EC Contemporary Middle East History

[Scholar Interrupted]

But on the more serious note, what do you think about whole CD-ROM course process? I've elected to take my Science & Religion course via CD-ROM instead of Online, because I found you have the opportunity of getting the class done earlier than the 15 weeks for which it calls.

I like it much better than the online class structure. It is more self-paced, and you don't have that onerous discussion board requirement -- which ruled my life when I took HIS440 online.

But there are caveats. Because you aren't interacting regularly with the instructor by way of structured discussions, you don't get that same feel for what he thinks is most important about the material. Couple that with an instructor who doesn't answer questions fully, and you end up writing a lot more than you otherwise would, just to make sure you cover what he wants to see. Contrast that with HIS440 online, in which I studied the instructor's discussion board posts in preparation for the exam essays and knocked them out of the park with a very reasonable amount of effort.

I'd love to compare my syllabus and exam essay questions with someone who has recently finished the same course online, because I have a theory that the CD-ROM course is designed to require more work from the student in order to make up for the absence of the discussion board chore. The exam essays in particular were very broad.

All that said, I learned a lot in this experience that I'm sure will help me in the other two CD-ROM courses I plan to take. I'll be able to work a lot smarter than I did on the first half of this course.

Also, bear in mind I'm in liberal arts. In business, nursing, or some other area, your mileage may definitely vary. I doubt, for example, that business majors are required to write as much as liberal arts majors, which would make a CD-ROM course a very different experience.