Low cost ACE reviewed history courses from Shmoop.com

[bjcheung77]

I'm wondering if "Modern European History" will fulfill the TESU Info literacy.

I don't think it will, you can always email the advising team just to be sure and on the safe side... but I would recommend having an alternative.
Here's the info from their TESU website: Thomas Edison State University | General Education - 2016 or After
This is a compiled list from Sanantone: Sanantone's TESC General Education Options After July 1, 2015 - Degree Forum Wiki - Wikia

[mickey20]

Yes i think you are right~ :iagree:

[bjcheung77]

Below is the reply I received from TESU. Just to clarify the note on history 1492-1877, I already have a CC U.S History course that transferred as HIS-113.


Modern European History (College) - Shmoop Online Courses Will transfer in as HIS-221 European History II

U.S. History: 1492-1877 (College) - Shmoop Online Courses will transfer in as HIS-113 and will duplicate.

U.S. History: 1877-Present (College) - Shmoop Online Courses Will transfer in as HIS-114. US History II . It will not duplicate HIS-113

You just save me an email! I was just going to email them earlier and read this a second time... Good job!

[Mamasaphire]

Below is the reply I received from TESU. Just to clarify the note on history 1492-1877, I already have a CC U.S History course that transferred as HIS-113.


Modern European History (College) - Shmoop Online Courses Will transfer in as HIS-221 European History II

U.S. History: 1492-1877 (College) - Shmoop Online Courses will transfer in as HIS-113 and will duplicate.

U.S. History: 1877-Present (College) - Shmoop Online Courses Will transfer in as HIS-114. US History II . It will not duplicate HIS-113

Bummer. I was really hoping that the Modern European History would somehow fulfill a UL SS requirement. Guess I need to keep working on my current plan and stop getting side tracked by other possibilities. Lol!

[Wingz]

I have now finished the Shmoop Modern European History course with a score just above 70 (passing). I tried to do the automatic process via ACE to get the credits transcripted, but had the same issue as another person on this forum. Shmoop isn't yet set up for the automatic process. They told me it should be a couple days and then it will work.

As for the course itself, ACE says it takes 30 hours to complete, and I would say that is fairly accurate. I don't know anything about European history (I suppose I learned some in high school, but that was 40 years ago). Anyway, the course did require reading all the material, clicking most of the supplementary links and watching most of the linked videos. Still, it was entertaining and interesting, and I did learn the material.

For reference, I have been doing this alternative credit process for quite a while, and have taken courses in Study.com, Sophia, Straighterline, ALEKS, Edx/ASU, TEEX, Institute of Insurance, Saylor and taken DSST, CLEP's and TECEPs, so I'm quite familiar with all ways of getting credit. I would say that the course (for me) is more thorough than any of the formats (except maybe EdX/ASU and Saylor), and more difficult to pass. However, it is faster to complete than most as well.

The fact that there isn't proctoring for the final, does make me wonder though if they will need to address that. While "cheating" is possible (by googling or whatever), I don't think that will help (because test questions are so specific to the material). However, there is nothing preventing someone from cheating by allowing another person to take the course on their behalf, and I personally find that unacceptable.

There are pros and cons to this format, and it all depends on what kind of learner you are.

Pros
Grade based on chapter quizzes and a final - all cumulative - so it is not all stakes on one test
You can take each quiz and final twice if you want (different questions though)
No proctoring - so no hassles with systems and scheduling
Fairly entertaining
Mostly reading (which I like)
Boiled down 200 years of history into 30 hours of reading
Open course - allows you to review course during test (best I can tell this is allowed)

Cons
Quiz questions are VERY specific to the reading (annoyingly so), and are less "big picture", but rather testing to see if you read the material
Search function doesn't work well at all
Typos and broken links
ACE process still needs to be ironed out
All reading - lots of text (which may be a turn off for some)
Only way to pass is to go back through the course and ferret out the answers (after having read everything)
You have to take all quizzes and tests to complete the course - no shortcuts, no speed reading - it is a full course
No proctoring - so cheating could occur

[jsd]

The fact that there isn't proctoring for the final, does make me wonder though if they will need to address that.

Hasn't seemed to be an issue with ALEKS for years, though I am curious as to why that's the case.

[ndelco]

Where does the HIS-221 fit into a BSBA degree plan? I don't see that course number listed on the TESU website so is it only a free elective?

[jsd]

Where does the HIS-221 fit into a BSBA degree plan? I don't see that course number listed on the TESU website so is it only a free elective?

I'd imagine it'd fit under the Social Sciences section of Knowledge of Human Cultures section (as US History does), but of course check first.

[jsd]

I know this isn't likely since a few folks have said that the exams are so specific to the material, but let's say someone well-versed in history signs up for the free 1-day trial, knocks out one of the courses by skipping to the quizzes/exam and passes dry, could they get free credit?

This is theoretical only, I am not a history buff and wouldn't have any chance at taking this dry.

[dfrecore]

Where does the HIS-221 fit into a BSBA degree plan? I don't see that course number listed on the TESU website so is it only a free elective?

The list of courses on TESU's website for Gen Ed's is just a list of the specific courses they offer. They don't list every single course number of every course that might possibly be accepted. If you have another course you're bringing in from somewhere else, it will fit with other similar courses. So find all of the HIS courses, and that's where another HIS course would work.