Online courses get an 'F'

Last semester I was navigating INSITE when I saw my golden ticket out of an 8 a.m. class. The School of Education was offering a course online. I could get credit for playing on the computer. I debated for some time until I did what most average college kids with 18 credit hours would do and registered for the course. It was the biggest mistake of my semester.\nThere are many downfalls to online learning. First, without constant exposure to a classroom setting, the only things I still remember from the class are the names of a couple of child psychologists. Unless you're one of those extremely motivated people who enjoys reading dry text, don't register for P255 online learning.\nSecond, technology failed me numerous times. One day I couldn't access Oncourse to complete a project. Another day, the drop box rejected my five-page paper without telling me. And numerous times my computer stopped breathing while I was in the middle of a group chat room discussion about IU basketball.\nThird, without having class every other day, I couldn't express my technological frustration to my instructor. I also couldn't explain to her I really wasn't learning anything by chatting with a computer screen for an hour. Furthermore, I couldn't walk down the hall and grab one of those computer magicians who always seem to save my life when the computer gets hungry and devours my 15-page paper on the historical significance of technology.\nThe only good aspect of the course was the field observation. Although it was 60 miles away -- and my car gets horrible gas mileage -- I enjoyed the experience with eighth-graders. But somehow my teacher's review of my skills mysteriously disappeared from the field placement office. I found out this small tidbit of thrilling information by e-mail an hour before my biggest final.\nThere are some benefits to online learning. When technology is up to par, it's easy. You can do it from your home. You can be a hermit in pajamas for a week without feeling guilty. And you don't have to worry about being called on in class. It's also convenient if you have a rough work load piled on top of the books. A report from MSNBC said 26,000 online courses currently exist on the Internet. \nBut a report by the Institute for Higher Education Policy says that 32 percent of the students registered for an online learning course drop out compared to the 4 percent of students who drop out of courses in classroom settings. One reason for the low classroom dropout rate is some students develop a loyalty and relationship with their professors and feel guilty for not completing a class.\n Another downfall to online learning is that anybody can create a Web site and call it an online learning course. Just last week I met Rudi Yogananda, the man famous for claiming he was going to turn the former Pi Kappa Alpha house into a homeless shelter. He told me his project was also a class and to visit the Web site to register. I was curious so I went the Web site and discovered it was his personal Web site and full of exaggerations. \nAs a society, we're getting lazy. If we allow technology to replace interpersonal communication, we become products of a culture known for McDonald's and couches. Get off your butt, go to class and say "no" to online learning.