Why Charter Oak State College is better than Thomas Edison State College

[KittenMittens]

Just because you feel it could have been cut down doesn't make it stupid, someone else may need more time in the classroom. SOME people LEARN better by taking classes, SOME people do need all that 'stupid' stuff, SOME people prefer other ways of learning, and SOME people already have years of experience and can test out easily etc etc etc. Just because you think homework, discussions, quizzes etc are 'stupid' doesn't make it so. SOME people actually prefer to learn that way, and enjoy doing those things.

If you want to learn in class then by all means do it. The program is for people who don’t want to do that, and who want to complete a degree the quickest, and easiest way possible. If you don’t want to do it, then don’t do it. I speak for a lot of people who believe that doing hws, discussions, quizzes, and spending hundreds to thousands is a waste of time for many of our goals. If you don’t agree, then you can always do more coursework. Many/all of the degree programs that students have created on degreewikia have been designed for testing out. That's because people have an interest in completing credits cheaply, quickly, and effortlessly.

You know why most traditional respectable universities don't generally accept credit for upper level coursework? Because a 3 credit examination by UExcel is no where near the same levels of intensity, breadth, depth, and rigor of a typical course. If it did, more established universities would be accepting them. If you really believe that you want a fully immersive education, then stop what you're doing - don't do any TEEXs, StraighterLines, ALEKS, etc. because they are watered down versions of real college courses. Yes, StraighterLine is no substitute for a traditional college course.

I won't comment about why people did or didn't get an education, or why they are getting one now. Everyone has different reasons and it's best not to try and lump them all together in a huge assumption, it just doesn't work. I certainly don't fit into your assumptions..but I guess that makes me dishonest right.

Most people go to college to secure a job and get more money. People like you are really the exception to the rule (but then again, why is it that you are doing all the quickest/easiest ways possible for obtaining college credit? Your opinion doesn't really match with your experience… But to each his/her own.

Who said anything about traditional college. People here are helping each other get an education. It's not a way to get around the system, people are offering options and ways to go about getting an education.

You are questioning ALEKS having no proctors yet praising MOOCs?

Honesty, integrity - I have no need to cheat the ALEKS system, thanks.

Why do you need a rubber stamp saying you learned something? If you really care about learning, you don’t need a golden sticker saying you did it. ANd there's nothing wrong about "hacking a college degree." Testing out of a degree is exactly getting around the system and there's nothing wrong with that, and you are doing the same thing too. You keep on saying that people are here to "seek an education" but completing a few SL, ALEKs, and credit exams is not my definition or most colleges definition of an "education." But perhaps your and my definition of "education" are completely different. Agree to disagree then.

MOOCs are nice that you can learn skills, or learn things at your leisure and for free, with some indicating you’ve completed the course through an honor certificate. In the case of MOOCs, I praise them because they’re for the sake of learning, not to show someone that you got something. You don’t generally get college credit for them. In the case of ALEKS, it is a way for students to bypass proctors, and get college credit for free/cheap. And just because you don't need to cheat the ALEKS system, doesn't mean it isn't an issue. If we went solely on the honor system, then we should just give credit to people because they said so. There's a certain standard for getting college credit, and only a very few colleges do accept ALEKS for good reason. Your reasoning is moot.

You are assuming that everyone has access to financial aid, many people don't have any financial aid in this world.

I assume you’re in America. Education in the rest of the world is generally far cheaper than it is in the US (it's not so accessible in Africa, but that's besides the point). If you’re in the US, and your income or your parents is low enough, you qualify for federal loans which are low interest, PELL Grants, state grants, scholarships, employee assistance, etc. Where there's a will there's a way. It’s that simple.

There are full courses available for free for some TECEPs, there are books available and suggested readings for each test, there are many videos all over the net, there are many websites to learn the material for free.

Why do you keep insisting on trying to knock this OPTION for people.

For the type of student this program is geared for, the one who wants to complete a degree quickly, easily, and conveniently as possible, this is who it’s for. TECEPs are harder because you have to read a textbook (which isn’t a good way to learn as it is). TECEPs take questions out of a textbook - which isn’t exactly showing you’re learning much. It is inefficient and time consuming to read a textbook for most students who are interested in getting a degree quickly/effortlessly.

This program is not for you if your main concern is about “getting an education.” But if you want a regionally accredited degree with the least amount of time put into, the program is an attractive option. Not everyone thinks or believes that the best way to learn is through college, in a classroom, or by getting credit through an exam like DSST, CLEP, or UExcel. Don’t force your views that the point of getting a degree is for the “sake of learning.” Many, and I would say most of us, are seeking to get a college degree for career purposes - and there's nothing wrong with that In fact, this is why so many people who never attended college 20 years ago are doing so now because of the modern demands of the job market requiring a college degree for the most basic job duties. I'd make the argument that if people who never completed a college degree in the first place 20-30 years ago didn't do so because they weren't particularly as serious about college (there are extenuating circumstances and exceptions of course). In a way, the bachelor’s degree has become the new high school degree for the fact that so many more people have it today, and its intrinsic value has gone down a bit as employers just don't view them in the same light they did 20+ years ago.

In any case, the MOOC model, and tech "boot camps" (which is like an apprenticeship where you learn a vocational skill for a few weeks) are showing how backwards the college model is in learning, and developing useful skills for the job market. Most people are interested in securing a good job, with good pay and education for the sake of education is a secondary or tertiary concern when spending thousands of dollars to tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands for a degree. Yes, is learning important? Of course, where I'm from, we treat books with utmust respect, but learning is =/= education as Mark Twain said. The college model has been a bloated, flawed, and expensive model for learning useful/job skills, and if you're not like the average American who has financial concerns, then you're not typical person for this program.

You have taken 'I can not do FEMA or Clep tests' as meaning I can't handle them, interesting. Try thinking of some other reasons why those things might not be available to a number of members that visit this forum.

Maybe you should express yourself more clearly then particularly when you state very explicitly, “I cannot do FEMA or CLEP Tests." I’m not a mind reader. FEMAs are one of the easiest ways people can get credit as are CLEPs compared to the other exams like DSST, UExcel, or TECEP. Perhaps you’re not interested in doing them, and that’s what you could have said instead.

I believe I’ve addressed your points in my two posts now, despite the overly harsh criticism, so I won't be commenting on any of these issues any further. If the program doesn't suit your goals, then nobody's putting a gun to your head to do it.

Take care.