Are Online Classes for You????
PLEASE READ THIS IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING TAKING MY PC ONLINE HISTORY CLASSES:
Every semester my online classes fill up quickly so the classes close early and put many students interested in online classes onto waiting lists. -The biggest frustration that I have as an instructor is that many of these very same students who got in and now block class enrollment never start the class and many just drop out in the 4th or 5th week -- quietly slipping away. This makes my classes really small and that saddens me, especially when I think about how so many others wanted in but couldn't do so.
I do not want you to sign up for this or any online class I offer unless you are absolutely honest with yourself and your commitment. That is, are you actually committed to starting and hopefully completing the class? Take a look at the class's syllabus. I post links to the syllabi of all my classes on my PC instructor's webpage: http://www.portervillecollege.edu/hargis/default.htm. See if the assignments, weekly procedures, and timelines will work with your schedule of work, family, other college classes, and other personal commitments.
I also don't need any students in my online classes that do not have the required text books on the day the class begins. Not having the book when the class begins is just plain stupid and not an acceptable excuse for missing assignments (your grade will suffer as there is NO LATE WORK). Once you sign up for the class you need to get the books ASAP, before the first day of the semester. The books are always in the college bookstore, and if you attempt to buy them online and they are not available for the beginning of the semester, you do so (again) at your own risk of losing points.
And, I want to emphasize to you that my online classes actually take more work and participation than regular ground or "face2face" classes. Again, you need to be honest with yourself about your decision to take one of my online classes. "Can I do it and do it successfully?" "Barring disasters, am I willing to do all the reading and all the assignments on time?" If not, then please make room for students who are willing and able to do so. There are no shortcuts and the assignments are not easy, so be honest and let those who can commit to the class get in.
As you think seriously about this, take a look at PC's online classes page:
http://www.portervillecollege.edu/online%5Fcourses/
and go through the orientation as that spells out some of the realities of online classes.
I would also have you consider these questions:
1. Do I have time to do a good job in this class?
2. Can I balance the weekly reading and postings with my family, work, other classes, or other obligations?
3. Can I get the book before class begins? (if you wait, you fall behind and lose points)
4. Do I like to read? (lots and lots of reading for online classes and having the book is required)
5. Do I have my own email account and do I check it daily?
6. Do I have sufficient computer skills? (attachments, chat, email, editing, cutting and pasting)
7. Is my computer reliable? (a broken computer is not an acceptable excuse)
8. Am I an honest person? (any evidence of plagiarism is an automatic F)
7. Am I able to do more than the minimum required? (that is the key to success in all my classes)
Finally, if you think that you can honestly answer yes to these questions then you are more than welcome to take my online classes.
NOW WHAT??? The next step is to go to the following site. Read everything, but you will not be able to access the class until about 1 week before the semester begins:
http://www.portervillecollege.edu/hargis/StartingOnlineClasses.htm
Hopefully, I will see you online!