Is attending a college or university online basically like teaching yourself the material ? (universities, tuition)

[sportslover]

I’m just curious as to how online school differs from brick and mortar classrooms. Do you find online college to be more challenging than in person schooling ? Is it true that you are basically just teaching yourself what’s in your textbooks vs it actually being taught to you ?

[tnff]

Depends what you mean by "teaching yourself vs brong taught to you."

At the freshman level, there is a bit more imstructor focus. But as you progress the instructor becomes more guide than teacher if you're thinking in basic school terms.

No serious college program, whether in class or on line will spoon feed you. You have to be a serious self motivated learner if you expect to learn in college.

As Professor Kingsfield said in Paper Chase, "You teach yourselves the law. I train your minds."

[Hemlock140]

The main difference is that the online college gets you a degree, required for most good jobs. Teching yourself gets you the knowledge, (maybe, if you chose good, accurate websites) but no one wants to hire someone who taught themselves using Google and Youtube. Having a relative that just got his degree online, they do have control to ensure no cheating, so you have to earn the degree. For example, your PC camera is on, with someone monitoring when taking exams.

[highplainsrus]

One big difference in online versus in-person education is the networked technology interfaces the student (and teacher) have to navigate. This adds additional learning on top of the other skills necessary for academic learning. Technology provides both advantages and disadvantages.

Some classes offer additional learning in addition to the textbooks. Teachers can bring a lot to the subject if they are well-trained (and motivated), but it can be more difficult for them to do that in the online environment.

[C24L]

Originally Posted by sportslover

I’m just curious as to how online school differs from brick and mortar classrooms. Do you find online college to be more challenging than in person schooling ? Is it true that you are basically just teaching yourself what’s in your textbooks vs it actually being taught to you ?

I found online college to be harder than in-person because you have to be more disciplined in my experience.

[Suburban_Guy]

Thoughts on online education?

[DanielWayne]

It depends on the college and the professor. It can be teaching yourself, or it can be interactive in all kinds of ways. Teachers may interact or they may not.

[WoodburyWoody]

Originally Posted by DanielWayne

It depends on the college and the professor. It can be teaching yourself, or it can be interactive in all kinds of ways. Teachers may interact or they may not.

This.

Just as with in-person instruction, it varies by institution, professor, student support, etc. there are many in-person diploma mills, where a pulse and paying tuition will buy the degree. Others include mentoring, academic rigor, apprpriate teaching and assessment types to fit the goals/objectives of a program and accountability by all involved - instructors, administrators, students, support staff, etc.

Online is no different. Some stink, some are superior.

[Williamholder]

Originally Posted by sportslover

I’m just curious as to how online school differs from brick and mortar classrooms. Do you find online college to be more challenging than in person schooling ? Is it true that you are basically just teaching yourself what’s in your textbooks vs it actually being taught to you ?

Hi! after many years of online however I decided to write here, I still think that the most perfect would be online combined with physical presence, besides this to make a system where who wants to stay at home and who does not want online can physically come to school.

[jtab4994]

Is attending a college or university online basically like teaching yourself the material ?

Sure, if you teach yourself the material then take 100 grand and light it on fire.