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Is Online Right for You? · Online with USU

• 0:00
  DAN ALLRED: If you've ever wondered about whether online education would fit into your life, whether it'd match your priorities, and allow you to do the things you need to while still getting your education, you're not alone. I answered those questions myself many years ago.
• 0:11
  Here at USU Online, we're passionate about distance education, but we acknowledge that it's not for everybody at this specific time of their life. Today, we're going to talk about some of the differences between on-campus and online education, and some of the considerations you should keep in mind. So sit back and let's talk. I'm Dan Allred, your host. And welcome to Online with USU, where education meets real life so you can build what's next.
• 0:32
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• 0:49
  I've got some notes here. And about 20 years of experience working with students and going through my own online education. So let's go ahead and kick things off by talking about key differences between online education and on-campus education. One of the biggest differences between online learning and in-person learning, when it comes to your own responsibility, is that for online classes, you do have to be more proactive. You have to be more present, as it were. Ironically so, because you're not going to be in a classroom every single week at a specific day and time. You have to make sure that you are on top of your assignments, that you know what's going on. The best thing to do is schedule time out for those. Treat it like a class that you would be going to. But instead of going to the classroom, going to your study spot. Whether that be at the dining room table or a home office or a different location of your choice.
• 1:36
  With online classes, it's very important to keep in mind how you're interacting with your professors. Of course, in a regular classroom, you can raise your hand and get your question answered immediately. However, with online classes, there is that difference in time and distance. They aren't going to be able to answer your questions immediately, in most cases. But you can still ask those questions. You'll have access to them via email, through the Canvas Learning Management System, which we use. Oftentimes, you can even schedule Zoom appointments. All of our professors keep office hours where they're available for students. And you can set up a time with them within those hour. And oftentimes coordinate with them outside of those hours as well.
• 2:11
  One thing to keep in mind here at Utah State is that all of our classes are built with the same goal in mind-- to provide a similar learning experience for all students, regardless of how they're taught. So your online classes are going to cover the same materials. They're going to have the same sorts of exercises and the same sorts of experiences within that online format. They'll be tailored for online, so that you'll be able to take full advantage of everything that online has to offer. But you're not getting anything less than a student in class that would be attending here on campus.
• 2:37
  I've had a lot of students ask me if online classes are harder than in-person classes. I've had a lot of students actually ask if they're easier, too, because of the nature of them. And to answer that question, it's really difficult, because it really depends on the individual student. Some students thrive in online classes. They really enjoy the flexibility, and they can manage themselves and their time really well. Other students-- and I appreciate those that have learned this for themselves-- don't do as well. They really need a lot more structure to it. They need the professor there in class.
• 3:05
  And so it really depends on your own abilities and the amount of work and effort you put into it. Can everyone survive in an online class? I believe they can. Will it take more work for some than others? It might. I think everybody can succeed where they put forth the effort.
• 3:19
  A lot of students ask about what sort of tech they need and how much tech do they need to know in order to be successful in an online class. I'm happy to say that when it comes to the technology requirements for online courses here at Utah State University, your most recent update of a web browser, a reliable computer, and a stable internet connection is just about all you need.
• 3:41
  Some other programs, such as word processing, spreadsheets, can come in very handy, and are required for some writing assignments, but those are readily available. And in fact, students actually have free access to Microsoft Office tools that they can get through the university.
• 3:56
  So in short, you do need to be competent and be able to use technology-- sending emails, posting messages, attaching files, and such like that. But you don't need to be a computer hacker in order to succeed in an online class.
• 4:07
  When it comes to online classes at Utah State University, we use Canvas for our learning management system. It's used by institutions and schools across the country, both K through 12, as well as higher education. We've been with them for a while and have a great reputation with them. We have lots of tutorials and guides to help students along the way, as well as experts that can help assist in technical issues. To find out more information about our learning management system, Canvas, you can go to online.usu.edu.
• 4:32
  Now that we've talked about some of the differences between online courses and in-person courses, as well as some of the technology requirement-- or not requirements, as the case may be-- let's talk about some of the lifestyle impacts on online classes. This tends to be one of the biggest things that students think about when they think about, how am I going to get online education to fit into my schedule?
• 4:52
  I speak from, as I said, 20 years of working with students, as well as my own experience of doing my master's degree 100% online. And it is different for every single person. Everyone needs to be able to identify some time that they can set aside for their online classes. Lifestyle impact is one of the most important questions we have to address when it comes to online classes. And there is a reality that there are times where you probably should not be in school, because you have too many other important things you need to do, whether that's providing for yourself and your family, or just getting through the day.
• 5:23
  When it comes to online classes, a good rule of thumb is for each three-credit-hour class that you may be in, plan on nine hours a week worth of studying, homework, and reviewing your online materials. If you can identify time in your schedule that you can take online classes-- without interfering with your other priorities-- then that time will look different for every single person.
• 5:43
  From my own personal experience, my family tended to all get to bed at around 9:30. And so from 9:30 to midnight was the time that I was able to dedicate fully to my online coursework. I also had a job where I was able to work on it there as well, which was very fortunate.
• 5:57
  I've had a lot of people ask me, can I go full-time education while working full time, with a wife and a family, and still succeed? And I'll tell you a story. My best friend growing up did that. While he was finishing his bachelor's degree, he was working 50 hours a week-- with a wife and kid-- and taking 18 credit hours, which is the maximum number of hours you can take. That is about a 56-hour-a-week commitment if you do the estimation of it. At the time, I was also completing my master's degree. And so it just so happened that I was working at the institution that he was completing his bachelor's at, as an academic advisor.
• 6:40
  And so I get a call from him one night at 11:30, because he knew we were both up. And he says, Dan, can I get a C-minus in this general education course and still graduate? And I told him, I said, OK, well, all of my information says yeah, that will be fine. Double-check with your official advisor. But that should be good. And he says, good, because something has to give, and it can't be my major-specific coursework.
• 7:08
  And when it comes to online classes and scheduling online coursework, there are possibilities. There are many possibilities. Some of those possibilities do come with sacrifices. And only you can decide where those sacrifices take place. So once people ask me, is it possible to do this? I know a guy that did it. He was a certain kind of crazy, but he did it. And he took the sacrifices that he needed to. Is that the best thing for you? Only you can decide that.
• 7:37
  If you're looking to start taking online classes here at Utah State University, you can start in any given semester. Our semesters are 14 weeks long. And we have start dates in January for spring, May for summer, and August for fall. We also have some classes that start halfway through the semester, or will only run through half the semester. Starting in the beginning, going halfway. And then starting halfway, and going to the end. That is a smaller selection of classes, but oftentimes, if you aren't able to make a full semester start date, we can still get you in about halfway through. Summer semester offers some really cool opportunities.
• 8:11
  Most of our students that go online go part time, which means that your standard four-year degree for a bachelor's is longer than four years. However, for students that go in the summer semester, they're oftentimes able to make up credits that enable them to keep that time down shorter than it would otherwise be. We did a study years ago with a lot of our post-traditional students who were taking online classes that found that despite the fact that they went part time, many of them taking classes in the summer were able to keep their pace up. So they graduated in a similar time frame to our on-campus classes. The other fun thing is that they graduated with an overall higher GPA.
• 8:48
  USU online offers over 70 online programs, including certificates, associate's, bachelor's, master's, and even a doctorate degree. If you want to see a complete list of the online opportunities, you can go to usu.edu/online. With over 70 programs, there's definitely an opportunity for everyone. How long it takes you to finish your program will depend on which program it is specifically. Certificates generally are faster. May be completed in one or two years. Associate's tend to be around two years. Longer, of course, if you're going part time. A bachelor's degree is considered a four-year degree. Again, if going part time, it may take five or six. Graduate programs, such as master's and doctorates, may vary, but are usually between one and two years.
• 9:27
  I know it can seem like a long time when looking at it from the beginning of the process. Keep in mind, though, that as you move towards your program, you'll be learning new things, gaining new skills that you'll be able to start using immediately. And while it may look like a long period of time from this perspective, as you move through the program, you'll find ways of fitting in more classes, speeding it up, and making use of your material.
• 9:49
  I will say that from my own experience with my master's program, I was taking one class a semester. And it took me five years to complete my master's. One of the things that kept me motivated was the fact that I was able to start using the things that I was learning immediately. I had a good relationship with several people in the classes as well. Professionals, like myself, that I was able to network with. And even though it took a long time, being able to be involved in the process of learning, sharing that with my family and friends and my colleagues, it's an empowering sensation.
• 10:20
  When it comes to being motivated as you move through your program, there are lots of different ways to do so. Of course, one of the key ways is remembering your why. Finding your why. Why did you start this program in the first place? The great thing about education is that as you go through it, you're able to see how it changes your circumstances, how it changes your life. As I said, sharing what you're learning with those around you is one of the most rewarding experiences ever. Not in a way of oh, look how cool I am. But just sharing that passion for the things that you're learning, and being able to apply that information to the things that you're doing, is so empowering.
• 10:55
  There are times that you will be discouraged. But don't forget that doing your education can be hard. But at the same time, it is so rewarding. Think about the future as you move forward. As you hit those hard spots, think about what you'll be able to do with this.
• 11:12
  There are a lot of benefits to online education. I would never have been able to do my master's program otherwise. The only school that offered it was out of state. I was not able to relocate my family. Being able to take those classes anytime of the day or night that I was able to was perfect for me. Online also gives you the benefit of a lot of accessibility. There's a lot of tools when it comes to disability accommodations that are baked in to online classes. You cannot pause a live lecture with a professor in class. You can do it, though, in your online coursework. You can take a break at any time if you need to. You can adjust your space so that it's comfortable for you.
• 11:55
  During my own experience in my master's program, there were some summer nights that were too gorgeous to be spent inside. So I took my laptop and a card table, and stuck it out underneath the trees, under the clear sky. It was beautiful. It was marvelous. And I loved every minute of it. I would not have been able to do that in an in-person class. So there are lots of things that you can customize about your online experience, that you can't about an in-person experience.
• 12:17
  When it comes to completing your education, online is a fantastic option. It is not for everyone, and it is not for everybody at the same time. So don't feel bad if it's not going to work out this semester. And don't feel bad if you need to take a break in your online education. Online education allows you the flexibility that you need to complete a program in your way, on your time.
• 12:41
  Thank you so much for joining me today with Online with USU. I hope that what we've just talked about has been useful to you as you discover and explore your own opportunities. If you have any questions, feel free to connect with us through the comments of this podcast, or by emailing us at online@usu.edu. So until next time, I'm Dan Allred, your host. And remember, keep building what's next. [MUSIC PLAYING]