I’ve taken half a dozen online classes in the past two years. And I’ve finally learned: they don’t usually work for me.
More specifically: it is difficult for me to invest in an online course (or any course) with little accountability, little or no face time, and the feeling that I’m just one person in a sea of faceless class members.
The fault doesn’t lie with the course content or the instructors – I’ve enjoyed some of the lessons on writing or photography, scrapbooking or yoga, from women like Jen and Andrea, Marianne, Jennifer and Ali. I am in no way criticizing these women or the content of their courses. In fact, I’d heartily recommend all of them. The problem is mine.
Sometimes the problem is my motivation for signing up. I’ve signed up for several online courses run by bloggers whose work I enjoy, because I didn’t want to “miss out” – because I was, in effect, trying to “keep up” with others in the blogosphere. And, tellingly, even with access to deep stories and thought-provoking questions, or useful yoga poses or photo techniques, I ended up disengaging within days.
Sometimes I simply wanted the course to do something it couldn’t do (similar to the root of the gift-giving anxiety I struggle with around the holidays). I am always – and especially since I moved to Boston – searching for connection and real community. It’s hard for me to get that in a big, anonymous-feeling online forum (though it often comes easier via blog comments, tweets and one-to-one emails). And when I start to feel anonymous and/or ignored, I shut down and withdraw. (This is true – oh so true – in my offline life, too.)
Let this be a lesson to me: there are some ways to connect online that really work for me – and I’m grateful for the community I’ve found in those places. But there are some ways that don’t suit me as well. And next time I’m tempted by an online course, I’ll think long and hard before clicking the “Register” button.
Have you taken any online courses? What has been your experience? I’d love to know.
cakes, tea and dreams 
I haven’t taken any online classes since college. I liked them then though — it was nice to be able to take the class on my terms (and at my time) instead of having to trudge to an early morning class!
I finished my English degree online and I loved it. However, I was close enough to campus (3 hours) that I was able to meet my professors and some classmates. That made all the difference for me. My husband has sworn off online classes entirely. They just don’t seem to work for him, despite how “connected” he is online.
Oh my goodness, I hear you! I’m the exact same way. I’ve taken two classes (one of which was Mondo Beyondo with Jen and Andrea) and I’ve been very delinquent about following up. I do not always consider hte timing of classes in relation to my life, so I end up getting stressed when the emails arrive in my inbox, which defeats the purpose. I have gotten some joy from going through them later, at a more opportune time, and gleaning the major lessons, but I miss out on community and the collective process that way. I learn much more by physical contact, so I’d love to take another Grub Street class next year or a photography workshop in Boston!
I’ve taken quite a few online courses (8-10, plus getting masters online) and I love them because they work for me. But at the same time I can attest to the same feelings you have. I much prefer taking in-person classes, but with an erratic schedule, online is all I can do at the moment. Though I certainly feel you too about feeling disconnected too.
I’ve only done one: Inside Out, which was a creative arts/journaling class of sorts. It was a really positive experience and well paced. But I wouldn’t make e-courses a regular experience for the same reasons you listed. I was simply highly motivated to take this one and learned a lot about myself as a result.
Ooh, you would post this right as I’m contemplating taking a course online! I haven’t done it before, but if I decide to I’ll let you know how it goes.
I took an online writing class a few years ago and just signed up for a new one, another writing class. I enjoyed the first one but this second one isn’t working out so much – a lot of little hiccups with the software and information being sent out to the participants. We’ll see how it goes after the first class on Saturday.
I hear you. I love the classes I’ve done – for content. But I tend to get overwhelmed with the pacing of them. Five or six weeks of every-day content is A LOT.
Then I feel behind. Then I scramble to catch up (= stress, not what I’m going for), or I fall farther behind. I don’t want to do current material until I’ve completed things in order.
So I tend to miss out on the community aspect after the first week or so, because I’m working at my own pace. Despite missing out on the direct community involvement, I’m definitely still glad I’ve done the courses.
I have learned to recognise that truly self-paced works for me, and if that means I’m doing it on my own, well, that was part of the point, wasn’t it? I also take in the content better when I work at my own pace, letting things percolate until I “get” them, before I move on.