AccountingQueen
$16/per page/Negotiable
Full name: Dat Huynh
Class: ESL 100
Instructor: Thusat
Date: 07/07/2016
Online Classes Are Convenient For Non-Traditional Students
Nowadays, it seems that everyone is aware of the importance of education. They try their best to study as much as they can even though they might have some problems with their finances or location. Depending on someone’s situation, they have several ways to approach their studies such as taking an online class, having a flexible schedule, asking for financial aid, etc. In the article, “Colleges Embrace Older Students, Part-timers”, Sandra Block lets readers know about some difficulties that non-traditional students often encounter on their paths of education. For instance, they take care of their families so that they do not have time to attend classes, or their homes are far from colleges, or they cannot afford to pursue their studies. Owing to these difficulties, colleges and universities offer some solutions to allow non-traditional students to pursue their studies like opening evening classes, having online curriculums and having some classes at different locations. In addition, they can apply for financial aid or a scholarship to pay for their tuition. However, taking online classes is the best solution for non-traditional students because it costs less, saves time and avoids frustrations of commuting.
To create online classes, colleges should follow these steps. First of all, they have to create a website or Black Board site to post lectures and assignments. Secondly, they should have a strong technology department to help with fixes, maintenance, etc. Thirdly, teachers and students should be trained to join online classes, so they know how to interact with the Black Board site. This may take about six weeks and cost a lot of money to open a workshop. The money depends on the time they will be trained. Last but not least, teachers should share expertise with students. As I mentioned above, this solution requires money to open a workshop to train some people who want to participate. The money is from the college and tuition of students. The government should also support the college in opening a workshop. Furthermore, colleges should have some good teachers to accomplish this solution. It takes about six weeks to train them how to teach online and post lectures on the Black Board site. If students take an online class, it will bring some advantages to them.
Firstly, taking an online class costs less. Why would costs be lower? To answer this question, we should mention transportation. When taking an online class, students just stay at home to study instead of driving to school. Thus, it reduces travel costs such as the bus tickets, the train tickets, gas money, tolls, etc. For example, when I go to Truman College, I have to take two buses to go to the red line, and then take a red line to Truman College. It costs about $12 to go to Truman College from my house and vice versa. If I took an online class, I would save $12 per day from transportation. According to the article, Colleen O’Neill Conlan’s course has required her to go to Augusta every Monday for a three-hour class. She has to take a ferry ride to Rockland, then drives to Augusta. She has to sleep and has breakfast in Rockland before returning to the island on Tuesday. It costs her a lot of money to take a ferry, to drive, to rent a room, and to have breakfast before returning to the island. In addition, online classes sometimes do not require textbooks and materials. In those situations, students will not worry about money to buy school supplies or pay for textbooks and workbooks. For me, when I prepared for my exam to transfer to a university, I took an online class instead of going to school, and I did not need to buy any books. I could download some books I needed on the Internet. It was convenient for me and would be convenient for non-traditional students.
Secondly, taking an online class will save students’ time. If students take online classes, not only can they study but they can also work to earn money. They can arrange their time to study and work even when it is morning or late at night. They do not need to get up early or go home late because of going to school. For example, Conlan gets up early in the morning and leaves at 6:30 a.m. to take a ferry. She spends about 140 minutes in going to Augusta to attend a class, and she returns to the island on the next day. It takes her a lot of time to go to Augusta. In addition, students can save time for their families if they enroll in online classes. Assume that I have free time with my family, but I have to go to school so I have to cancel the appointment with my family. Because I do not have time with my family, it makes them feel sad. Sandra Block adds to this when she writes, “For non-traditional students with families and jobs, finding time to study and attend classes is a major challenge.” (3). Non-traditional students might be difficult to spend time on attending classes because they have to take care of their families or they have to work. Thus, if non-traditional students enroll in online classes, they can have time to take care of their families.
Finally, avoiding frustrations of commuting is one of the advantages that taking an online class will bring to students. Students can stay home to study if the weather is bad. If the weather is bad, college may be cancelled. If not, students may be in dangerous driving conditions. In addition to this, Sandra Block writes “Conlan says she’s fortunate that none of the monster storms that have blanketed New England this winter occurred on a Monday” (3). Because Conlan wants to pursue her study, she has to dodge storms every Monday to attend classes. It would be dangerous for her. Additionally, there is no traffic when taking an online class. Students are not scared about traffic and gone to school late. They just stay at home and access their account to study online. For example, when I took an online class, I just stayed at home to study through my laptop. So I was not worried about traffic.
In conclusion, taking online classes is becoming a trend in the education of non-traditional students, and it is the best solution because it lowers costs, saves time, and avoids frustrations of commuting. To conduct this solution, professors should create a website with a strong technology department, train students and teachers to use the Black Board site, and teachers should share expertise with students. Non-traditional students should pursue their study by taking online classes. It is convenient for a busy life.