For those of you who don't mind online learning, there is an interesting new site called
Straighterline.com . Here's what's cool about it. A college can choose to partner with straighterline.com by accepting credits students earn by taking courses at the site. The best part is the courses only cost a few hundred dollars each. McGraw Hill, the respected publishing company, is behind straighterline, so it's highly likely the content is rigorous and up to par with what one would expect from a college course.
Here's the problem, as of this writing, only four colleges have signed up to partner.
My questions are:
1) How would it benefit RVCC to partner with Straighterline?
2) How would it harm RVCC?
3) Why do you think the site exists?
4) What are your opinions related to online learning?
5) Research the partner colleges. Do they seem reputable? Why or why not?
6) What courses does Straighterline offer? Why were these chosen?
7) Is there a time limit on how long a student can take to complete a course?
16 comments:
I am tired of paying for the same text almost word for word for a newer version and for $100.00 more than a used text. I feel that I am being ripped off. I do not like to online versions of text as I have a problem reading them online.
After reading the straighter Line, the wave of the future blog, I have to comment on the clever way to earn college credit. However, the prices are still steep, and the purchase of books are still not an option. After more research on the website, the company doesn't except any type of financial aid, which can present a problem for those less fortunate that have bills to pay and support a family, why furthering an education. As I looked into this even further, (I have to say, became more interested, after reading the website), the courses offered are very limited, but great for those that are looking for prerequisites to classes for a jump start in their curriculum. The one area of high interest for me, was the flexibility of taking the course online, sitting at my dinner table at whatever hour, and finishing a class I can get credit for, at my own pace...Is this real? ..I would be very interested in any one elses input or comment!
Online courses void the whole college experience. And there is more of a chance of slacking off.
Regarding the on-line courses, I agree that the 'college experience' is valuable. I AM scheduled to take my first on-line course, but it it through RVCC. I am leary of these type of programs offered through on-line agencies. I've found that many times the credits do not transfer. Plus as Theresa said, the cost is still steep. I'm sure with the schedules of work/family/school that many adult students have now that we will eventually head towards more on-line or distance type learning, but I don't think we're there yet. We (my husband) have a company that writes software for grades/attendanc/financial aid, etc. for school. We have a lot of small technical and trade schools, but also schools such as Somerset VoTech. We have found that the distance learning type schools are more prone to losing their accreditation, and 'pushing the pencil' on grades and attendance situations. We've had this business for almost 30 years and have seen many type of start-up companies (schools) trying new ideas - so far, the traditional schools are the backbone of education. They're the ones in it for the long-haul. I, for one, gain much more from a classroom setting. I'm sure I may very well have a different opinion after my first on-line course this fall, so maybe I should hold my judgement, but for now, I've said my piece. I'm for the tradtional!
Yvonne, Jaime, and Marsha,
There are many proponents of online courses. After teaching and taking MANY online courses, I've decided that they pale in comparison to the in-class experience. From a teacher perspective, it is difficult to build relationships with students, ensure cheating doesn't occur, and teach new concepts. As a student, I found most online courses to be lightweight, requiring little participation from students other than the requisite posting or two a week.
Proponents state that shy students find their voice easier online and the convenience factor is huge.
Certain types of students prosper online: those who write well and have the self-discipline to log in to the online course regularly and get the work completed on time without major assistance from the instructor.
Regarding the Website in general, colleges would have to develop a partnership in order to accept credit from straighterline. Since the company is funded by a major publisher, the content is credible. I suppose if more colleges partner with them, they will create material for additional courses.
Well First i have to say what a cool topic. The few problems i know RVCC would have with partnering with straighter Line is the fact that they would be loosing students money. I mean come on, they charge us a $60 lab fee for a 6 week summer course. Straighter Line offers a variety of science classes which is nice but no degree programs. I didnt see any nursing courses so for me it wouldnt work but its a cool idea. I dont know, its cool but to me online learning is nothing like the real thing. It may be cheeper but in the long run are we learning more?
Oh i almost forgot about the whole Straighter Line topic, the only reason RVCC would hop on board with what they offer is if straighter line donated money to the college or advertised for them otherwise i dont think its in their interest to do so. I wish it would have shown me how many students have used their services. I think the only reason the site was started was because someone was probobly tired of paying on their student loans and thought let me create a site for the student and made it not all about money.
I think this site is very useful for those who want to learn and get a degree but don't have the time and enough money to go to school. A lot of students are either working or have a family to take care of and that make it hard for them to find time for school.
I think that online courses may help those that do not have the time to go to classes that do not fit around their schedule. It may also help those who are shy and give them a voice in the class as opposed to the talkative students dominating the class. As a student I prefer the face to face interation rather than online socializing and discussions. For most online classes the students interaction is monitored making everyone participate but the down side for teachers is that they can not ensure that is the students work or participation and cheating is much easier.
I can't think of any benefit to RVCC...besides saving a few parking spaces. As a matter of fact, RVCC will suffer in that aspect as well since we are charged a parking fee per credit.
The online courses are boring in my opinion, don't keep me motivated and I'd miss the lack of interaction with fellow students & Prof. & having my cup of joe right before class.
And, since I am a visual & auditory learner, I need that book in my hand or by side at all times.
Plus-
evening classes, on campus, are great if you want to avoid cooking dinner and the clean up..:-)
I agree with Professor Steve regarding the website. Colleges would have to develop a partnership in order to accept credit from Straighter Line. The publisher is a credible source; it might be feasible.
Many colleges are adopting changes in their curriculum to meet the needs of their students. One change is on-line education. I have taken both on-line and in classroom courses. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. I believe that students should do some research ahead of time before trying an on-line class.
One of the best advantages of courses on-line is the flexibility. The student can take the class at any time during the day or week. On-line courses allow a student the opportunity of learning while in the comfort of his or her home. Raritan Valley Community College boasts that you can stay in your pajamas and learn. Additionally, on-line classes serve to meet the needs of students who work full or part-time, have a family, and otherwise have a busy schedule. Another perk is the saving on commuting costs, i.e.; gas, wear and tear on your vehicle, and not traveling to and from school in inclement weather.
On-line learning has some disadvantages. A major disadvantage is the cost of the on-line class. The cost of the course can either be the same, or in some cases, more than in the classroom. Another disadvantage is the lack of supervision. A certain amount of discipline is needed to get started on your work and complete the work, as required. If a person is not motivated to finish what they start, then it probably is not a good idea to take an on-line class. The student who tends to procrastinate would not do well in an on-line course. The on-line class also isolates the student from the classroom, a lack of camaraderie prevails, and teacher/student communication can sometimes become a problem.
I personally prefer the traditional classroom experience. Learning is a multifaceted paradigm that requires imput through many sources: sight, hearing and doing. While I feel that I had a good learning experience, I feel that the in classroom experience offers higher rewards. The on-line class I took met on three occasions. We me the first day of class, then approximately half way through the course, and finally, on the last day. Our professor gave lecture at the first meeting. On the second meeting, we saw a film and discussed it and turned in half of our required assignment. Our professor elaborated on the final requirements due the last day of class. During our course, we had weekly required discussions on the web. I found the discussions interesting and informative. Our professor was available to answer questions via email or web ct. A few problematic gliches occurred when the web site was down or at times when there was a lapse in communication via email. The course required a voluminous amount of reading and typewritten paperwork. I felt that it was difficult to gauge how you were progressing in the course. I made sure to communicate with my professor to learn how I was doing. My hard work and effort paid off, and I did well in the course.
Although many of my collegues are taking on-line course through the University of Phoenix for their Master's Degree, I do not plan to go the on-line route. While studying for my MSN, I plan to take my courses in the classroom at either Kean University or Rutgers University.
This just seems like another easy way to earn college credit. A college degree may have been highly regarded at some point or another, but the fact is that the overall value is going down. More and more people are going to college every year, but in truth its only because it is extremely difficult to obtain a decent paying job with out some types of credentials. Online courses make it easier for people with prior commitments or full time jobs to get an education, too.
Between working and the rigors of homelife, the things we area responsible for to make the world run smoother, How can anyone MAKE time to do this work? Having to come to class, outside of home , allows me to say, "I have a class tonight so I can't....."work late, do laundry, answer phone call, do the checkbook, make dinner, cleqn up from dinner....
I think you need to know who the accreditating body is for any colege. THere are so many adds on line and TV about get your degree with this or that university or college. I feel that if this is all legitimate the it opens the door to many who could not attend a normal class. THey might be home bound or to far away as in some parts of the country. Colleges like RVCC are not accessible to everyone. Here in this part os the country everything is only an hour away. RVCC counld benefit from people like me looking for a Soc. of the Family class that is not offered every semester and when it is, I have to ba at work. No night class was offered. When a night class was offered it was cancelled the night it was to begin. I have the option of taking it at Kean U. on line but it will cost $1000.00 compared to RVCC at $450.00. I would choose RVCC hence RVCC benefits from my enrollment. The price usually dictates where I go. As far as reading on line text, at my age it gets rough. I tent to kill trees and print out everything if possible.
When looking at the website straighterline.com, I was very surprised that there are only 5 colleges that participate in this program. I think that most accredited universities would not accept any credits from this online program, because they most likely would not know how a course offered on this website would compare to courses offered at there school. I would really not see any purpose in RVCC partnering up with this website, because of the fact that they already offer online courses at a low cost to students.
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