ChickSpeak

Within the last few years, online college courses have progressively become more popular.  Now, to add something new, colleges are creating “hybrid” classes as well. I’ve played the part of guinea pig for both of these types of classes; not only are they sometimes easier to access, but for all those earthy chicks out there, these classes are also better for the environment. 

I took my first online college class in my last year of high school. It turns out that if you aren’t quite in the mood to take an AP (advanced placement) class for college credits in high school, you can still take an online class and get a bit ahead. 

Basically with online classes, you get to take a class in your pajamas!  Well it’s more than that, but that’s one of the great things about it. I find that online classes are helpful when I’m putting together my schedule. I can never quite get every class I want to fit in perfectly. It always seems that something overlaps in time. That’s where online classes come in.  They allow you to take a college course at your own time each week. 

According to Education Portal, around 25 percent of college students are taking an online class as of fall 2008 and enrollment it has increased substantially since then. Generally an online course it set up the same way a normal college course is: a teacher is put in charge of the class and they assign reading, as well as have a typed out lecture for you to read, along with a test and an assignment to do each week. It’s all the work of a normal class, except you don’t have to worry about finding parking at school. 

I have been fortunate/unfortunate enough to learn about hybrid classes first hand as well. They were a little bit confusing at first but now that I’ve got the hang out it, it’s just as easy to handle as a normal class.  A hybrid class is something colleges are setting up where you actually go to school to take your class. You sit in a room with other students and a teacher is at the front of the room talking. So far everything should sound pretty routine. But wait…there’s a catch. 

Assignments, and reminders are given online instead of in the classroom. On the one hand, this is great because all of the papers your teacher would normally hand out to you are now online and accessible at any moment. This means no more getting behind if you miss a day of class and no more printing out millions of papers every day (see? I told you it was good for the environment). The only problem is that you actually have to remember to check online for your assignments.  If your one of those “out of sight, out of mind” chicks, then its hard to remember to do something if the only reminder you have is online and not in your binder.

So how do you know if online and hybrid classes are right for you? First off, do you have access to a computer with reliable Internet?  If not, then these classes are probably not for you. Aside from having Internet, you also need to be able to remember to actually go online and do the work.  I’ve had friends who have had trouble in online classes because they would simply forget to log on one week and would miss an entire weeks worth of assignments and points. 

In a nutshell, you chicks know what you’re capable of. If you think online and hybrid courses are the right thing for you, then take them if your school offers them. We are in a technology era so lets take advantage of everything colleges have to offer us! 

Sarah Lorsch is a sophomore at Moorpark college with her share of experience with online and hybrid classes. So far she has taken 10!  When she isn’t doing schoolwork she is hanging out with her friends and dabbling in arts and crafts.