Nov 12, 2015
Speedy Classes
So I just read a article about Arizona State University (ASU) starting up a program with the 15 week courses now crammed in to 7 1/2 weeks. All that came to mind was who did they question and what questions did they ask?
Here is the article but it really does not give the information I am looking for.
I know that the community college as well as ASU do hybrid classes but how well do people know these classes? I personally took summer classes which compiles a 16 week course in to a 5 week session. I not only did this once but I did it twice. The first time I did it I actually took two classes during a summer session and I am still shocked I passed with the high grades I had. I did not have my kids at the time and I was not working so all of my time was to school and it was well spent with school.
The second summer session I decided to only take 1 class and that was even harder. I spent 3 hours in the class in front of a computer and then after class I would spend 7 hours in front of a computer at school trying to get as much work done before heading home. Then I would spend a good 3 to 4 hours more in front of the computer at home just to get a bit ahead so I know I could finish the work needed to be done for tomorrow.
Again my kids were with family all summer and I was not working. Many of my classmates were working and were very much behind and I knew this because they would come into class and complain the entire time about time management or just not caring about the work. Myself and one other student that I know of were the only ones who passed that class with good grades.
Some people are able to to do these kinds of classes and pass them but he article says they are doing this for the student who works and wants to finish early. If these students have taken a class with this speed and are able to work then more power to them. I know just from my experience that this is no easy task.
The only thing I would tell anyone who is doing these courses is know what your getting in to? It was not easy for a lot of people with a other responsibilities and I know if it was not for my family I would not have passed myself.
I know that the community college as well as ASU do hybrid classes but how well do people know these classes? I personally took summer classes which compiles a 16 week course in to a 5 week session. I not only did this once but I did it twice. The first time I did it I actually took two classes during a summer session and I am still shocked I passed with the high grades I had. I did not have my kids at the time and I was not working so all of my time was to school and it was well spent with school.
The second summer session I decided to only take 1 class and that was even harder. I spent 3 hours in the class in front of a computer and then after class I would spend 7 hours in front of a computer at school trying to get as much work done before heading home. Then I would spend a good 3 to 4 hours more in front of the computer at home just to get a bit ahead so I know I could finish the work needed to be done for tomorrow.
Again my kids were with family all summer and I was not working. Many of my classmates were working and were very much behind and I knew this because they would come into class and complain the entire time about time management or just not caring about the work. Myself and one other student that I know of were the only ones who passed that class with good grades.
Some people are able to to do these kinds of classes and pass them but he article says they are doing this for the student who works and wants to finish early. If these students have taken a class with this speed and are able to work then more power to them. I know just from my experience that this is no easy task.
The only thing I would tell anyone who is doing these courses is know what your getting in to? It was not easy for a lot of people with a other responsibilities and I know if it was not for my family I would not have passed myself.
i said the same thing who ever decided that this was ideal for most students was only looking at the student population that did not have families ( children) to think about. ideally i have been able to get 4 classes like this at a time during the summer and manage passing grades in all classes but it was hard work. i did not spend as much time as i would have liked to with my son. although i have had help from my hubby and aunt. it is still hard because like you said work and kids and school is a really overloaded plate. i work and and a full time mom and wife, i take care of my home and family as well as doing all of the coursework on time its crazy but in the end worth it because i do this for the future of my son and my family.
ReplyDeletei said the same thing who ever decided that this was ideal for most students was only looking at the student population that did not have families ( children) to think about. ideally i have been able to get 4 classes like this at a time during the summer and manage passing grades in all classes but it was hard work. i did not spend as much time as i would have liked to with my son. although i have had help from my hubby and aunt. it is still hard because like you said work and kids and school is a really overloaded plate. i work and and a full time mom and wife, i take care of my home and family as well as doing all of the coursework on time its crazy but in the end worth it because i do this for the future of my son and my family.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenn. It doesn't sound like you have had good experiences taking summer semester courses at GCC. Sorry to hear that. Certainly compressed semesters are not for everyone. We all have different responsibilities outside of the classroom. I do however like the idea of students having more choices in class scheduling. This might allow some students to work education into lives, rather than the other way around. P.S. I liked your comment about "who did they question and what questions did they ask?" Too funny.
ReplyDeletei think its a way of trying to get somewhere fast BUT with the loss of experience - i am in the auto program which is about three years crammed into one year and i feel that i am missing a lot of things that i need to know.
ReplyDelete