I love correspondence courses.

I loved correspondence courses too and I probably completed about half of my BS degree by strictly correspondence courses from a variety of accredited schools. I earned my Degree from Empire State College, which was a pioneer in distance learning, and my mentors provided me with all sorts of resources to find the courses I needed in order to meet my goals.

I took classes from BYU, Penn State, and many more including Empire State's own Center for Distance Learning. (I'd have to look at my transcript because I don't remember all these schools).

At the time I did this, it was like I had this grand secret, how I could actually "go to college" while having very limited finances, and nobody to babysit my young children while I "attended" classes. I absolutely loved the idea I was on my own, using the materials they provided, and the library for additional resources. This was in the late 80's and early 90's before the Internet was common in homes.

I started teaching "online" in 2003 and I love teaching online, but I was glad I took my courses before they were all online because I liked the simplicity of the correspondence better, for myself. When I looked for a doctorate program, and started asking questions about "group work" and weekly required discussions, etc., I found that NCU was more like "correspondence." So yes, this played a very big part in my decision to go with NCU.

Yet NCU is criticized for this, and if I remember correctly, I believe there are threads in this very forum "accusing" NCU of being "nothing but a correspondence school" (as if that was a BAD thing!) The correspondence courses that I have taken as part of my BS degree were all accredited and there was NOTHING inferior about them, though I fully believe they are "not for everybody."

 

Do you mean, "now I know why you are so screwed up"?

 

I've had good experiences with online learning BUT I guess I am also a bit if a "purist" ... I miss the correspondence courses I took with Harcourt, then Thompson Learning Direct (now Penn Foster College Online), my courses with Global University were great; just a textbook and a workbook then a proctored scantron.

 

I really liked some print based correspondence courses too. I did a couple of calculus courses that way...and wouldn't like to do that again!!! :sad:

 

I agree completely....I started Calculus II as a Penn State correspondence course. That is the only correspondence course I ever withdrew from! I kept the books and study guide and found them helpful resources. But I took the actual course with a face to face math "tutor" provided by Empire State College.

 

Math Geeks... Any calculus course is a problem in my book :hypnotized:

 

I think the University of London still uses this methodology. When I was enrolled there, I was given the materials (inclusive of past exam papers and answers) and left to prepare myself for the exams. I actually enjoyed it. The exams were horrendous, but I did better than I thought I would. I actually think for me this works well.

I am a fan of it, not sure though how the current hitech generation would deal with it. They have different expectations and seem to require more support or, perhaps, are used to getting it where my generation was not. Horses for courses, I guess. It would be good to have a choice though.

 

I can't speak for the undergradute programs at London, but I know that the course of study I am completing (Master of Research in Educational and Social Research) does not use this traditional correspondence course model. The modules that I took were all based in the Institute of Education's Moodle virtual learning environment. This involved severals weeks of activities (both individual and in groups) on a variety of topics for each module. Granted, the activities were not actually marked--they only had to be completed. In addition, each module had an assessed essay that counted for about 20% of the total mark (formative assessment was given by the tutors) and examinations that counted for about 80%. From what I've heard, the undergraduate courses are still much more self-directed, though I'm not sure how far they've strayed away from the original correspondence course model that they helped originate.

Peace,
db

 

Math is probably one of the few subjects that people absolutely should avoid taking via pure "correspondence" methods.

 

I don't really agree even though I did not like the Calculus II course and ended up withdrawing from it.

I took several courses like Linear Algebra, Trigonometry and Statistics by correspondence and for me, those were just fine. (All of those courses had proctored exams at the end, and I did fine on them).

 

I remember hearing my mom talk about doing correspondence classes. I think she did 4 or 5 way back when she was trying to get her AS degree. It took her 15 years, 3 different methods of classes, and 2 changes in major before she finally got the AS in Human Services. I, personally, could not EVER imagine doing correspondence classes. I love the current format for online learning. But then, this is all I know in regards to distance learning. Perhaps if I had been exposed to correspondence classes before this I would have liked them. But knowing what I know now, I like this format to much to try anything else.

 

This.

I totally failed at the University of London program in Mathematics and Economics. Totally failed. Flunked Math 1 twice.

I have now taken Precalulus Trig, Calc 1, and Calc 2 at a local community college: A, A, and B.

I have taken Calc 3 and Linear Algebra online: A and A. (Well, there are three more weeks in the semester for LA, but I have a 96 so far.)

 

I spoke with an NCU rep today. Probably the most pleasant and knowledgeable admissions chap I've ever dealt with. Certainly made his school look good, even though he did push the program a little.

 

NCU's administrative staff has always been pleasant and very quick to respond to any of my questions. They take the time to explain the process, the degree programs, etc. I never felt rushed like I did at the state university where everybody seemed to have something better to do than help me. The school is perfect for those that like to learn on their own pace, especially if that pace is fast.

 

If we go back to the original point of this thread, some of us are saying we like the simplicity of old style "correspondence courses" better than the newer online format, and I liked correspondence courses for almost everything including some of my math classes, but I withdrew from a correspondence Calculus II course, deciding that one wasn't for me...

Based on my own experience with taking math courses by correspondence, and being involved now as an online instructor, teaching math classes, for many students the online format is better than both face to face or the old style correspondence courses.

In online courses you typically get software and tutorials that are immensely helpful, and can be reviewed as many times as you need (in a face to face class, your professor only has so much time to review topics with you if you need extra help). In a correspondence course (before internet days) your resources were about limited to the text book and study guide provided with your course.

 

The key advantage of correspondence courses lies in the fact that you are not supposed to be at the place where lectures are being held.Another advantage is that while in the regular courses you need to take down notes for a particular lecture; here you do not have the need to take down the notes, as they are all available in the printed form and delivered straight to you.The correspondence courses allow you to access materials of different institutions at the same time.The correspondence courses can be accessed by anyone from anywhere in the world.