JBU Online

"The On-Line Classroom"

Ask what it's like to take an on-line course, and you will get different answers. Most will probably say that you won’t really know until you take one. However, to get some idea of what it may be like, read through the following analogy and think about how you would feel in this learning environment.

It is the first day of classes. You find the location of your class and enter the room. But when you look around you don’t see any other students. You are the only person that you can see. So you take another look at the classroom. On one wall there is a marker board and a bulletin board. You see there is writing on the marker board, and you go over to it. Your instructor has written a message to you with instructions for the first lesson and suggests that you collect the typed lecture from the bulletin board. You are invited to return to the classroom in the next few days to pin onto the bulletin board or write on the marker board any questions or comments you have about the lecture, the class, or anything related to the class.

You continue to look around the room. On another wall is a bank of 20 mailboxes. Each one has a name on it and an address. Then you notice that each one has a slot on the front big enough for messages to go through.

One of these mailboxes has your name and address on it. You notice a combination lock. You try the combination your instructor gave you, and sure enough it works. Your mailbox opens. There you find a personal message from your instructor and helpful information about the course, like where to find the chalk, what textbook you will need and where to buy it, the names and addresses of your fellow students, what to do if you forget your combination. On another document in your mailbox you find information about the course structure, assignments, tests, the grading system, and how your attendance will be taken.

As you look around again you find that other students and the instructor each have a mailbox. A notice above the mailboxes says that only the owner of the mailbox will receive messages put into that box.

When you look back at the marker board you learn that messages written on the marker board or tacked to the bulletin board can be read by anyone in the class.

Another note tells you that the classroom is always open and you are welcome to drop by any time you like. Security is never a problem, because only registered students are able to enter the building.

After a couple of days, you begin regular visits to the classroom. Each time you visit, you find additional messages from your instructor with instructions for the next section of the class and remarks that help you understand the course content. You notice interesting conversations going on at the bulletin board.

Students are making comments, and other students are responding. Sometimes these comments form long connected discussions. Now and then your instructor starts a new discussion subject. You find yourself enjoying these discussions and wanting to enter into them yourself.

In your mailbox you find many messages. Some are from your instructor with comments about assignments that you put into her mailbox. She also left a message inquiring about your recent “absence” from the class and wanted to know if everything is OK. Other messages are from fellow students who want to know how you interpreted one of the study questions or who wanted to reply privately to one of your public messages.

Occasionally when you enter the classroom you find other students there also. This gives you the opportunity to converse live. Sometimes you leave messages in other student’s mailboxes inviting them to meet you in the classroom at a certain time. At these times, you discuss the course content or work on group projects. It helps to talk person-to-person with fellow students.

Soon you find yourself looking forward to entering the classroom. You are eager to read the response to your latest message, to read messages that other students have put on the bulletin board, to pick up your assignments and stay connected to the whole class.

As you continue in the course, your fellow students stop being just names on mailboxes because you are learning their personalities. Everyone has shared information about himself or herself on a special section of the bulletin board. Some have even left their picture. Of course, some students you get to know better than others because you meet them in the classroom, or you call them on the phone, or you leave messages for each other in your mailboxes.

When you think back on the concerns you had about taking an on-line course, you realize how different it is from what you thought it would be like. You have found yourself part of an active, stimulating, learning community. It is a learning community that is really interested in your involvement and contribution to the class.

So, what has made the difference? Maybe it was being able to learn and participate whenever you wanted to attend class. Maybe you just work better when you are curled up in your own comfortable space, wearing whatever, and munching on your favorite snack. Maybe you have found that you can participate better when you aren’t trying to take notes, think, and respond all at the same time. But no matter what has made the difference, you have found this was a positive learning experience. And that is a good feeling.

The Bottom Line Facts About JBU Online Classes

• Classes have 20 or fewer students.
• You'll spend as much time (or more) for an online course as for a traditionally taught course.
• You can attend class any time of day from anywhere you can access the World Wide Web.
• You'll probably want to logon at least once a day.
• Students are of all ages, and many are working professionals.
• You have direct, one-to-one communication with your instructor and fellow students.