Someone close to me wants to take an on line class and I'm trying to explain to them the pros and cons?

Question

I need a little support for my argument

this person is a hermit already and needs to get out sometimes to do things, they also go on the computer way too much and they have talked to predators on the internet in the past.

And also the On line class might lead them to fall behind because without a real instructor they may not have the motivation to do their homework if they go days or weeks on end in their room with no instructor ?

Any more to this argument ? Any resources or facts about this ? And personal ideas?

She has never taken any college classes before and wants to start 2 year college this summer or fall.

Answer 1

I don't think you understand online courses.  Most high school and college level courses *DO* have an instructor.  Only the "cheap" ones are self-directed.

Many colleges have "hybrid" courses, too, where some work is online and some is in class.

Just because she's a "hermit" doesn't mean she can't do an online class.  Sometimes online courses are a very good fit for some people.  She may have a serious mental/medical condition that would cause her a lot of pain/grief if she attended a real-life class.  My husband, for instance, has agoraphobia - so he takes *many* online courses for continuing education for his professional license rather than attending seminars.

Just because someone takes an online class does not mean they'll go "weeks on end" sequestered in their room.  That's just a very illogical statement.

Online courses have due dates and deadlines.  The time involved varies from a few hours a week to a few hours a day depending on the course load.

Sorry, but you just have very week arguments for the "cons" of online classes.

Answer 2

Here's some info that may help:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Answer 3

It sounds like this problem is a little more complicated than merely "pros and cons of online classes" - it sounds like you want to talk your friend out of online classes and want to get her into a "real" classroom!

1) First off, you say your friend is "a hermit already and needs to get out sometimes to do things." Ok. Well, college can be a great way to do that. On the other hand, it can be a little scary. Interacting with professors, classmates, etc online before "taking the plunge" into a classroom might be a good thing.

2) "They also go on the computer way too much..." What is "way too much"? Is this your opinion? What are they doing online? Hanging out, chatting, researching, reading... What, exactly? There are hundreds of productive, fruitful things I can think of that I, freed of responsibilities for a week, could do on a computer. On the other hand, there are hundreds of unproductive things to do. Just being on a computer for long lengths of time isn't neccesarily bad.

3) "They have talked to predators on the internet in the past." Well, an online class really is probably one of the safer places to be online. It's an expensive place to "hang out" if you're a predator, as most online classes cost upwards of $300-400. This is probably the least of your worries.

4) "The online class might lead them to fall behind because without a real instructor they may not have the motivation to do their homework..." This is true. On the other hand, it's just as hard to get out of bed, get dressed, and go sit in a classroom with people you don't know, then study/do homework at home when there are other things to do. Trust me, I know. If you have to motivation and self-discipline to do homework for a live class, you will have it to do for an online class.