Untitled

Subject: Frustrated

Student 1: Frustrated
"I have been trying to log into Blackboard and I can not seem to find the content page. I have clicked on almost every link to find it. Dr. Nilsson, I love your web page but it is so busy with links that it makes it difficult to find what you really need. I really want to do well in this class and in order for me to get points for reading / the chapter 1 diagram, I can not log onto the pop posting if I can not find the content page. Please help. This website makes me feel exhausted. Everytime I log in I have to read all the pages again just to find out where everything is."

(This student's login sessions and time on Blackboard: 5 sessions, time spent 55 minutes [= average 11 min. per session])

Students 2: Re: Frustrated
"How is it frustrating? It's the easiest web page ever, it has arrows and links that will take you to what you need to find. In the first place, everything we really need is in the page that first appears (green page). If you scroll down you will see the acknowlegdement bb link , the quizzes, and so forth. All you need to do is make sure you read everything on the "Dr. Nilsson Cyberoffice" link. Hope that helped.".

(This student's login sessions and time on Blackboard: 5 sessions, time spent 2 hours and 58 minutes [= average 7.5 min. per session])

Student 3: Re: Frustrated
"This class you need to dedicate at least 3 hours a week for class time plus whatever time you need to study and work on your assignments but remember that for each class hour you need to study 3 hours."

(This student's recommended work time (per week) to the frustrated student: 3 hours + 3 hours = 6 hours per week)

The following exchange took place between some students; the first statement is the reason for Friday's posting on the Class Communication page (January 25 -- about educational labyrinths and more. Recommended reading!). The second statement is a positive counter statement by a student that obviously enjoys this class. The third statement is from a student retaking the course.

Students 2: Re: Frustrated
"How is it frustrating? It's the easiest web page ever, it has arrows and links that will take you to what you need to find. In the first place, everything we really need is in the page that first appears (green page). If you scroll down you will see the acknowlegdement bb link , the quizzes, and so forth. All you need to do is make sure you read everything on the "Dr. Nilsson Cyberoffice link. Hope that helped.".
(This student's login sessions and time on Blackboard: 5 sessions, time spent 2 hours and 58 minutes [= average 7.5 min. per session])

The second student's average session is shorter than the students with problems, but so what if you have clearly no problems moving around finding information and have visited 24 times! If you have problems finding things on the web site -- the solution is to spend more time finding it. (It is part of what you are graded for. And, you might want to read the Friday posting if you have not read it.)

Finally, a student that has already experienced this course a previous semester said:

Student 3: Re: Frustrated
"This class you need to dedicate at least 3 hours a week for class time and whatever time you need to study and work on your assignments but remember that for each class hour you need to study 3 hours."

This is good advice. You need to remember that this is college. Here is the rule of thumb for study time -- you should already have heard this:

Depending on your educational background, how smart you are, and what grade you wish to have, in college you need to study 2-3 hours per credit hour per week, OUTSIDE of the classroom. This is a 3 credit hour class, so you need to study 6-9 hours per week during weeks the class meets in the classroom.

Regular students during week the class does not meet you need to add 3 hours per week... Online students -- unlike regular students you don't have 3 hours every week in the classroom. So you must spend those 3 hours counted using the Internet. That is the nature of online classes! Online classes are not supposed to be easier just because you don't have to come to class!

Actually, if you are not a so-called "self-starter" online classes -- while convenient -- are usually harder...

The students who was FRUSTRATED after 55 minutes (above) -- an online student not coming to a classroom, should have spent 3 hours BEFORE starting to count the "rule of thumb" 6-9 hours...

All of you, you do that?! Excellent! Of course, if you already have a master degree, a brain like Einstein's, and only wish to EARN a C, you probably don't need anywhere near that much...