My Myths about the Online Enviornment - ZAPPED!

I was very hesitant about taking online classes. Online degree was almost a bad word when it first entered cyberspace. I wasn’t computer savvy and I felt the quality of online classes would be less than traditional online classes. Plus, I felt people would look down on me if I told them I was taking online classes. I felt they would view me as lazy and trying to take the “easy” way out. Boy was I far from the truth!

I admit I put off taking online classes for as long as I could. I worked full time during the day so the only time I could take traditional courses was at night. I attended traditional classes at night in hopes that I could get all of my core classes in. I soon found out the traditional way of getting a degree wouldn’t work out for me. I found traditional classes to be less flexible. I also found I was tired all of the time! I would often drive straight from work to school with no break in between. Snickers bars and MM’s were often my dinner. I was always in a rush and looked half dazed by the time I arrived at my final destination. It was hard for me to switch from work mode to learning mode. Soon I felt I had no choice if I wanted to get my degree and continue on as a working adult. I decided to bite the bullet and take an online course.

I wanted to start out slow. I was really apprehensive about taking an online class. I knew I was no wizard on the computer. How the heck was I going to muddle through an online course? Half the time I felt lucky enough to be able to figure out some excel spreadsheet on my own. I was pleasantly surprised to discover taking a class online wasn’t as hard as it seemed. I had a huge amount of support from my fellow classmates and professor. We were all in the same boat and learning together. I would often ask questions online where under normal traditional circumstances I would have kept my mouth shut for fear of getting snickers or whispers. Not only did I NOT experience the negative feedback I was so afraid of I usually had the answer to my question in no time. And no one made me feel stupid about asking about it either. My peers or professor responses were full of enthusiasm and encouragement. Oh, and if I still had problems my peers and professor didn’t mind if I emailed them directly! One myth of mine squashed.

I quickly discovered taking an online class was no joke. It was hard! Much harder than the classes I took on campus. I found I had to be self-motivated and very disciplined because no one was going to take my classes or do my homework for me. I often dedicated more time towards my online classes than I did my traditional classes. And it was because I wanted too. It’s weird. I suddenly took great pride in taking my online class. Maybe it made me feel like more of a grown up. In any event my experience squashed any myths I may have had about online schooling.

Today, I’m proud to say I’m earning my degree online. I think I have learned a lot about myself and others through this experience. And even though I don’t get to talk to my classmates face to face I feel as though I get a greater amount of support from my online peers and professors than I did with my traditional classmates and instructors. I wouldn’t go to school any other way.