Summer school.... and the new Winter Terms... pros and cons

Summer school.

My first summer school experience
I remember my summer school session - taking two classes I thought I didn't have to take for my degree the first time I was in school (before I became a non-traditional student much later).

The classes were actually easy, because I'd had all the later classes already. I just didn't like the fact that it was summer, and I was in school.

I remember the weather
The Kentucky weather in summer is H.O.T., and this I also remember. There was a lot of walking involved at college, and it was sweltering that year.

One opinion at the Yahoo Nontrad group
At least one person at the Nontrad Yahoo group feels that summer classes this year are actually easier than regular ones, even though most colleges condense each class into a shorter time frame.

I always just assumed that the classes were harder when you took them in the summer.

I do remember that my professor was always apologizing to the class for "rushing through" some sections of the course, which made me think it really didn't cover the class as well as other times.

So really I am not a huge fan of summer school, unless a person HAS to go then.

Winter Term classes
Now some colleges have Winter Term, which is a lot like Summer term to me.

I feel like it's a good time to catch up on a class or two you need, and valuable when you need a prerequisite that isn't offered at other times, but I would MUCH rather take the time as a needed break from school.

Summing up
My opinion is that summer term classes are indeed harder than regular ones - - but necessary sometimes.

That's my take on them. I would much rather take a class during a regular term.

Online vs. face-to-face classes - which are better?

There is so much to consider when a non-traditional student is going back to college after a break.

Some questions he or she can ask are:

1. Can I afford college?
2. If I get a loan, how will I pay it back?
3. How will I go to school and still fulfill my family obligations?
4. Can I afford NOT to work while I am in school?
5. What kind of classes should I take, online or “regular” classes?
6. Are online classes WAY harder than regular classes?

Let's just pick one of these issues today - online vs. face-to-face classes.

I want to talk about choices here, and we will. But we must realize that sometimes in the real world, a student has a choice - and sometimes he or she does not.

REAL LIFE SOMETIMES SETS THE RULES.
Students must fit classes in a set schedule. Also, there may be pre-requisite classes that are only offered at a certain time OR online. And that's okay. You just have to work with what is available.

One thing is for sure - it can be hard figuring out just what classes you need to take, AND in what order.

GETTING HELP IS A GOOD IDEA
Getting a good college counselor to help with a schedule can really help. And knowing the professor’s reputation can also be helpful. That’s where a free service like profeval.com can be very handy.

WHICH KIND OF CLASS IS HARDER?
I think that taking online classes can be just as difficult as taking in-person classes; in fact, I think they take a lot more time and effort. Personally, being in a class with others helps me understand the concepts being taught in a college class. Also, I feel like I can absorb things easier when the teacher explains it, and I take notes, which I can study later.

If you are a self-started, and very responsible, chances are that you can handle an online class. You must be organized. You must check due dates often for yourself and keep a good calendar.

WHAT ABOUT A JOB SCHEDULE?
There is not always a choice on which type of class to take, especially for the non-traditional student, who must often balance family and job responsibilities with school, and only have some times to work with for their class schedules.

Online classes and assignments can be taken or done at any time, as long as deadlines are met. I think that’s one very powerful reason they are becoming more and more popular.

DO PEOPLE (or EMPLOYERS) RESPECT ONLINE CREDENTIALS?
Are online classes respected as much as face-to-face classes? Maybe not always, but I think as more time goes by, this will be less and less of a problem. I think that the school that offers the class makes a difference, though, so if you are attending a respected school online or in person, that can make a difference in the quality of your education.

MISSING AN ONLINE CLASS
If you have ever taken an online class, you know that if the class is required to all log in at the same time and respond to the teacher, whoever is absent is really missed, and even missing one online class can really get a person behind on his or her work. So you really can not miss an online class. Period.

COMBINATION ONLINE AND IN-PERSON CLASSES
Some online classes require you to meet the professor and touch base once or more. I think this can be a good idea if the people in the class are near enough to the school to do it.

THE PLUSES OF FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES
Some people learn better in person with a traditional class. That’s the way I learn best, but others learn just as well by themselves. Personally, if I have a choice, I choose face-to-face classes, because I learn better in a group.

I feel that other points of view are easier to get in a face-to-face class. Also, I feel that I can get to know the teacher and the other students better face to face. Study groups are easier to form there, too.

SO WHICH IS BETTER?
Whichever YOU are taking and like. And the trend is towards more online classes, to make it easier for students to get the education they need. So online classes are here to stay, and are a growing trend. As students and teachers get more used to them, I think they will get even better.

I think the online vs. in face-to-face classes choice is mainly personal, and sometimes there isn't a choice due to schedule conflict.

For me, face-to-face is just plain better, but I have had some great online classes, too. I think it’s great to have both kinds of classes. It wasn’t available when I first went to college.

So... non-traditional students have a great choice now. The online classes are opening up and many more courses are offered that way, making it possible for more non-traditional students to take the classes they need.

And that is always good.

ES

Sources for this article:
Chronicle.com
http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/2263/big-illinois-online-degree-program-gets-thumbs-up
Slashdot – Online vs. Traditional degree?
http://ask.slashdot.org/askslashdot/05/11/04/2316238.shtml?tid=146&tid=4
Students flocking to online study...from Seattle Pi.com
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/348198_online22.html
Teachers reflect on how they can get to know students online
at thejournal.com
http://thejournal.com/articles/15358_4
Are Online Classes Better? My Personal Experience by Kathryn Vercillo

Have a non-traditional Holiday!

photo by somadjinn@morguefile.com

HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY
I want to wish everyone a happy and joyous holiday season . Some non-traditional students may just have finished their finals. Some will be winding up a long educational session and will not go back.

WHAT NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS ARE DOING RIGHT NOW
Still others will be going back to school in person or online after the holidays. Others may be deciding whether or not to go to school next year and doing research into what they really want to do with the rest of their lives.

WHERE TO GET SUPPORT
Know that there is support for every non-traditional student, no matter what his or her age. You can go to the Non-traditional Student Website at
http://www.nontradstudents.com, or join the non-traditional yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Non-trads/

BE NON-TRADITIONAL!
Whether or not you are a non-traditional student now or will be later, I want to wish everyone a great holiday and holiday season. And if you are a non-traditional student, enjoy your non-traditional holiday and your vacation from school.

About relationships...

About Relationships...


RELATIONSHIPS AND TV SHOWS:
I was watching a TV show yesterday night - Gray's Anatomy. To me, this show is all about relationships. So is another show I enjoy, Desperate Housewives. It seems like the relationships in both of these shows are continually changing. It's so interesting to see how the characters in each show handle these changes. Each character tries very hard to make and stay friends. Some relationships work well, and others self-destruct. But for most of the characters in each show, relationships are important.

RELATIONSHIPS AND COLLEGE:
It was a big, a huge change for me to become a non-traditional student. It wasn't just the classes and homework that was challenging. It was making new relationships at school that became a challenge in a new way. How would I fit in? I felt very different from other students, and I was nervous about that. I wanted to have a good experience, too, and for me, that meant connecting with other people as well as learning.

I feel like my quality of life, how I feel, and how well I do in my jobs, my personal life, or at school is greatly influenced by the quality of my relationships in each situation. It is when those relationships founder, or never are established in a good way, that major problems can occur. Plus, for me, I can't really be truly happy unless part of my life includes relating to others. That goes for all aspects of my life - including going back to school. Like many students, the first time I was in school, my major focus was my friends. Now, the focus was changed when I went back to school as a non-traditional students. My main focus was now my education - - but I still wanted to make friends, too.

I WAS VERY WORRIED AT FIRST...
As a former (and current) non-traditional college student who was attending class with many younger students, I worried, especially at first, about whether or not my classmates would accept me. I pretty much knew that they wouldn't invite me into their social activities, mainly because who wants a parent - or somebody the age of your parents - to attend a social get-together when you are in your late teens or early 20's? Nobody. At least, I wouldn't have if I were their age.

I was very surprised to find that some of the younger students were very accepting. They didn't seem to care a lot about my age. Some didn't seem to be as accepting - but that could have been just the way they related to others. They kept to themselves, or just talked with people they already knew from other classes.

It was very nice when I was able to make friends at college who were older, like me. We just seemed to have a lot in common. It was easier to relate. I didn't have to leave my comfort zone. But I still wanted to connect with younger people, too.

PUTTING MYSELF "OUT THERE":
With younger people, like most of the people were in my classes, I found I had to "put myself out there" and introduce myself a lot, or start up conversations. This took some self-prodding to make myself do that. It is something that I would have found almost impossible when I first was in school, but now I can make myself do it. It still is not first nature for me, but I was very glad each time when I forced myself to take the lead and try to draw somebody out of his or her shell. After the ice was partially melted, it made everything a lot easier and the atmosphere in class a lot less stilted.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH TEACHERS
The first time I was in school, I very seldom interacted with my professors. I was just too shy. This time around, though, I felt a lot less intimidated, and was able to accept help and advice if I hit a rough spot. My professors welcomed my questions, and I felt I learned a lot more through personal interaction with my professors as a non-traditional student.

What are your thoughts about the importance of relationships? What has worked for you as a non-traditional student to make real friendships? I would love to hear your stories. Maybe "put yourself out there" a little and you can even do it anonymously here.

You can't peg a non-traditional student

Each non-traditional student is different. I think we all agree on that.

But some younger students can disagree.

The perception I get from some younger students is that we (older people - older students) are all alike!

Here are some things that I think younger students can believe about non-traditional students:

1. We are set in our ways (definitely NOT true)

2. We don't have a sense of humor (ditto)

3. We don't want to make friends in class (the opposite is true)

4. We don't understand them (well... this can be true sometimes...)

5. We love being a teacher's pet. (simply nonsense. Of course, we do listen to the teacher most times, which can be confusing to some other students.)

I think if younger students got to know us, they would know that we are just like them - different in every way from a stereotypical older student.

Every non-traditional student is an individual, and prides him or herself on being such, just like younger students do.

I made some very good younger friends while I was back in school. They taught me that I can't put younger students in any box either. Younger students are also individuals, and proud of it.

I think it will be awhile before attitudes (like #1-5, above) change. It will take lots and lots of new non-traditional students joining younger ones in class.

The younger students will be able to observe the older ones close up, and they will realize very soon that there is not that much difference between them and us.

I think we can learn a lot from each other, and that we bring a lot to each class we are in.

What do you all think? Do you agree with me?

Waiting to decide...

Today I saw a job in my old field in the Daily News. It looks tempting. It's the same one I have seen at least ten times, so the people doing it must move on or leave. I don't know. It uses a different program than I'm used to using, but that's par for the course.

There is always the choice of taking more courses and learning another skill. That is also tempting, but the idea of paying off school debt has a LOT of charm. Well... who knows what will happen?

Here is something interesting:

I wonder what it is! It's some Corel artwork from their Draw program. They do have some interesting art there.

The dogs next door have been barking all day. One of these days I'm going over there to talk to their owners. Probably not soon, though. I always imagine somebody will jump out of a bush on my way there.

Non-Traditional Students and choices

CHOICES...

I think non-traditional students have so many choices to make.

Should they:
1) Go to trade school - limit the training time
2) Go to college - even though it takes awhile
3) Try for a scholarship or grant
4) Take an aptitude test

I know I had a very hard time deciding what to take when I went back to school. Should it be Art Education or English Education? I decided on English at first but there are many reasons why Art may have also been a good choice. Graphic Art or Computer Web Page Design is also a field that would be fun.

Also important for every non-traditional student is deciding whether or not to go back to school full-time or part-time, and whether to attend while working full or part-time.

I am consulting and selling online right now, and there is SO much to learn. There are choices for that, too - where to list your items, what to list, what to charge, etc. etc.

I chose to go to a local car dealership and try to win a jeep today. I only won a choice of prizes online that I have to pay $5 for plus shipping. I think I'll look and see what is there, though. There may be that proverbial knife set or another fun prize that is worth the fee.

Anyway, to get back to the subject, it's all about choices - in life, and as a non-traditional student. I think my advice to non-traditional students would be to take the time to really think hard about whether the choices (in classes) will be ones that you will definitely want down the road.

You may want to try out the career choice first as a helper or assistant, etc. before you invest a lot of time and money in those classes.

If you think you already know what you want, you can go ahead and give it your best try. I think non-traditional students make the very best students AND employees -- because our work ethic and experience really help in the job situation.

I know that I have seen my share of employees that did not have the proper kind of responsibility -- some people I worked with always were absent on Fridays or Mondays. Some pretended to work hard, but really were doing the very least amount of work possible.

Most non-traditional students know what real work is all about. And as a student, the non-traditional kind KNOWS that he or she must get a good result out of his or her hard-earned money, and that makes a huge difference. When Mom or Dad is footing the bill, the money isn't hard-earned.

Most non-traditional students know that they have to PAY their school money back or have earned the money working hard for it. They want to get their money's worth, and that means studying, listening, and working VERY hard.

Motivation... how a non-traditional student can find it.

Non-traditional students DO have motivation. The ones that sign up, have a goal, and pursue that goal, while keeping up with a job, other responsibilities, a family, etc. etc. -- these people DO have motivation.

It helps to bolster motivation sometimes. I go to ITunes, my Mac's music and podcast-playing program, to help with motivation to do many things I must accomplish this summer.

If you do not have ITunes, you can download a FREE version by clicking this link:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

Both FREE music downloads and pay music downloads are available here. Haven't heard your favorite artist for awhile? Download a song for only $1.00.

New artists are often featured and you can get FREE song downloads to listen to... to see if you like them.

I listen to motivational podcasts on ITunes. I just select "Podcasts" at the upper left, and search the podcasts listed there, OR I find them online with search terms (just like you look for any page, only select "podcast" too) -- I have found many fun podcasts and load them on to ITunes using the Advanced and Subscribe to Podcast buttons (on the program, above.)

Non-traditional students can find classes, music, and motivation here at ITunes and on the internet. Here are a couple of motivational podcasts that I like:
The Procrastination Podcasts and
the Metamorphosis Site
(scroll down the page a little and click on "Audio Feed.")

Let me know if you like them!
Email me at Lizann447@yahoo.com. Until next time!

Deciding which classes to take

A major decision students have to make is what classes to take - how many at once, etc. Making a written plan with an advisor is a good step to take, whether or not your college requires this. You can zero in on your goals much easier this way.

Do you need basic requirements or are you getting a post-graduate degree or teaching certification? What kind of schedule do you require? Luckily, most colleges offer classes both during the day and at night or online.

Find out what constitutes full-time status at your University or college. And read the fine print on your loan or grant papers. Some loans or grants require full-time attendance.

REGISTER EARLY. The earlier you register, the better class schedule you will obtain. Always look into pre-requisites, which are the classes that are required before other classes. Sometimes a class you need will only be offered in the Spring or Fall semester. Take the time (at least a day) that you need to really look carefully at your class choices.

CHECK OUT YOUR PROFESSOR - there are a couple of good websites you can check out your professor with. One is ProfEval at http://www.profeval.com and the other is PickaProf at http://www.pickaprof.com