Myth #1. Online learning is easier and takes less time.

If you're looking for an easy way to get a degree, online may not be your best bet. Online learning requires increased time-management in exchange for the flexibility of completing class work without setting foot in a physical classroom. While online courses are just as academically rigorous as on-campus classes, they are tailored to meet the needs of your busy life by allowing you to shift the time you “attend” class to morning, evening, weekend or a variation of that.  You must still participate EVERY week. You must still turn in assignments on a deadline. You must still take tests and meet the same learning objectives as any other class at College of the Redwoods.

Myth #2. It's easy to cheat in an online class.

You might think that ethics take a backseat in an online classroom. But statistics show that cheating is no more prevalent in an online environment than in an on-campus environment. Plus, the tools utilized by College of the Redwoods to monitor and encourage academic integrity hold our students to a higher standard. Many faculty automatically send all homework papers through turnitin to check for plagiarism.  Faculty also use special configurations on tests that require you to enter a password, take the test in a timed manner, respond with additional essay questions that are judged against what you have been posting in the forums and then compared to your style and language when writing. Cheating is not tolerated and it is grounds for dismissal.

Myth #3. Online students are lonely.

If you think learning online will rob you of valuable classroom interaction with other students, think again. With the learning resources used in MyCR, such as discussion boards, online chat, webconferencing and more, you may find even more opportunities to share perspective and engage in healthy debate than you would in an on-campus environment. Your feeling of connection to your classmates is completely up to you. The more you participate, the more connected you will feel.  Want more connection? Be part of an online learning community—an informal community outside of your class. Check with your advisor to be added.

Myth #4. There are no real teachers in an online class.

At College of the Redwoods, you'll learn from the same expert instructors who teach our on-campus classes. While you won't see them in person real time, you will interact with them online through discussion postings, emails, online chat, and online lecture sessions using MyCR. In addition, the online environment also gives instructors the option of including other industry and research experts in you class without having to pay for travel across the country or around the world.

Myth #5. Employers won’t accept online degrees or classes.

With nearly seven million eLearners in the United States, employers are learning that 'online' is simply a new delivery format, not a separate kind of education. Students who take classes at College of the Redwoods, or any other accredited college with both traditional and online classes, will find that their transcripts make no mention of whether coursework was completed on campus or via computer. The student learning objectives are the same. The requirements are the same.  Some would even say that the online classes are more difficult because it REQUIRES every student to participate every week and show their progress.

Barry Tucker
Advisor for Online Learners
barry-tucker@redwoods.edu
707-476-4156