Online classes have become popular in today’s technological society for a variety of reasons including flexibility, the issue of traveling and convenience. Emporia State offers many online classes during the fall, spring and summer semesters in order to accommodate students.
Kathy Ermler, dean of graduate studies and Distance Education, said that for her graduate students, many have full-time jobs and cannot return to campus for classes.
“Online offers the opportunity for a student to continue to work and go to school,” Ermler said.
She said she has heard from students that they “love the online environment” because they are able to study and participate in the class during a time of the day they are not busy, instead of a designated time that they are required to be there.
Ermler said she believes this helps students who live in areas where it may be difficult to attend a class three times a week. This applies not only to graduate students who have moved into the city where they will carry on their profession, but also for students who go don’t live in Emporia for the summer.
Joseph Gilligan, junior information systems major, took an ethics course online last spring.
“I took the course to help fit around my school and work schedule,” Gilligan said. “I won’t take an online class again unless I need to work around my schedule.”
Students don’t have to wait until college to take online classes. Justin Rahe, sophomore communications major, took psychology for college credit his senior year of high school, and it carried over to his studies at ESU.
Kelsey Kronawitter, senior secondary social sciences education major, said she sees disadvantages to taking online classes.
“I just haven’t taken one (online class) because I would probably forget that I am taking that class since I don’t have to go somewhere every day,” Kronawitter said. “In courses on campus, you get that one-on-one connection that you can’t get in online classes. I like the traditional classroom, with a professor I see.”
Still, Ermler said there are misconceptions about online classes, namely, that they are easier, that there are no deadlines, or that teachers are available around the clock to answer questions.
“None of these are true and it takes many different approaches to dispel these myths.” Ermler said.
One approach Ermler takes is to encourage students who are skeptical about online classes or uncertain about which class to take to ask friends about their experience with online learning. She said it’s important to remember that online classes have deadlines, due dates, and that assessments and feedback are also available via these classes.
