Sophia Course Format Differences

[natshar]

Months ago I did the Sophia courses both free and paid. Now they have the special going on and I"m unemployed I thought I'd check out some more them. I noticed a difference in format between the new and old courses.

Old Format: 3 attempts to answer each question. Some of the questions are matching or true/false of multiple statements. There is an underlying story that continues throughout the module that may or may not relate to the question. There are no videos. Many of the questions in this are easier than the new one, especially given the 3 attempts. It often links you to multiple sections if you don't know the answer.
EDIT: Some of the ones may have videos. The ones I completed if they had videos I didn't notice them because I did the pdf.

New Format: 1 attempt per question but if you get it wrong there are 3 different but related questions per question (idk how to word it) and as long as you get one right you are good. Like if you get it wrong it gives you a new question instead of the old way where you re-attempt the same question. These questions in this seem quite a bit more difficult than the old version. There are all multiple choice no matching or fill in the blank with a word blank like the old ones. Also some of the questions have pictures or images you have to look at and use that to answer. There are videos and the material is laid out differently. If you don't know the answer it is in one section per question so you know where to look, better organized. The videos are hard to miss.

I believe almost all of the courses are on the new format except for US History I, US History II, Conflict Resolution (3 credit course), Religions and Public Speaking.

History is expiring soon and I heard TESU won't take Religion. Maybe the difference in format has something to do with it.

Courses that were in the old format at the time I took them: Effective Teams, Managing Conflict (1 cr), macro econ, and project management

So idk what format they are in now.

But I think these are the new format now. I'm pretty sure the free ones are the new format now at least I think. If anyone took macro or project management recently let me know. And if anyone took the 1 credit ones recently let me know as well.

[TexasTink]

I just finished Project Management and it is under the new format.

[Library2HospitalChaplain]

Months ago I did the Sophia courses both free and paid. Now they have the special going on and I"m unemployed I thought I'd check out some more them. I noticed a difference in format between the new and old courses.

Old Format: 3 attempts to answer each question. Some of the questions are matching or true/false of multiple statements. There is an underlying story that continues throughout the module that may or may not relate to the question. There are no videos. Many of the questions in this are easier than the new one, especially given the 3 attempts. It often links you to multiple sections if you don't know the answer.

New Format: 1 attempt per question but if you get it wrong there are 3 different but related questions per question (idk how to word it) and as long as you get one right you are good. Like if you get it wrong it gives you a new question instead of the old way where you re-attempt the same question. These questions in this seem quite a bit more difficult than the old version. There are all multiple choice no matching or fill in the blank with a word blank like the old ones. Also some of the questions have pictures or images you have to look at and use that to answer. There are videos and the material is laid out differently. If you don't know the answer it is in one section per question so you know where to look, better organized.

I believe almost all of the courses are on the new format except for US History I, US History II, Conflict Resolution (3 credit course), Religions and Public Speaking.

History is expiring soon and I heard TESU won't take Religion. Maybe the difference in format has something to do with it.

Courses that were in the old format at the time I took them: Effective Teams, Managing Conflict (1 cr), macro econ, and project management

So idk what format they are in now.

But I think these are the new format now. I'm pretty sure the free ones are the new format now at least I think. If anyone took macro or project management recently let me know. And if anyone took the 1 credit ones recently let me know as well.

I'm working through Introduction to Statistics right now and it's definitely the new format. I love this, and just passed the first unit exam with a 27/29. I'm feeling capable of passing a statistics class like this!

[SDO]

When I took Conflict Resolution about 3 years ago, it did have videos with 3 different instructors to choose from. However, you could just read the transcript of the video and skip the videos if you wanted. The rest of what yo have called the "old format" was true of my course though.

[dfrecore]

Old Format: 3 attempts to answer each question. Some of the questions are matching or true/false of multiple statements. There is an underlying story that continues throughout the module that may or may not relate to the question. There are no videos. Many of the questions in this are easier than the new one, especially given the 3 attempts. It often links you to multiple sections if you don't know the answer.


History is expiring soon and I heard TESU won't take Religion. Maybe the difference in format has something to do with it.

I took Project Management back when it was UL in 2015 - there were videos, so even though I'm sure it's the old format, your description of the old format is incorrect for at least that particular course.

As far as what TESU takes, I can't imagine that they're basing it on which format is used, especially considering that it sounds like (from what you described) the new format is somewhat more difficult to answer questions?  Maybe easier to find the info, but the fact that they don't give you multiple chances with the same question makes it harder, not easier.  So I don't think that's what the issue is.

[natshar]

Old Format: 3 attempts to answer each question. Some of the questions are matching or true/false of multiple statements. There is an underlying story that continues throughout the module that may or may not relate to the question. There are no videos. Many of the questions in this are easier than the new one, especially given the 3 attempts. It often links you to multiple sections if you don't know the answer.


History is expiring soon and I heard TESU won't take Religion. Maybe the difference in format has something to do with it.

I took Project Management back when it was UL in 2015 - there were videos, so even though I'm sure it's the old format, your description of the old format is incorrect for at least that particular course.

As far as what TESU takes, I can't imagine that they're basing it on which format is used, especially considering that it sounds like (from what you described) the new format is somewhat more difficult to answer questions?  Maybe easier to find the info, but the fact that they don't give you multiple chances with the same question makes it harder, not easier.  So I don't think that's what the issue is.

There may have been videos in those courses but if there were I didn't notice them or watch them. I just read the pdf and pdfs don't have videos. The thing about the new course is the videos seem harder to miss vs the old ones. However, I'm pretty sure Religion course which is in the old format I just finished did not have any videos at least I didn't see any.

I was referring to that religion is still one of the few courses in the old format which makes it easier imo. idk could be a coincidence.

I don't actually need any of these credits for my degree but seeing as I'm unemployed and can't go anywhere and they are free I just thought I'd try a few out. I just thought was interesting how the format was different so I looked at all the courses to see the differences.

[natshar]

Another interesting thing I just learned is that Sophia is using some textbook content from Saylor. idk how I didn't notice that before or maybe it isn't all courses.

[dfrecore]

Old Format: 3 attempts to answer each question. Some of the questions are matching or true/false of multiple statements. There is an underlying story that continues throughout the module that may or may not relate to the question. There are no videos. Many of the questions in this are easier than the new one, especially given the 3 attempts. It often links you to multiple sections if you don't know the answer.


History is expiring soon and I heard TESU won't take Religion. Maybe the difference in format has something to do with it.

I took Project Management back when it was UL in 2015 - there were videos, so even though I'm sure it's the old format, your description of the old format is incorrect for at least that particular course.

As far as what TESU takes, I can't imagine that they're basing it on which format is used, especially considering that it sounds like (from what you described) the new format is somewhat more difficult to answer questions?  Maybe easier to find the info, but the fact that they don't give you multiple chances with the same question makes it harder, not easier.  So I don't think that's what the issue is.

There may have been videos in those courses but if there were I didn't notice them or watch them. I just read the pdf and pdfs don't have videos. The thing about the new course is the videos seem harder to miss vs the old ones. 

Back when I did my course, I don't remember there being pdf's, you HAD to watch one of the videos to learn the material (there was a choice of 3 videos).  I could be wrong, since it was so long ago, but I think I'm remembering correctly.  Maybe it was different because it was an UL course...

[bjcheung77]

Yeah you're right, I think there are differences with the formatting, I don't recall though, it's been a few years. As long as it's looking neatly and nicely as it already is, I'm not too worried about anything. Their formatting and spacing, everything is awesome compared to StraighterLine or Study.com, it's just the pricing that's off. If they keep the pricing low, they'll remain my #1 choice.

[ReyMysterioso]

I really like them. I'm working through these to bank the credits since they're free for now. If I go for a second Bachelor's, they could prove very useful. (Especially since the bulk of my electives were from Shmoop on my first degree and almost nobody will accept those anymore. )
Besides, I just really like to learn. Art history I and ii were fascinating.