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Are you ready to take an online course?
Some myths and facts to consider...

Background: There are more similarities than differences between online and face-to-face (f2f) classes, including the material, assignments, and in a modified form, discussions. However, some individuals expect online classes to be easier than f2f classes. In reality, online classes may be more difficult for some students, primarily because it is so easy to 'forget to go to class' (i.e., log on).

One fundamental difference between the two kinds of classes is the discussions. In the f2f class, all student discussions take place in real time (in person), so students do not have the opportunity to think about and research the topic, especially when the topic veers in an unexpected direction; in-class comments are 'top of the head'. In contrast, online class discussions are asynchronous, where students have an opportunity to think about and research both their own and their classmates' positions. Because of this capability, online classes tend to have more rigor/substance than f2f classes.

Below are a series of prevalent myths about taking online courses, along with the facts concerning the myths.

Myth 1: My work schedule is demanding and variable (I can't be in a classroom regularly) so the online format is great for me. All I need to do is hand in the homework assignments and keep up with the reading (I don't need to waste time in discussions).

Fact: If you are not an active participant in the online discussions, you will not successfully master the class material and there is a high probability that you will not earn a passing grade. Moreover, classroom discussion is a significant part of your final grade. Your participation grade can pull your overall average below 80%.

Myth 2: Online format means I have time for more classes, which should be manageable after work.

Fact: Contrary to myth, online courses require more diligence and heavier participation than their f2f counterparts. Online course assignments have been designed to require approximately the same amount of time as you would spend if you were attending a traditional class (class time plus homework time). The savings are in frictional costs (transportation time to and from class along with all the class time not directly related to learning the topic, breaks, chitchat, etc.). The rule of thumb for homework to class time for both f2f and online classes is 2-3 hours of homework for each hour of class time. In a 3-credit hour course one would expect to spend at least 9 hours per week to complete the readings and assignments and "in the classroom" (i.e., logged in to the classroom). To handle this workload, each student must budget/prioritize his/her time carefully. Plan to log into the classroom 4-5 times each week to add your comments to the discussion (you cannot expect to do well if you drift in occasionally and make a few gratuitous comments). Each time that you visit the online classroom, be sure to leave an audit trail (one or more responses that document your presence in the classroom).

Myth 3: Since I do not need to participate in every discussion, I can take time off from class.

Fact: You are responsible for the material covered in each and every discussion, which may deviate from the assigned readings. What you get out of a class is directly proportional to what you put into it. If you do not actively participate in all phases of the online classroom, you cheat yourself of the learning experience. Why then would you be willing to accept anything less than full participation with all of its benefits from the online class?

Myth 4: After submitting my assignments to the class, I need not visit the class again that week.

Fact: You are expected to join the clas 4-5 times a week and contribute/share your thoughts and comments to the ongoing discussions. As you can see from grading information, interaction with your classmates is important to your participation grade.

Myth 5: I am a working adult with a family and other classes to attend. I like the flexibility of the online format. Whether I hand in an assignment on time or not should not affect my grade.

Fact: Although instructors will generally do everything possible to accommodate their students, as indicated in Myth 4 you are expected to participate in the discussions 4-5 times a week and to turn in work on time. With the flexibility of an online course, it is easy to let things slip until the last minute.

• Plan ahead.
• Avoid procrastination.
• Even out the workload and reduce the tension.
• Take the time you need to absorb material before moving on.

Myth 6: Why think about something that another student has given much thought to? If I copy or paste a few paragraphs here and there from the web, it saves me time and never hurts anyone.

Fact: Class and SVSU policy are that students are expected to advance their opinions in their own words and where others' words or thoughts are used, to give appropriate citation. While the Internet makes it very easy to copy material, sophisticated tools are available that makes it easy to catch plagiarizers. Therefore, students should be diligent about citing sources.

Myth 7: Class discussions are informal exchanges of ideas, so instructors should not expect high quality writing in my responses.

Fact: Just as athletes put forth their best efforts in practices in order to be fully prepared for official events, the classroom is the place to learn/practice expressing yourself professionally. As such, each effort should be a best effort. Without such practice, you will not be ready/prepared when required to produce quality writing on the job.

Myth 8: I am busier than everybody else in the class, so I can't be expected to contribute as much to the discussions.

Fact: Enrollment in this class is a professional commitment/business relationship on the part of the student, which needs to be treated very seriously. Life events will intrude, but it is the student's responsibility to make whatever adjustments may be required to fulfill this responsibility.

Myth 9: I am busier than everybody else in the class and my demanding schedule means I can expect exceptions to any/all of the above.

Fact: All students are evaluated using the same criteria. VSpace tracks the number of messages posted to the Discussion Board. In addition to the VSpace statistics, I also keep track of the content of your posts as well as the quality of writing in your responses.

The ultimate fact: To get the most out of your class, participate thoughtfully, professionally, consistently, and often.

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