Here's an update on distance learning via Chadron State College. I hope it's helpful for anyone who needs credit where there's no exam.
I signed up because I need MIS electives. Where some people come to a MIS concentration with certifications, I only have experience. It's OK, some book learning on databases and Systems Analysis will be good for me. Data Communication was fun -- I tend to take the network for granted.
Chadron came up in a
thread about MBA programs and I looked at the school on a lark. Chadron has upper-level MIS electives in Database Management, Systems Analysis & Design, Project Management, that follow common curricula (so I expect Excelsior to accept them, but I have not received approval) Their programming class appears to be about VBA, so I am taking programming (and Data Communication) at my community college.
Chadron's enrollment, registration, and administrative processes are top-notch, and service from the staff is great. I have been able to do everything via email. Jodi and Lisa in particular have been fantastic. Getting into this class was easy. In order to sign up for additional classes (with prerequisites), I had to write a brief summary of why I am ready for upper-level coursework (I have the credit hours and had already proved myself in the E-commerce class, so it wasn't too hard).
This class is about doing business on the Web. The
book drives the content. It's a recent edition, which is good since it keeps things up-to-date and minimizes the incidence of 'look at this great influential trend' that has fizzled since the book came out. It's information-dense and the accompanying website is only OK in terms of ancillary material to study from. If you've read any of my other postings you know I like textbook websites with enough info that you don't need the book! The book's design is monochromatic with a blue theme, and while there are plenty of tables to summarize info, it's not chock full of eye-candy graphics that some texts have. You have to read to pass this class. You need to know the terms, but will not be tested on them -- it's more about concepts and applying them. Fortunately, each chapter has a summary that covers all the main points and if you are already knowledgeable about the subject matter, these make the reading go a lot faster.
There isn't that much interaction with the instructor, though I'm sure I could have got help if I needed it. If you want more than the book you have to find it yourself, which is of course not a problem for self-directed CLEPers. The work this term: 50-100 pages of reading and 1-2 pages of writing weekly. The first 4 assignments are pretty basic -- read and understand the chapter, visit one or more e-commerce Web sites and report on how what you see relates to what you read and bang together a report ; bringing in more sources than required has earned me full points and compliments on every assignment. The last 3 require a little more abstract thought and research outside the book. There's a cumulative final exam. Weekly discussion postings are required, as are responses to others' postings. The level of discourse is about what you would expect from inexperienced students at a little Midwestern college. If you have experience in business or have attended B&M schools on either coast, you may find it underwhelming. On the other hand, it's easy points. The final was three questions aimed at 'reflecting on my learning' in the class. I found it a bear because I donât write well under a clock, and my browser crashed during the exam! That cost me an A on the final, but I made my A for the class. Content-wise, the final is just feeding back stuff from the reading and activities.
There are no multiple-choice tests in this class.
How hard is this class compared to preparing for a CLEP? Way harder than Information Systems and Computer Applications, not as hard as Macroeconomics. It's part IT, part Management, part Marketing, and even with experience I think I am getting more out of the class having just taken the related CLEPs. Week 7 we do a tiny bit of reviewing company financial statements.
It's really awesome to walk away with 3 semester hours of upper-level A for two months' work. The 8-week term
is hard, but kind of invigorating in a way. A business trip and a cold set me back in the readings and I thought I faced a marathon to get caught up for the cumulative final. As it turned out, I could have aced the final if I had made some notes ahead of time based on the outcomes in the syllabus.
Next term, I'm hitting my book before the class starts. Next up is Project management, and I'll provide an update if people are interested.
Bottom line, Chadron is great if you need electives unavailable elsewhere or want a taste of the college experience; it's cheaper than EC courses. As far as required courses without exam credit options, Chadron offers Managerial Accounting and Operations Management courses, though I would prefer the self-paced options discussed elsewhere in this forum.
Phillip
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