Jim’s viewable streams of thought

This Module came in like a lamb and went out like a lion.  I started the week fairly comfortable in what was happening in my future online course; I had drafted a rough outline used many of the guidelines from the “keys to success” and the online course tours, posted in the discussion area thinking I had plenty of time to write up the learning activities draft since I have taught this course for going on 8 years in a f2f environment.  As usual, I guessed wrong in terms of how much time I thought it would take me to think of appropriate online activities and then complete the draft.  When drafting an online course everything must be typed into text and then added to the course management system.  This takes much more time than one could realistically plan and realization doesn’t occur until you actually start going through the process.  I’m used to giving much of the information orally but didn’t know how much I relied on the f2f environment for communicating the course information. 

So what you may say…  What I’m really coming to grips with is how much the students might not be actually understanding when I communicate orally.  How much of this information is not remembered?  Should not most of this information already have been somewhere in text in my computer files?  Even though I have no plans to teach a totally online course next year in AP psychology, I know my future psychology students will most likely benefit from the most amount of time I’ve ever put into the design of their course.

Jim(3)

     First some self disclosure, I’m taking 4 courses this summer in an effort to get a majority of the course work done for my CDIT degree before the fall; taking 2 classes and working fulltime, leaves me no time for my family or any other life sustaining activity and so, the sooner I finish this degree, the easier it will be for everybody.  Though I get praise from colleagues, friends, and strangers, the real workhorse behind the scenes is my wife; she must raise 2 kids by herself and take care of a husband that sits in front of a glowing box, for the short time he is at home. 

      So I think to myself,  why is it so hard?  I’ve worked fulltime before and taken 2 classes in traditional programs, and though difficult, I still felt like I had the resemblance of a life.   4 classes over the summer sounds like alot, but the term is only 2 weeks shorter than the spring or fall semesters and a normal fulltime load is 4 classes.  I took 4 classes and worked halftime when pursuing a graduate degree in psychology; once again, it was difficult but I had a life.  I certainly did not put in a solid 7 hours per day 7 days a week. 

     Now, I figure there are 2 possible major explanations for this, either traditional classes do not actually take the time they say they require, while online classes do.  Or, online classes in general are over compensating for being online, maybe suffering from an inferiority complex.  If we do the math, 4 x (9-12hrs) = 36-48hrs per week, I’m alleging 49.  Ok, that is the maximum hours per class but it is what it says…   So, I guess tradtional classes are not living up to the standard, why is that?  What makes online classes more effective at keeping students on task?  Let’s face it, the current organizational structure of university can’t survive, if all classes were online and designed competently.  What college student is actually going to spend 10 Hard hours (not lounging taking to your friends hours) per day, 6 days a week, for 4 years to complete a bachelors degree (that’s 5 classes per semester x 12 hours)?  Honestly, I just couldn’t and wouldn’t do what I’m doing now as an undergrad; I didn’t have the self discipline.

     So, where do we go from here?  How does this actually affect the design of our online courses?  If we tool down towards the minimum 9 hrs per class, would that make a traditional semester possible for students to handle (just barely, if you do the math).  What about people like me, teaching highschool?  What can high school students handle?  About how much time is reasonable for a highschool class? (remember, in a traditional school with 8-45 minute periods, 6-7 class periods per day is the norm)  

Just some questions…

(2)