Study.com vs. Straighterline Microbiology +

[adavis84]

Yes, I don't need the lab either. When I read the Saylor/Straighterline syllabus, it looked by a bear of a course. The video's with quizzes seems so much easier. Let me know how it finally comes out for you: expended hours, difficulty of course final, etc. Thanks

I just finished up Microbiology using study.com.

The course wasn't all that much more time consuming that the length of the videos themselves. There are 208 videos at an average of 8 mins/video (according to study.com). I found that I only needed to rewatch/rewind videos about 15% of the time. Beyond that, I found I spent about two minutes per attempt of each lesson quiz. I required of myself that I get 100% on each quiz (where as study.com only requires 80%), so I spent extra time that others may not require/feel necessary.

The videos are very informative and certainly take a "for dummies" approach (for lack of a better term) in that concepts are simplified, frequently repetitious (example: nearly every time the term gram positive or negative came up there was a brief explanation of gram staining), and there is a strong use of storytelling and metaphor/simile used to explain the concepts. Every video concludes with a summary. The videos all take on a tone of being quirky/"fun". At times this was helpful/charming/entertaining, at other times it was, frankly, annoying and time-wasting.

To prepare for the final, I took the 20 30-question chapter review exams (these are optional and not required before the final as the 208 lesson quizzes are). I passed every one of those on the first try (70% + is a pass). My lowest was a 78%. Most were high 80's to low 90's with an odd 100% in there. These practice exams are nearly a direct rehash of the lesson quizzes. Most were repeat, identical questions, while the rest were simply modified versions of previous questions. I also took the practice final and passed that on the first try. The practice final was, again, in large part a rehash of the previous chapter review quizzes.

Then, today, I took the final...

100 questions, two hour limit, closed book (there is no book, so...), no notes (the SL final is also closed book, no notes.)

I found it significantly more challenging and requiring of deeper knowledge than I feel the lesson quizzes or chapter review exams set me up for. I think I passed, but won't know for one to two weeks. With that in mind, I strongly recommend augmenting/enhancing your final studies to include more than just the chapter review exams. I found the lesson quizzes and chapter review exams to be quite easy, so I didn't take the exam as seriously as I should have.

Incidentally, I also took the Saylor practice final and found it somewhat similar to the study.com final (perhaps more challenging). I passed, barely, but there were questions in the Saylor practice final that I didn't understand at all after having already completed the study.com course. I do not know how the Saylor practice final compares to the SL final, but given the SL course is a repackaging of the Saylor course, I'm venturing a guess that Saylor and SL's finals are more like each other than either is like the study.com final.

As is always the case, you mileage may vary, void where prohibited, see dealer for details, etc...however, I hope this is helpful to anyone considering the study.com Microbiology course. Unless it comes up that I failed the final, I have to say I enjoyed the course and would recommended it if you find videos a stronger tool to you than reading.