SFCC students learning online

The number of online courses offered at State Fair Community College has grown from four in 2002 to 115 today.

That’s still not enough for Amanda Weller.

Weller tried to enroll in a history course for the fall, but it was full.

Weller is hardly alone in her decision to take courses online.

In 2002, State Fair Community College students completed just 159 credit hours online.

As of June 30, students completed 3,741 credit hours online in 2008, on track to beat the 4,261 earned by 934 students in 2007, according to data provided by the college.

The school also offers 14 hybrid courses, which have an in-class component, generally one day per week, and an online component.

Weller, who has taken both online-only and hybrid courses, was a little apprehensive before she took her first online course.

“When I first started it, I was worried about it,” she said.

“After I got through my first one, I found I liked it better. And I tend to do better in my online courses,” she said.

Weller, who works full-time, said online courses are easier to juggle with her work schedule.

“If you’d rather work, online classes are the way to go,” she said, because students do not have to be in class at a specific time.

The Sweet Springs resident said she finds online courses more time-consuming, but likes them better.

“You just have to be more prepared, and you have to be more organized” with online courses, because you have to remember what assignments are due, she said.

This fall, she will take two online courses, and will watch the history class to see if a spot opens up so she can take it.

The fall course schedule lists 77 online courses available next semester. Students may take everything from a 16-week art appreciation course to an eight-week real estate course online.

Weller said online courses save on travel to and from Sedalia as well, but that’s not the only benefit.

“You can fit them into your schedule and work at your own pace,” she said.

Anne Homan, chairwoman of the language and mass communication department at SFCC, said in an e-mail interview she has supervised students in the military taking courses while stationed in Germany, Korea, and Japan, and has taught from a coffee shop in Munich, Germany, in front of the Glockenspiel.

“I like the convenience these classes offer students as well as myself. Each semester I meet students from different walks of life who need online classes for primarily two reasons, to save money and time. Many are working parents who complete assignments after they have put their kids in bed. Others need to save gas money or commute time,” she said.

Homan, who has taught online courses since 2001, said some students miss the face-to-face contact of a class, but those with the discipline to keep up with deadlines are successful. Many appreciate the courses because they save commute time and money.

“Students are more in control of their learning environment. I have many nightowls who complete their work in the middle of the night,” she said.
She said online courses fill up fast.

“We are now educating a generation of students who have no memory of a home without a computer or life before cyberspace. Online learning is a very comfortable place for them,” she said.

Increased enrollment — 16 percent of all credit hours earned at the college in 2008 have been online — is part of a national trend.

agualtieri@sedaliademocrat.com