Online Courses

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Recommended: Compare and contrast online classes and traditional classes

In today’s fast paced world of technology, the standard college classroom is branching out from large classrooms and professors, to online courses where a student can earn a degree from the comfort of their home. Advancements in technology have provided schools the ability to teach students the same course content provided to students in the classroom. Some students, such as me, lead very busy lives, and the idea of sitting in a classroom is out of reach when you must also work a full time job and care for a family. While moving my education to an online setting was a difficult transition, the availability of these courses had a profound effect on my education: allowing me to earn my Associates Degree on my time, in any place that had an internet connection, and using the learning style that best worked for me. In 2010, I decided that returning to school to earn a degree was my only choice if I ever wanted to advance my life beyond the meaningless job I was working, to a full time career where I could be happy and provide a good life for my family. My options at the time were limited by the fact that I still needed to work full time to provide for my family. This left me with the option of part time nightly classes in a classroom setting, or enrolling in an online school. I had heard many stories about others who had attended online classes and were either unable to complete the courses, or felt that they had not really learned what was needed in order to succeed in their careers. I discovered, through research of comments by previous users, and through discussing online courses with school counselors that online classes are what you make of them. If I attempted to simply pass the courses and only learn what was needed in order to... ... middle of paper ... ...classroom all of my notes are already in a central location and sorted by class with easy search functions. I managed to complete my Associates Degree in a year and a half, and after completion took time to reflect on my online studies and how they impacted the rest of my life. I was now an entry level candidate for a career level job, and after getting over my initial fears and the stigma that follows online universities, I realized that the online classes not only supplied me with the knowledge needed for my career, but also shaped the way I would study in the future. Even now, as I am returning to school to continue my education, I no longer hold the same fears about online learning that I once did. Instead, I am excited to put what I learned in my first online course to work again as I move through my Bachelor’s Degree program with Western Governors University.

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