What you can expect from your first online course

James Stephenson

Most, if not all, schools will require you to take a course, usually referred to as 'First Course', or something similar. The subject material may be something completely immaterial and will most likely have nothing to do with your intended course of study. The idea is to get you familiar with how online courses work and so you can get a feel for your study habits and how you need to allocate time.

One person reported that their first online course wasn't properly a course at all. It was more like an online discussion group, led by a friend who was familiar with the subject matter. Basically, he was guiding them through the classics of European literature, assigning projects to help the students to familiarize themselves with the material.  It wouldn't have actually been held as an online class except for the fact that the students were also busy with their schedules. They only had time to meet about once every other week, and figured that an online course was the best way to go.

It worked very well! They had some pretty lively discussions and got to read some amazing books. More importantly, it got them thinking more about online courses. Many of the students had been contemplating taking an online college class or two for about a year by that point. They never had a chance to complete their college education, and knew that they wouldn't have the opportunity to go back and study full-time anytime soon. An online course seemed like just the way to go, but previously some had thought that they would not be able to really focus their attention on it. Without a professor breathing down their necks and a classroom to discuss things in, they could not see the hope of sticking with the subject matter.

This online course showed them that they were wrong. If they were really interested in taking courses online, they could do anything that they wanted to. Immediately,  they started thinking about online degree programs. Earning a degree online made more sense the more they thought about it. After all, it would provide all the advantages of a college education without the drawbacks. They wouldn't have to rearrange their schedules, the tuition would be low, and they would still get a university degree that could help them get better jobs. If they didn't like it, they could always quit after a semester with very little time or money lost.

As it turns out, that online course was one of the best decisions each of the participants ever made. Now some have completed their degrees online, and it has opened up a world of possibilities for each of them. Although it wasn't easy finding good jobs, after several months those who were looking for new jobs found them. One stated "I am making more money than I ever have before, and best of all, I get to use my brain in my work."