Love it by Casey Smith

I work at least two jobs during the school year, sometimes more. For all the Mavericks like me, for all the Mavs who are parents before students, for all the Mavs whose athletics schedules are more demanding than their school schedules, for all the Mavericks whose responsibilities have to come before chasing their dreams, online classes are the reason we can do both.

I’ll be the first to admit that online classes are much different than in-person classes. Sometimes the online version is harder than the in-person classes, either because communication can be more difficult or understanding can be more challenging in an online setting.

It’s not meant for everyone. But the professors who offer online classes are reaching beyond the comfort of a typical classroom setting and reaching those of us who would otherwise struggle completing our degrees. 

It’s very possible to succeed in an online class if you go into it with the right mindset- prepared to work hard, be self-motivated, and communicate efficiently. Set a schedule for yourself to stick to, even if it’s not self-paced.

If you’re struggling to understand something, reach out to your professor, write about it in the classroom forum, try watching YouTube videos and doing additional research to further your understanding. And if all else fails, remember that the same resources like the TLC are available for you even in an online class.

Hate it by Chris DeLeon

While online classes offer an alluring mental appeal of lounging around in one’s pajamas while studying at leisure, they aren’t as great as they sound. Taking one purely online class was enough to permanently break my desire to take that option. There are several pitfalls to taking online classes that can be avoided by sitting in an actual classroom.

One problem is disguised as an incentive: with online classes, an individual has all day to study, complete assignments or take a test. That’s great as long as the individual is not a procrastinator and doesn’t have distractions. This doesn’t bode well for individuals like me, who will be making mad scrambles to beat the 11:59 p.m. deadlines.

I am naturally inclined to procrastinate at nearly everything I do. Additionally, when I am sitting at the house, there are many distractions. The sprinkler needs moved, meals need to be cooked, laundry needs done, dishes need to be done and four dogs are each under the impression that all my attention needs to be devoted to them at all times.

Sitting in a classroom, all of those distractions are absent. It is relatively easy to pay attention to the professor and absorb the information being presented. Time between classes is great for completing assignments and all tests are taken at specific dates and times.

Another problem with online classes pertains to memory. I can remember intricate details such as the origin and insertion of the extensor carpi radialis longus muscle, but am absolute garbage at recollecting schedules. So when I look at the syllabus and see when a quiz is due, I have a 95 percent chance of forgetting within a day. If the memory lapse extends beyond the deadline, well there’s a great big zero that helps plummet one’s GPA.

Even when in-class courses have online tests through D2L, the professors remind the class of deadlines. Otherwise, as long as an individual shows up to class, quizzes and exams are placed directly in front of them. At that point, memory for course content is all that is required.

Finally, online classes are impersonal. It is not possible to form any sort of connection to the professor. They are a faceless entity in control of the student’s grade, and the student is nothing more than a set of grades to enter at the end of the class.

In person, the professor can see how much effort a student puts in. They can see how much an individual participates, pays attention or stays after class to ask questions. There’s also office hours for the student to seek further aid. At that point, the professor can see the student as an individual and take an earnest interest in their education.

In short, my personal experience with an online class left a foul taste in my mouth and I never wish to do it again. Classroom courses are just better regardless of the inconvenience of having to leave the house.