What courses would you like to see on Sophia/SDC/etc?

[bluebooger]

SNHU accespt sophia A&P as a transfer for A&P

https://www.snhu.edu/admission/transferr...xperiences

https://www.snhu.edu/admission/transferr...xperiences

WGU accepts it for the BS in health science
https://partners.wgu.edu/transfer-pathwa...gramId=167

[wow]

Almost two weeks ago on this thread, I talked about how I didn't think it was likely that Sophia would offer courses like radiology or histology. And I still don't think it would. But I dropped out of the conversation for a while when I realized that my comments weren't helpful. The point of the thread is to brainstorm what they would like to see on Sophia, and coming here just to pee on the parade is rude.

But I'm back to making a long comment because someone else has decided to pee on the parade, and the arguments have gone way beyond "is it practical?" to Duneranger continually moving the goalposts in a way that comes across as attacking the brainstormers and the rest of us for enjoying learning new things.

As someone who was previously butting into this conversation with unwanted and unhelpful advice, I would like to advise Duneranger that you are doing the same thing. It was annoying when I did it, so ...

I would, however, like to state my agreement that Ninja Nerd is amazing, and in fact I reviewed his stuff a lot while doing A and P on Sophia. And one reason to watch ninja nerd while doing A and P on Sophia is because the course is challenging, both compared to Sophia's human biology course and in general. It's not pedagogically amazing or even that good, and it won't get you into med school. But it is challenging. The tests are way more time limited per question than most of the tests I have taken on Sophia, and that means that a person has to actually either study the course materials (which, if I remember correctly, is basically the Openstax A and P textbook, which is used in plenty of in-person A and P classes) or already know the subject from previous studies if they want to actually do well. There isn't time to look up every answer. No one unfamiliar with the topic is going to finish the course in less than a day or even less than a couple weeks of serious study unless they have found a good way to cheat, and if that's what they're doing, like Blue Booger said, cheaters will always find a way.

But I won't be admitted to med school based on my Sophia course, so clearly it's a complete waste of time. Heaven forbid non-clinicians try to learn anything about human biology.

Anyway, if anyone ever decides to circulate a petition to Sophia to add a course on radiology, I will sign it just to make up for being a jerk in the early October portion of this thread Also, taking it could be fun.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

Almost two weeks ago on this thread, I talked about how I didn't think it was likely that Sophia would offer courses like radiology or histology. And I still don't think it would. But I dropped out of the conversation for a while when I realized that my comments weren't helpful. The point of the thread is to brainstorm what they would like to see on Sophia, and coming here just to pee on the parade is rude.

But I'm back to making a long comment because someone else has decided to pee on the parade, and the arguments have gone way beyond "is it practical?" to Duneranger continually moving the goalposts in a way that comes across as attacking the brainstormers and the rest of us for enjoying learning new things.

As someone who was previously butting into this conversation with unwanted and unhelpful advice, I would like to advise Duneranger that you are doing the same thing. It was annoying when I did it, so ...

I would, however, like to state my agreement that Ninja Nerd is amazing, and in fact I reviewed his stuff a lot while doing A and P on Sophia. And one reason to watch ninja nerd while doing A and P on Sophia is because the course is challenging, both compared to Sophia's human biology course and in general. It's not pedagogically amazing or even that good, and it won't get you into med school. But it is challenging. The tests are way more time limited per question than most of the tests I have taken on Sophia, and that means that a person has to actually either study the course materials (which, if I remember correctly, is basically the Openstax A and P textbook, which is used in plenty of in-person A and P classes) or already know the subject from previous studies if they want to actually do well. There isn't time to look up every answer. No one unfamiliar with the topic is going to finish the course in less than a day or even less than a couple weeks of serious study unless they have found a good way to cheat, and if that's what they're doing, like Blue Booger said, cheaters will always find a way.

But I won't be admitted to med school based on my Sophia course, so clearly it's a complete waste of time. Heaven forbid non-clinicians try to learn anything about human biology.

Anyway, if anyone ever decides to circulate a petition to Sophia to add a course on radiology, I will sign it just to make up for being a jerk in the early October portion of this thread Also, taking it could be fun.

I didn't expect my suggestion of expanding more offerings in HA to be so controversial in this thread. I'm not a big fan of arguments, but when I see one, I like to combine both sides takes into one overarching idea: how can we expand options in healthcare admin that offers students the potential to engage in something intellectually challenging? I think that is a solid direction to take this conversation towards.

[Seeker42]

4. German

Why especially German?

For me as a native speaker it should be an easy pass, provided they don't discriminate against my Bavarian accent and don't bug me with grammar.

As the big majority of German and the media is walking the woke path, I mostly speak German at work and always feel rusty after holidays.

About 50% under the age of 25 in West Germany have Migrationshintergrund and so struggle with German or do not speak any German at all.

Learning Arabic, Turkish or Russian might be more benefical for interacting with doctors, nurses, co-workers etc.
There are entire departments of companies were speaking german won't get you very far.

As I'm fluent in Hindi, but can't read or write it and don't know any grammar, a course in Hindi for my personal interest would be something.

Latin would also be something, if it's focused on everyday phrases, understanding text, and translating a bit. I retained that, but no grammar. My dislike for grammar seems to be a common theme.

I prefer Sophia as a Plattform, so I would like for them to slowly add things, e.g., Discrete Math, Data Structures, and Operating Systems. I would imagine these are the most requested topics on Study.com in CS.

Credits in topics like Medical Terminology, (Advanced) Technical Writing, and Entrepreneurship would also be useful.

[bjcheung77]

StraighterLine has some classes that are in the sciences and also labs, that's not offered on Sophia.org and/or Study.com, there are various classes that are interesting that I'd like to see added to many of the ACE/NCCRS providers. For example, the classes that are offered on this thread: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...r-700-Each

[Duneranger]

SNHU accespt sophia A&P as a transfer for A&P

https://www.snhu.edu/admission/transferr...xperiences

https://www.snhu.edu/admission/transferr...xperiences

WGU accepts it for the BS in health science
https://partners.wgu.edu/transfer-pathwa...gramId=167

A BS in health science does what exactly? Any grad school (PA or MD) is going to check where your core pre reqs came from. This is moot.

---

Almost two weeks ago on this thread, I talked about how I didn't think it was likely that Sophia would offer courses like radiology or histology. And I still don't think it would. But I dropped out of the conversation for a while when I realized that my comments weren't helpful. The point of the thread is to brainstorm what they would like to see on Sophia, and coming here just to pee on the parade is rude.

But I'm back to making a long comment because someone else has decided to pee on the parade, and the arguments have gone way beyond "is it practical?" to Duneranger continually moving the goalposts in a way that comes across as attacking the brainstormers and the rest of us for enjoying learning new things.

As someone who was previously butting into this conversation with unwanted and unhelpful advice, I would like to advise Duneranger that you are doing the same thing. It was annoying when I did it, so ...

I would, however, like to state my agreement that Ninja Nerd is amazing, and in fact I reviewed his stuff a lot while doing A and P on Sophia. And one reason to watch ninja nerd while doing A and P on Sophia is because the course is challenging, both compared to Sophia's human biology course and in general. It's not pedagogically amazing or even that good, and it won't get you into med school. But it is challenging. The tests are way more time limited per question than most of the tests I have taken on Sophia, and that means that a person has to actually either study the course materials (which, if I remember correctly, is basically the Openstax A and P textbook, which is used in plenty of in-person A and P classes) or already know the subject from previous studies if they want to actually do well. There isn't time to look up every answer. No one unfamiliar with the topic is going to finish the course in less than a day or even less than a couple weeks of serious study unless they have found a good way to cheat, and if that's what they're doing, like Blue Booger said, cheaters will always find a way.

But I won't be admitted to med school based on my Sophia course, so clearly it's a complete waste of time. Heaven forbid non-clinicians try to learn anything about human biology.

Anyway, if anyone ever decides to circulate a petition to Sophia to add a course on radiology, I will sign it just to make up for being a jerk in the early October portion of this thread Also, taking it could be fun.

I am not moving goalposts. I do this for a literal living, and I am fairly certain no one else in this thread does. I clinically use anatomy every day to place chest tubes, breathing devices, peripheral nerve blocks, epidurals, spinals etc etc.  This is sort of the end goal and overall point of knowing anatomy and physiology at an academic level. If everyone here wants to circle jerk Sophia as being as juST aS goOd (making a ACE credit class pushes that narrative while you like it or not) to propagate the extreme biases here on obtaining credits by any means necessary, then so be it.

If a layperson wants to take an intro course on something for shits and giggles that's fine. If Sophia wants to make a non credit course, that's fine.

You may say, "Oh I am just using for my personal knowledge", then again fine. But you know FULL well there are going to be a tons of people on here who fully believe these classes are just as good as the "real" version. That's where the delusion starts.

No one needs a Sophia course to study anatomy; physiology is something different. Go pick up an old Guyton and Hall if you are serious and call it a day. You don't need a Sophia class for this.

Sophia classes are already a borderline joke as is and yes I DID use them for my "fun" degree at UMPI, I will admit that.

[eLearner]

But you know FULL well there are going to be a tons of people on here who fully believe these classes are just as good as the "real" version. That's where the delusion starts.

You've alluded to that several times, but I have yet to see anyone suggest that these courses are "the same" as what you consider to be "the real version." And what you're misunderstanding, is that no one cares. 

If you expected online courses for as low as $79/month to have the same length and depth as single university courses that cost thousands of dollars on their own and/or are taught by nursing schools or medical schools, then that was your mistake. 

Everyone accepts the courses for what they are. You're the only one having a hard time doing that.

[wow]

But you know FULL well there are going to be a tons of people on here who fully believe these classes are just as good as the "real" version. That's where the delusion starts.

You've alluded to that several times, but I have yet to see anyone suggest that these courses are "the same" as what you consider to be "the real version." And what you're misunderstanding, is that no one cares. 

If you expected online courses for as low as $79/month to have the same length and depth as single university courses that cost thousands of dollars on their own and/or are taught by nursing schools or medical schools, then that was your mistake. 

Everyone accepts the courses for what they are. You're the only one having a hard time doing that.

^^^^This. 100%. Thanks, eLearner.

As for everything Duneranger said to me, I'm not going to bother with it because he moved the goalposts AGAIN and if he can't see how he's doing it, then he can start a new thread asking for recommendations for a good logic, rhetoric, communications, or information literacy class that covers debate tactics and logical fallacies. In the meantime, I will never understand why more of his posts don't get deleted by the mods.

[Hotdogman1]

Well, we do get a bunch of people trying to use ACE credits for nursing and healthcare related graduate schools. I can also see where Duneranger is coming from especially with their documented issues with the surge of non-clinician healthcare admins. However, I don't think anyone is comparing Sophia offerings to med school when it isn't comparable to CC offerings. Hell, I'd even argue Straighterline is harder. But to Duneranger's point, Sophia previously pushed their "Nursing Pathway" trying to get prospective nursing student to take courses like A&P and Human biology. Look at this garbage: "By taking our diverse selection of science and health-related courses, you’ll lay the groundwork for success in upper-level nursing courses at your university." https://www.sophia.org/online-courses/co...g-pathway/ These courses are not sufficient as foundational knowledge for any healthcare provider.

If Sophia does open more healthcare related courses, I would love to see something related to hearing loss and the basics of reading an audiogram. Or maybe a Introduction to Healthcare careers as there are so many interesting roles outside of Doctor and Nurse.

[wow]

Well, we do get a bunch of people trying to use ACE credits for nursing and healthcare related graduate schools. I can also see where Duneranger is coming from especially with their documented issues with the surge of non-clinician healthcare admins. However, I don't think anyone is comparing Sophia offerings to med school when it isn't comparable to CC offerings. Hell, I'd even argue Straighterline is harder. But to Duneranger's point, Sophia previously pushed their "Nursing Pathway" trying to get prospective nursing student to take courses like A&P and Human biology. Look at this garbage: "By taking our diverse selection of science and health-related courses, you’ll lay the groundwork for success in upper-level nursing courses at your university." https://www.sophia.org/online-courses/co...g-pathway/  These courses are not sufficient as foundational knowledge for any healthcare provider.

If Sophia does open more healthcare related courses, I would love to see something related to hearing loss and the basics of reading an audiogram. Or maybe a Introduction to Healthcare careers as there are so many interesting roles outside of Doctor and Nurse.

That's fair. I have mixed feelings about the nursing thing. None of us are talking about doing an entire clinical education via Sophia. These are really rudimentary courses no matter where you take them, even in person; no one should expect to know how to intubate, check reflexes, draw blood, etc after any type of 1st year A&P, no matter how thorough. It's the courses and clinical rotations that come after that teach students how to do that stuff. That's part of why A&P isn't even a prerequisite for many med schools; they will teach you everything you need to know in med school itself.

For most students, Sophia A&P will probably not prepare them as well as in-person classes. On the other hand, someone who takes the Sophia courses very seriously *and* takes initiative to get any other experiences they would have had in a live class should be adequately prepared. If they don't do that, they deserve to fail out of their upper level courses and should. If professors aren't failing people who don't know what they need to know, that's a bigger problem but not one we can fix on this forum.

As for administrators, that too is a much bigger discussion and probably a new thread. A lot of them haven't ever been required to take A&P at all, much less via Sophia. I'd rather they get some knowledge via online courses than none, although the courses being available on Sophia does not necessarily impact that. What I will say is that I think online courses in biology and medicine basics open the doors for non-clinical roles like community health educators, certain informatics roles, public health workers, etc to learn more about the medicine side of things, which they might not otherwise do at all. And that is a net good, in my opinion.