National University (again)

I was checking out the website for National along with the type of on-line format they offered. It looks like there is little interaction except for message boards and written instructions from the professors. Is this that way it is presented? I would "assume" that some type of interaction via streaming video or real time chat, but I didn't see this. I tried to talk to a representative from the college, but none were available this evening.

Any insight?

 

Mr. Engineer wrote:

> It looks like there is little interaction except for message
> boards and written instructions from the professors. Is this
> that way it is presented?

My wife just took an online course from National; and yes, the messageboard and written instructions from the professor were all there was. A portion of the marks were given for participation on the messageboard, pretty much irrespective of what one said there, which led to a remarkably repetitive messageboard.

> I would "assume" that some type of interaction via
> streaming video or real time chat,

Not in the course my wife took.

 

NU

Message boards are fairly standard for online courses. Many students have older computers that can't handle streaming video or other hi-tech programs. Many of their computers can't even handle links to websites with heavy graphics.

Chat is great but when you have students spread over three time zones in the US and overseas, it doesn't work well. Message boards are asynchonous and students can still be very creative with their assignments.