Students’ and Professors’ thoughts about online classes
Taking a class on campus as opposed to staying in a warm apartment and completing the class online crosses students’ minds every winter morning.
Although students have the option of staying warm at home, studying in pajamas, what many students don’t know is they must pay extra for the online credits.
The Distance and Continuing Education Department offers online classes for students and the classes offered are based on what students need to take and what the individual departments are able to offer.
DCE was established after students expressed an interest in online learning.
The DCE reported more than 3,000 students are taking online classes for the spring semester.
“Students who take online classes do it to free up their work schedule,” Lisa Nordick, director of Distance and Continuing Education, said. “Students also can take the classes during the summer at home.”
Even though the classes offer convenience to students, many professors and students are leery about online classes.
“It was a lot of work to set up the course online. Professors have to consider that this is a different way to offer a course,” Ross Collins, associate professor of communication, said. “It is not like you can just throw things on the web.”
Dan Anderson, professor of civil engineering, said there would be no time for him to teach an online course, and that the online set up of classes is not appropriate for what they teach.
What students may not know is that professors who teach online courses are paid extra to teach the classes. The money is in addition to their salary.
“We get $180 per student. It is actually good money,” Collins said. “But there is a limit so you can’t make huge amounts of money.”
Nordick said the departments decide salary and not DCE.
Another thing to consider when taking an online class is the extra cost incurred by students.
The courses are not eligible for the NDSU tuition cap because they are self-funded and not state funded, Nordick said.
“The classes only cost extra when students exceed the cap,” she said. “If they are under the cap they are not paying extra money. If they are over the cap, then they pay for each online credit.”
Some students did not know the classes cost extra.
“I have never taken an online course, and I didn’t even know they cost extra,” Heidi Tidd, a freshman majoring in interior design, said. “I would only take one if I really needed it.”
Another student took an online class but the cost almost changed his mind.
“I took HNES 111 during the summer, and I was shocked at the price,” Dallas Diede, a sophomore majoring in biological science, said. “I do plan on taking more though because I like working at my own pace.”
With the classes being self-paced, Collins said “If you are not the type of person who has self discipline or you are a procrastinator, then don’t take the classes.”