Online Classes

This semester I tried something new, I decided to go out on a limb and take two, online, classes for the first time in my college career.

I am currently enrolled In KINS 186, a two credit class that allows me to fulfill my wellness and fitness credits together in one semester. Along with this I also am taking KINS 313, sociology of sport, as an upper-level general education class.

When I first enrolled in the class I was overjoyed with my decisions and loved the idea that I wouldn’t have to actually go to class for five of my 15 credits. However, when September rolled around, I became worried I would forget about doing my online work and struggle to keep up.

Despite my worries, I have successfully kept up in my five credits of online work through the first month of classes, and actually thrived in some ways.

Although I normally don’t use my academic planner the University so gratefully supplied me with, I began to use it to remind myself of deadlines for my online coursework and help myself remember upcoming quizzes and exams.

My decision to keep track of my online coursework and go ahead in the work at times (another plus) has really made me enjoy online courses. Along with never having to wake up at inconvenient times to walk a chilly 15 minutes to class, being able to go ahead in coursework is one of the biggest perks of online class.

Knowing November is an extremely busy month for me, I went ahead in one of my online classes and completed my work due next month so I have time to focus on my other classes and work outside of school.

Online classes are simply just a convenience that allow you to thrive in a different way. While some will waddle through six inches of snow months from now to get to class in freezing temperatures, I will be in my warm bed with my laptop and a mug of hot chocolate laughing as I complete another assignment ahead of time.
-Trent Tetzlaff, Sports Editor

 

In-Person Class

Going to classes is what we came to college for.

Sitting in a classroom, taking notes and asking questions out-loud are some of the duties we have as students. Therefore, having in-person classes are the superior way to learn.

Seeing professors’ passion for a certain topic can be enlightening and inspiring. My freshman year of college, I took CJ 105, the first class that Journalism and communications students take to see if they are in the right major.

During that class, I had a professor that completely affirmed what I wanted to do. If I didn’t go to his class, I wouldn’t have realized that I want to be a writer for a newspaper and advocate for those who do not have a voice in society.

I feel it is an obligation to take classes with professors face to face. In online classes, how can you know when a teacher is passionate? In-person classes are just so much more engaging.

If we didn’t attend class, we would lack that necessary level of engagement. In online classes, students aren’t able to meet other students in the class to make new friends with and human interaction is lacking. How many of us can say that now in the sixth week of school, we haven’t talked to fellow students in a class?

Going to class in person gives you the opportunity to make new friends who could become best friends. Humans are drawn to other humans and we can’t survive without cooperation. By going to class, you learn from other people and bond with them just by being in the same room and learning together.

-Elizabeth Gosling, Staff writer