Online Learning: How to improve our online experience.

Posted: December 1^st 2011

Jamie Newburg

By Jamie Newburg

As the Fall 2011 semester wraps up and Christmas break approaches all students desire is to quickly finish up their terms and head home for a relaxing holiday with friends and family.

While this is true and deserved there is one reality all students across the country need to be aware of…the 2^nd half of the year is quickly approaching. Just like in a sporting event or in any competition a school year is a tale of 2 halves. So in the hustle and bustle of the holiday’s college students need to be concerning themselves with registering for their next semester’s classes along with preparing for them with supplies and needs.

For many students this is no big deal, just sit down with your local college advisor and discuss how to frame and piece together your schedule for the next few weeks. This process doesn’t faze the students who are full time and attend the campus. They can have their class schedules set as all courses are available to them and there are many seats per course available at their fingertips.

“It is a very confusing process and very difficult to find availability in the exact course you need to complete your major,” These were the words of fellow Anoka-Ramsey community college student Jared Antilla who is studying Kinesiology.

Jared expressed the weeks and days leading up to his enrollment in courses at Anoka-Ramsey as “very stressful” and said he was “ unsure if he would get in to any courses that would actually benefit him and his major.”

Jared was recruited out of high school to play collegiate soccer. After exploring many different programs and opportunities to play in college, Jared had decided on “Northland International University.” The school had recruited Jared heavily since the 9^th grade and was excited to have him apart of their school and soccer program.

Jared was excited and the weeks leading up to the start of school were counting down quickly. “ I had prepared all summer and was ready to begin my new life of playing soccer and being a full time student.”

Just weeks before Jared was set to leave he received a letter from “NIU” stating that there had been an issue with his high school transcripts and all of his credits transferring over. The situation turned confusing and was very difficult to sort out in such a small time frame being that Jared only had weeks to complete it before he would begin classes.

Jared and his family both decided that a year of community college would help him in many ways. This would also give him another opportunity to improve his academic situation for a future 4-year institution.

He explored “Century College” and “Dakota Community” but eventually chose to take on-line classes through “Anoka-Ramsey Community College” and their D2L online system.

“ I saw the online classes as a way for me too have freedom to work and enjoy downtime as well as earning an education at my own pace.”

With all the unexpected problems and late changes in plans Jared had to rush to get into classes and courses that would count in a positive way toward his eventual desired major. He had trouble finding any classes that would work for him, and expressed long conversations on the phone and long meetings with advisors to try and resolve his issues.

“ I felt like I wasn’t even going to get to go to school at all this year, everyone of the advisors told me I would be just fine finding my classes but my attempts turned into long frustrating sessions with advisors and administration.”

Jared was forced to settle for some classes that would be beneficial, but not necessarily transferable to his area of study. After registering and finally completing the process Jared was plagued with lots of begging course late work and felt very behind right off the bat.

Jared is now enjoying his experience here at Anoka but definitely recommends either a larger selection with more seats of courses or a better option for those students who were forced to make a rushed decision due to special circumstances.