Are Online Classes For You

Have you considered taking online classes?  There are plenty of online colleges out there that would love your business.  However, not everyone is cut out for taking online classes.  In addition, not all online schools will provide you with an education that has credentials you'll be able to use in your workplace or transfer to other schools.  The following information may help you decide whether online classes are for you, or whether taking classes in a traditional setting will suit you best.

Are you familiar with social networking?  Can you find anything you need to know by searching several search engines?  Do you know how to make a webcam work?  Do you have an email address?  If you can answer yes to these questions, odds are that you have the necessary technical knowledge you'll need to survive taking online classes.  Most coursework at online colleges will require you to log in several times a week and participate in group discussions or post in a classroom forum.  You'll also be expected to upload your assignments to a website or submit them via email to your professor.

Assuming you're technologically savvy, the next thing you should consider before signing up for online classes is whether you're a self starter or not. This is a very important factor in deciding whether to take online classes or not. Initially, the idea of not having to drive somewhere to classes sounds great. You can go to school in your jammies, drink coffee through lectures and do research without having to set foot in those hallowed library halls at a university. Unfortunately, the drawbacks are that you won't be in a regular classroom, no one will really notice whether you show up to class or not and blowing off assignments is incredibly easy. There is no real face-to-face contact, so it becomes very easy to slack off and possibly stop attending your virtual school all together.

Unless you are someone who is organized and driven, taking online classes may not be for you. You have to make the time to submit assignments, interact online with your classmates and do your reading and research all by yourself. For some people, this means balancing school, family and work priorities. In many cases, school online easily falls to the bottom of the priority pile since you won't have to physically get to a classroom at a brick and mortar university.

Going to school online can be a great opportunity for those who are disabled, live in a rural area, are in the military or simply have an unusual work schedule that prohibits them from attending school during normal hours.

Online students can expect to be challenged when they first start taking classes online. It is a good idea to take the minimum number of credit hours the first semester until navigating the virtual world of their university is achieved. There are many things to learn, such as how to use the library and other resources, how to interact with other students, when to post in forums, how to get assignments to professors and in some cases, virtual lectures and webcam meetings. Each online college or university has a different way of doing things, so the first semester or quarter will be spent learning how to use the various resources.

If you're up for a challenge and are tech savvy as well as motivated, online coursework may be for you. There are many accredited online colleges and universities that can provide you with a challenging virtual environment and help you achieve your dreams and degrees.