Typical Class / Session - Online Course

My typical day for this online class goes a little something like this:

1.) Log into www.unt.edu / blackboard.
2.) Check my calendar / syllabus daily (I always seem to get my classes mixed up and I'm constantly checking to see if I posted on the discussion board and whether or not I responded to my classmates).
3.) Pull up Twitter
4.) Pull up my blog
5.) Sit and brainstorm
6.) Customize my blog a little bit from the last time I logged on

And I do everything in this order. I'm not an organized person, but I do get in the habit of doing things a certain way that feels comfortable to me. I love taking online classes because it gives me the flexibility to "go to school" at my convenience. I can check things online from work or on my laptop if I'm at a coffee shop. I can sit at my computer in my pajamas and get up as late or stay up as late as I want and still be able to access my online class 24/7.

A few downsides is that I don't get to meet my classmates. As you can tell I'm a very social person and I do miss having class discussions and meeting new people. I know that is what the discussion boards are for, but they aren't really "real" time so it is hard to keep a conversation going. I also feel that online classes are a bit harder. I have taken classes both traditionally and online and I have to say I think the online classes are a bit more rigorous. I think the reason being is because you have to be very motivated and have a lot of self discipline. I find that I'm often giving up weekends (all day) to dedicate to my classes. I'm also doing them during work when I can and when I get home. So I feel you spend more time with online classes than you do with traditional classes.

With that being said, I would still take an online course over a traditional class any day. I'm currently enrolled in a Japanese course at Collin County Community College in Plano and I have to drive up there every Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours. I'm out of my element really and would prefer to be at home listening to music while I do my homework online.