an online course, you can only connect so much. You don't get to know the instructor and other students, and therefore have a more difficult time learning. Sure, you can still learn material, but it isn't the same. I've taught a few online courses, and it just doesn't compare... you can kind of get to know people by interacting with them via e-mail, etc., but it's hardly what you get in a real classroom.

Not always a choice, I know (my wife is probably going to have to get another degree via distance/online learning, as it's going to be too difficult for us to move and find jobs at a location, on the hope that she'll get admitted to that school), but that's my thinking. I probably worry too much about it, really: education and business get fads that fall by the wayside or get tempered by reality all the time.

hmm.. yesss... *Smokem pipe

about half of my college courses are online or have online notes. The realy hard thing (for me at lest) is managing myself while I work on the computer for the classes. It is realy easy to get distracted on the internet...there is just so much of it!!

Hi Ryxx,

Whatever u do, do it well. good luck.

Huh, didn't know about the underscores at all... I don't really notice them since everyone has their name underlined anyway. Guess I'll see if they could take them out.