What follows are suggestions and opinions from former on-line students.

This is what I asked at the completion of the semester and after they received their final grades:

"Now, I have a big time favor to ask. In my attempt to give as much information to students as possible, I need your input.

So that future students might have some idea what it's like to take an online course, could you please send me your observations, experiences and or disappointments. I would like to post them to a webpage so that future students could check out your experiences before committing to an online course. Feel free to talk about the course, where you started, what you learned or didn't learn. Additionally, feel free to add suggestions either for future students or me for improving the course or online courses in general.

Thanks for your time and for sharing with me what you have learned."

Responses

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What are you getting into?  You’re getting into a full fledged research study.  You will create your own website to post all 4 assignments for the course.  The first assignment will be a simple one, testing and assessing your web posting skills.  The next three will reflect the entire journey of your research study, with assignment four being the final project.  Your learning comes in the form of 13 weekly discussions focused on required texts, articles, and published studies.  These will guide you through the methods and techniques used in research studies, and the “do’s” and “do-not’s”.  This course requires a lot of time, reading, writing, and computer literacy.  While definitely a course I highly recommend, it is not one to take lightly.  I would not spread yourself too thin while enrolled in EST571.  If you can give it the dedication it deserves, this course is well worth the ride.

Stephen Phillips
Fall 06

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An online course places the responsibility of learning on the student.  It is the students who must take charge of their own learning.  There is no set class time; which allows the learners to set their own pace.  
I liked having a midnight deadline being able to work in my pj’s and slippers.  

This course was a good experience.  We learned a lot about researching and working collaboratively with a team.  I liked the feedback from the team as well as the feedback from the class.  I was intimidated at first by having to post class work on a webpage.  I did however, enjoy being able to see my classmate’s web pages and work.
 
One thing I would like to see improved was the course outline.  It was very in depth and thorough but I found it difficult to find details on the assignments.  I felt like I was constantly searching for information.
 
Overall, I enjoyed this class.  Thank you!   

Susan Bologneta
Spring 2005  

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Gerry,
Before I give my input, I would first like to say that I really learned a lot in this class. You do not really get to say that after every college class that you take. So for that I thank you.

My input for all future students of this class: When I read the comments of previous students in the beginning of the semester, I was a bit nervous. Every student spoke of how much work there was and it was
intimidating.

As long as you plan your time well enough for the major project deadlines and participate in the conversations, you should not have any problems.

Do not drop this class. The educational experience is definitely worth the work.

Good luck!!

Rob Fabian
Spring 05

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"This is my second online course. I must say, both courses have been a wonderful learning experience. In my opinion, since you do not have that everyday in person capabilities. I think it is great that our class started off with an introduction. It is great because as we all know majority of students in this program are teachers/prof. and you have those unique instances like myself who are not. This introduction provides the prof. a way to adapt to each individuals needs/differences. I think in any online course. It is truly essential to have a professor that is even more intwine with the course and it's students. Now, I am not saying to babysit the students but just let students know that you are there to teach and help us gain knowledge. I have heard so many instances where the prof. on their online courses not checking assignments and/or not responding to their students weeks at a time. This totally makes the students less responsive. I feel by having a motivator/responsive prof. whatever class you teach whether it is online or not, you have more responsive students.
At the beginning of the course since it is research orientated, I did not fully understand the purpose for each discussion and how it can be incorporated to our research. Usually professors say this is the subject and this is how it should be done. I like the style that we did, in that we discuss the topic among our peers and each other. Everyone had their own interpretation and that provided everyone with a diverse perspective. All and all, it has been truly a wonderful class :)"

Lourdes Chan
Spring 05

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Below you will find my observations. The questions I answered are the ones in the stony brook student evaluation of instructor and course.

1. What does the instructor do particularly well?
     Conveys enthusiasm and gives excellent feedback.
2. What could the instructor do better?
    I thought we could have more assignments about paper development instead of reading articles half the term.
3. Aside from the quality of the instructor, what is particularly good or bad about the course?
    I think that this should be a required class, because I learned more about proposal writing in this class than in EST590.

The instructor: (1=strongly agree; 7=strongly disagree)
 Is well prepared and organized=1
 Makes subject clear and understandable=1
 Conveys enthusiasm=1
 Shows concern and openess to students=1
 Is available and helpful during office hours=N/A
 Makes objectives and procedures clear=2
 Requires work that is challenging and worthwile=1
 Evaluates student performance fairly=1
 I would strongly recomend this instructor to a friend=1
 I have learned more from this instructor than from other instructors in courses of similar size and level=1
 

Edwin Tjoe
Spring 05

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My experience with EST 571

When I signed up for the online class I knew it was going to be a lot of work, but I wasn’t prepared for the actual amount. I enjoyed taking the class and felt that I definitely learned from it, but it was tough getting there. The weekly postings were not difficult, it was trying to check the board every day to see other responses and to try to post something “meaningful” everyday. It was nice to communicate with other teachers with different students and from different schools, but sometimes I felt pressured to respond to something when I really had nothing to say.

 

I liked that when we were putting together our research you had us post pieces of it, this ensured that procrastinators like me, didn’t wait till the last minute to put it all together, therefore we would produce well thought out final papers.

 

I had little trouble with the uploading on FTP. I had printed out the instructions and had to keep experimenting on my own. It took me a while to realize that I had to transfer whole folders to get the pictures too. The instructions you had on the web site were excellent and very clear, but I kept forgetting not to name my files with capital letters. Finally figuring out how to use it was very satisfying.

 

Overall I really enjoyed the class, I learned a lot from the other teachers and would definitely take another on line class, but this time I would be more prepared for the amount of work.

 Susan Beitzinger
Spring 2004

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Here's my response and advice to the future students:

Hello! This is my second online class with Gerry. Online classes are great because they give you the opportunity to get your work done at your own pace, when you have the chance to do the work. The time is not set, so you can get your work done at 10:00 at night or at 3:00 in the afternoon.

Working with Gerry is wonderful. He really works hard to accomodate every learner. I had a few problems this semester with time, and had to actually take the entire month of March off of my studies. Prof. O'Connor was wonderful. He was extremely responsive to my requests for extensions, and very generous and understanding.

The only difficulty with online classes is that once you're behind....you're behind. It is extremely difficult to catch up. Luckily Gerry and I spoke and he was extremely understanding.

Great classes (565 and 571). Challenging, and fun!

Kathleen Pantaleo
Fall '03 and Spring '04

Here is my input about this course:

Out of all my five classes this semester, four of them are online courses. EST 571 required a lot of work and effort into the class, including weekly discussions and the four major projects. However I truly enjoyed learning the process of how to create an educational proposal. I think it is very useful in my future education. Furthermore, this course is well constructed and it offers many useful information, including different kinds of research methods, how to write up educational proposal, how to incorporated technology in the learning environment, and many more.


From my personal experience, there are two major aspects that make online class successful. One, the students need to put a lot of time and effort into the class and two, fast respond time of the Instructor, which we had in this class. Unlike one of my classes this semester, the instructor took forever to response to my concerns and questions, which made it hard for me to move forward into the class. In addition, Professor O?Connor was the only instructor that offered to meet the students face-to-face to help the students with the Sparky accounts and it was very
useful.

Overall, I have to give this class an A for the final
grade.

Thank you and I very did learn a lot in this class.

Wipoj Huse
Spring 2004

Dear Professor O’Connor,

It would be my pleasure to comment on EST 571-30. I have truly enjoyed this online class, not only because the workload was just right, but because it was a wonderful learning experience. I enjoyed your straightforward, non-threatening approach to a subject matter that could have been overwhelming. Picking a research topic, obtaining data and drawing conclusions from it was interesting and hopefully useful towards the project seminar class. I do think previous online classes, especially ones that used Sparky, were what made my experience less stressful. That part, posting to Sparky can be most challenging for newcomers, but going to the library on campus will help with that.

Again, I’ve enjoyed this class and your continuous interaction, and the only improvement I might suggest is more grade feedback during the semester.

Have a wonderful summer,

Cindy Stromberg
Spring 2004

 EST 571 provided very interesting readings and an opportunity to conduct and write a very extensive research paper. The class was challenging at times but Gerry is very supportive.

Karen Hollowell 

Spring 2004

Gerry

Hello. I would first like to thank you for teaching a great course! It was truly an experience, especially for someone coming from the business world. I think that students that are on a business track might have to switch their gears a little to be focused in this course. There are many students that are currently teachers and times it can be difficult to relate to their experiences or fustrations.

I think that a big key to your course is that students should already have a website in place, so they are not falling behind. I found myself at an advantage because last semester I built my website and went thru all the pain of FTP-ing etc.. There were a few students that had this issue in our class.

Overall, it was enjoyable and a great forum for learning.
Good luck and have a great summer.

Nicole Wandrie-Davidson
Spring 2004

Some advice would be to keep on top of the discussions. Also if you ever have any questions, don't be afraid to ask, it can only help you and usually others were thinking the same thing. When completing the final project, try to get a head start if you can. Things don't always go as planned, and if you hand out questionaires or surveys, you may not get that back for a while (after the deadline).
One thing that I didn't like was that we couldn't look at the grades that we recieved.

Carmelina Falzone
Spring 2004

• This semester was my first as a grad student so this was my first online class of two. At first i was frustrated with the ftp process because my previous computer had problems connecting to telnet. After i purchased a new machine, things went much more smoothly. If you have any questions, make sure you contact the webmaster. They are great about helping with minor problems.
  One of the aspects i found best about this particular course is that it is not laden with busy work. I know that some online courses can weigh students down with work that doens't provide much room for learning. Instead it merely keeps them busy. I found that the assignments and discussions were thoughtful and well laid out. I enjoyed the course and would recommend taking it with professor O'Connor to anyone.

Brendan Moran
Fall 2003

• When I first started your class I didn't know quite what to expect. To be honest I was ready to drop it because I had no experience with ftp or web-page design and didn't think that I was ever going to meet the requirements.  I am so glad that I stayed with it! You created a safe and comfortable learning environment in which we were able to share with one another.  Instead of talking about what constructivism is and have us read about it, you created an environment in which we experienced it. 
   
  My advice to future students:
   
  1) Don't panic. You and your classmates will learn to help each other out...you are all in the same boat.
  2) Don't be afraid to ask for help...someone out there will be able to help you or at least give you an idea where to look.
  3) Have fun and appreciate your new talents!
   
   One word of caution:This is not a course for passive learners.
  

Kathleen MacDonald
Fall 2003

• Hello :) I think if I had one thing to let people taking this course know, it would be to firstly keep up with your projects, and secondly to start your collaborative project as soon as possible. By starting the project as early as possible, your group can develop a solid idea and take as much time as is necessary to create a well rounded project.
   
  

  John Fletcher
Fall 2003

• Taking an online course is a great experience. Of course there are positives and negatives that go along with it. In general I felt that these courses allow a flexibility in when you will do your schoolwork. You can choose to participate with schoolwork when your day is complete or just as your day is beginning. That is an important positive aspect to the class. (My favorite reason) Of course if you are not disciplined and tend to put things off then this class definately is not for you. It could be very overwhelming if you let too much time elapse. So if you don't have a problem with that then this will be a good choice for you. The negative portion of this class was not being able to work with assistance as you are proceeding through with the projects. This was a downfall for me. I am computer illiterate, so terms that may be basic to some were foreign and confusing for me. A word of advice: e-mail questions to get answers that you are looking for. Professor OConnor was extremely cooperative and responsive. The webmaster is another great source. I think that they all recognize my name when they see it. Make sure you explain the problem that you are having to them in detail - it is amazing how they have helped me throughout this class that was difficult for me. Good luck!
  

Gina Oliva
Fall 2003

• This was not my first on-line class, so I knew what to expect. For those who have never taken an on-line class be aware that it's going to take much more time than if you were physically sitting in a classroom. Of course, in an on-line setting you choose at which time to join the class. That can be 9:00 am, 10:00 pm or 3:00 am, but it will be a lot of time. Also you are never going to get immediate answers to your questions, you will have to wait until the person you ask the question of checks their e-mail and reponds. For example while working on the collaborative project, I could not FTP. So I asked for help both of professor O'Connor and the class. In the time I had to wait for a response, I did figure it out on my own. The response came the next morning, but by that time I had finished the whole project. In a way it's a good thing because it makes you have to problem solve on your own, but while you are going through that it can be very frustrating. There is a lot of work involved in this class. If you are not familiar with using an FTp program and creating web pages, you will have more work at the beginning trying to figure all this out. The projects were fun because there were rules or restrictions on them, and it gave me a chance to be very creative. One more piece of advice, if you work a full time job, I would advice you to only take one of these classes at a time. With the job I have, anymore than that would be very overwhelming.
   
  

Dahlia Evans
Fall 2003

• Hello :) I think if I had one thing to let people taking this course know, it would be to firstly keep up with your projects, and secondly to start your collaborative project as soon as possible. By starting the project as early as possible, your group can develop a solid idea and take as much time as is necessary to create a well rounded project.
  

John Fletcher
Fall 2003

• This course has really been interesting.  My experience was kind of rocky however.  The reason for that is taking an online course is quite dependent on your computer, and ability to self discipline to complete projects on time.  I have learned a lot from this course.  I truly enjoyed working with others in discussion boards on the topics that were assigned.  They were informative and interesting to get other people's input.  Sometimes in a traditional classroom people don't share their opinions as freely as they would in an online setting. 
      My general suggestion to students is to make sure you don't put too much on your plate at once.  I took 9 credits online this year while teaching full time.  It proved to provide a great deal of stress for me.  So much that my final 9 credits of my masters for the upcoming semester will be taken on campus.  I found that everytime I walked in my room, the sight of my computer immediately gave me stress.  Hopefully that won't happen to everyone. 
      In closing this was a terrific course. Professor Oconnor is fabulous at providing support and terrific motivation.  Even when his car was stranded in another state, he managed to keep in touch with his students.  Not many people would do that.  He was there with terrific input during my rough times of the course to get me back on my feet.  His knowledge is very valuable and I feel lucky to have worked with him.  Good luck to all!
  

Sincerely,
Jessica Davis
Fall 2003

Amanda Rosa
Fall 2003

• I found the course to be very useful. It required a lot of thought in developing the projects. The work was a little demanding but well worth the effort. Everything done in this class can be saved and used in your own class so it is not a wasted effort.

The only drawback is the need to know and understand basic web development and FTP. If you do not know the basics, you should brush up before the class starts. This will allow your energy to be spent on the "what" of the projects instead of the "how" of the development.

The instructor is very flexible, so whatever method or program you are comfortable with is fine. Overall, your effort will not be in vain. You will learn how to apply the constructivist theory to your class and develop a better environment for learning.

Steve Clark
Summer 2003

Sincerely,
Margaret Davidson
Summer 2003

• This course was very interesting. When I began I had limited web page design knowledge and no knowledge of constructivist learning. I found both aspects of the course very interesting. I will pursue both areas in greater depth now that I took this class.
  
  The books supported the curriculum well. Also, the timing of due dates wasvery well planned. The instructor offered valid and timely criticism. A great course!

Brian McDonald
Summer 2003

Jaclyn Bencivenga
Summer 2003

TC
Summer 2003

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Joy Repka
Summer 2003

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Joe Zerbo
Summer 2003

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Yes, there is a lot of work. Yes, there is a lot to learn. However, once I began completing the projects and finishing my web page I was amazed at how quickly things came together. I used the discussion board to find the answers to almost every question or concern that I had. If I didn't post the question myself more than likely someone else already had. So while I thought I would be alone - it was just the opposite.

There is a ton of support.

The class itself provides a great deal of information and suggestions of how to use technology in the classroom. I was happy to find out that it didn't just focus on the internet. There was discussion of classroom designs, budgetary problems and the reason and need for change.

If I can offer one suggestion...It would probably be to not get behind. As stated, there is a lot to do in a short period of time. I can notimagine being back-up in this class. There just is no room for procrastination."

Bobbi Woodson
Summer 2003

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Joe Monestero
Summer 2003

M. Dellapina
Summer 2003

Maria Price - Spring 2003

Linette Alvarez - Spring 2003

• I envisioned more real-time (via web or in classroom) experiences in this class, like an actual class meeting every week or month.  As it turned out, the course was more of a forum than a traditional class where one learns and contributes.  I was already familiar with the internet and posting web pages so I was fortunate to be able to focus nearly exclusively on using these ends for kids rather than on how to myself use these ends.  It would be difficult to achieve teaching oneself about the technology and how to use that technology in teaching in the same course.   Perhaps they should be two separate courses.
  
  The course required 3-6 hours of work weekly for me because I was proficient with technology prior.  Sometimes it was a long afternoon posting an individual or collaborative project.  Other times just a few minutes checking blackboard (about 3-5 times a week) and tinkering and modifying with my projects. 
  
  I feel a more interactive textbook where there are questions to be answered and technologies to physically explore would have been more helpful for me as I consider myself largely tactile-visual.
  
  I also would have preferred more frequent and specific assessment of my work.  However, I say this realizing the dilemma of saying someone's work is an A early in the semester prevents them from continuing to improve all semester.   I don't know how to achieve both these ends.
  

Adam Wittenstein - Spring 2003

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• An online course is not meant for those looking for an easy way out.  The only thing easy is the travel time to the computer.  
  
  Make life less hectic and keep up with the reading and the discussion questions.  I found it easier to print off all of the questions during the first week and work on them as time permitted.  When posting time arrived, I did not have to scramble to get the discussion question complete.  If you are having difficulty with the web page, do not be hesitant in asking for help.  Professor O'Connor is extremely helpful, knowledgeable and patient.  (Even though he likes MAC's)
  
  This course has offered me hands on and useful activities that I was able to apply into my classroom.  Not only have I benefited from this class, but my students have benefited from my learning's.  
  

Chanda Orrach - Fall 2002

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• For future students
   
  Perfect for the time challanged
  An online course was perect form me.  I have a very busy schedule and my available time tends to be at odd hours, late at night, early in the morning and fragments of time during the day.  Cumulatively it worked, I could work on projects piecemeal and more or less make the deadline.
   
  It was very hard at first, Everything was totally unfamilar and seemed mysterious and complex.  Setting up an account on Sparky and typing in long addresses, I had no idea what I was doing.
  I ended up using Front Page which made it a little easier but not much because I could never familarize myself with the features.  I still don't know what a frame is. My goals were -  a lesson, pages that linked and sucessful transfer to the server.
   
  I can't think of anything else right now,
  

Janice Crofton - Fall 2002

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• The course provided me with a ton of excellent ideas and technology capabilities that I can apply directly and immediately in the classroom. I had planned on setting up a website for my college biology class during this past school year. I started the ball rolling but never got it completely functional due to lack of time and a degree of cluelessness. Now, I can jump right in this September and get our website going!
  
  In speaking with other students I find that I'm not the only one who spent a large amount of time floundering before getting things started. I finally found software that was invaluable in accomplishing my est565 goals. The name of the software is Microsoft Publisher. This program contains templates to publish anything you can imagine including very nice web pages. I think that if nothing else, all students of est565 should get or have access to a downloadable form of Microsoft Publisher so they can spend more time creating and less time floundering.
  
  If there was any possibility of having student's converse in real time in a chat room I think that would aid interactive experiences. The current form of discussion is displaced in time and therefore the exploration of one idea takes a long time. If students were able to communicate with each other quicker as would happen in a chat room, then ideas would be explored in more depth.
  
  I think people need to be able to pace themselves and since we all work in a myriad of ways, the only due date should be the date the course closes. Materials were thought provoking and projects were engaging but I didn't notice a sequence to anything!
  
  Just have students able to conduct their discourse in a chat room. Provide more detailed feedback on projects and interject more of your thoughts into the posted bulletin board discussions.
  
  Maybe have one or two more technology workshops at Stony Brook so those of us who were unable to attend one workshop might have an opportunity to get some hands on help.
  
  

• Michele Cassans - Summer 02

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• To any student about to take an online course:
  
  Online courses can be a great advantage, especially if you live far from campus or don't want to commute. If you are very busy...that may be a problem.One of the things that I thought taking an online course, was that the faster the work gets done the more time I have for myself. Well, be prepared to spend a lot of time online. Not all of the time in the class discussions, but a lot of time researching and preparing your assignments. If you are disciplined to get to work on time and keep a schedule, you should do fine.
  
  My number one problem was that I was not as technically advanced as I thought I was. Just because a class does not have any pre-requisites, does not mean that you can be a novice and do fine. I spent most of the first few weeks, learning how to do things on my computer that were required in order to complete the assignments, but were not part of the curriculum. I strongly suggest getting specific detailed instruction on building web pages and learning how to FTP before you begin the course. If you are like I was at this time, you have no idea what I just said. That doesn't mean you can't do well in this course, but it does mean that you will need to spend a significant amount of time outside of class learning "on you own!"
  
  The last concern I wish to share with you is in how you learn. If you learn best in a face-to-face verbal setting, then you may be setting yourself up for a difficult time. Much of your work is done in a vacuum. Alone, with only your own resources to guide you. If you are self-sufficient, then you should do fine from the beginning.
  
  Enjoy the course if you intend to take it.
  

• Scott Calvin - Summer 02

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• I find taking an online course less stressful than the traditional classroom method of learning. This statement in no way implies that an online course is easier then its counter part, it's just more convienient, therefore less stressful.
  
  EST565:
  
  I found the course very hands on, whatever your current computer technological skills are, it is an excellent skill building course. Est565 incorporates critical and analytical thinking, project management, and computer technology together to produce a series of contructivist type lesson plans, that could be used in the classroom.
  
  As a person who enjoys the opportunity to improve on the skills I already possess, while learning something new, I enjoyed the course immensely.

Coffique Ron Oglesby - Spring 2002

• EST 565 Observations
  Greetings to all newcomers!
  

Words of advice:
Be prepared to work.
Be self-motivated.
Be disciplined.
Be willing to go out on a limb.
Be willing to experiment.
Be willing to challenge yourself.

If you abide by these words of advice you will succeed, not only in the course but in your learning adventure. Your success will depend solely on your initiative and abilities. This course provides you with a great opportunity to do things in a very different way. Sometimes (often) that can be scary-you don't always know if you are headed down the right path. Ask for advice from your fellow classmates, they will be more than willing to help. You will have a tendency to feel very isolated-and you are for the most part. The professor tends to give you answers to your questions that will help guide you down the path but not take the walk with you, so be prepared to get lost along the way. Good luck and happy hunting!

• Joanne Rainforth - Spring 2002

---

• To prospective online students:
  If you are a procrastinator (who isn't to some degree), need constant reassurance, get frustrated and give up if things don't work the first or tenth time, do not like designing WebPages/projects, and are not self-motivated do not sign up for this online course.
  
  If you are willing to work at figuring things out then enroll in this online course and be rewarded by the satisfaction of seeing what you can create. Some suggestions: print out all directions, read them carefully, and when something doesn't work, reread the directions! In addition, monitor your time carefully. Do not wait until the last moment to complete assignments. Set deadlines and do as much as you can do ahead of time. Leave the last two weeks of class open for emergencies - there will be emergencies/problems. And finally, enjoy exploring and creating. I did.
  
  Suggestions for improving the course:
  I think that the discussion topics should not be open for the entire semester. I like the concept of progressing through the topics. In addition, most discussion topics closed on their own after a period of time anyway except for the very late submissions.
  
  I'd like to see the collaborative project moved to an earlier time in the semester (2-3 weeks earlier), and then a final activity could be a group discussion of collaboration - pros & cons; applications in teaching; discussion of different projects; etc. This would give the students an opportunity to pull together a number of ideas and provide conclusion to the course.
  
  If the above change were made, I think that you'd only have time for five, rather than six projects. I liked the freedom of selecting the topic/approach to the projects, and although our collaborative project was rushed, I did enjoy working with other students, and would suggest keeping this activity. Thanks for the experience. I really did enjoy it and think that I've learned by creating.

Linda - Fall 2001

• Future Students of Online Courses:
  
  Distance work is not easy. As a graduate of Empire College, I had good training to be self-directed and responsible for keeping on task and finishing assignments without teacher prodding. Without that self-motivation, it is virtually impossible to be successful in a distance program.
  
  That said, another important aspect of being successful in such a program is to contact the teacher before signing up and finding out exactly what the course entails. Never is that more true than EST565. The school's course outline did not prepare students for a significant portion of the course, which is designing, launching and maintaining a website with very little in the way of support. I would strongly suggest anyone planning to take this course take a web design course first. Also, if you are the type of student
  who needs feedback, as I do, to maintain confidence that you are indeed progressing in the right direction, then perhaps you would prefer to be in a classroom situation where you have direct access to the teacher. If you are the type of student who is happy going through virtually the entire course without such feedback, many of you are, then this is a great course for you.
  
  In regard to content gleaned from the book, the topic of constructivism is very interesting and logical. Students do learn by being actively involved in the process moreso than they do by being spoonfed. What I have learned from this course is that the concept works best when there is some degree of teacher direction and room for students to progress from there.
  

Jeanne Marie Schnupp
Fall 2001

• Suggestions for students:
  1. Get Microsoft Front Page...It will make doing the projects MUCH easier.
  2. Start early...Front load your work...especially if you are taking other
  courses.
  3. Contact your collaborative connection teammates as soon as possible.
  4. Look at other students' web pages...Seeing what others are doing is a
  great way to spark your own ideas.
  
  Suggestions for professor:
  1. Set up teams earlier. Students will be more likely to interact and help
  each other this way.
  2. Maybe offer a first project suggestion...kind of a primer to help the
  less creative get started.
  
  Thanks for the learning experience.

Joe Roderick
Fall 2001

• Future online students,
  
  Keep in mind "online" courses are not the easy way out. They are just as intense as going to a regularly scheduled classroom activity. With this particular course I was not prepared for it to be so webpage focused
  
  Make it easier on yourself and READ the texts suggested and all the directions related to posting information. Don't feel akward about contacting the HELPDESK that's what they're there for.
  Good luck . . . be part of the 20% that make it !

Dave Schnupp
Fall 2001

• I found the course very useful for developing the technology-based aspects of my teaching strategy.Sharing my thoughts with those of my classmates was truly a rewarding experience. I learned much about the uses of PowerPoint on the Internet, gained insight into computer-based lesson planning, and designed my ownwebsite that incorporated these ideas.

The best part about the class was that the lessons and activities Ideveloped as part of the course requirements were actually put to use in my classroom. They proved very productive and my students enjoyed working on them. I found that the ideas I came up with, and those of my fellow classmates, typically found their way into my classroom (in one way or another). I suppose one could say that I actually learned something new and useful!

The only drawback to the course was the delay in establishing the "teams" for the group assignments. Although my collaborative group, "Team #5," really pulled our project together quickly, we could have made the final product even better with a little more lead-time. Nonetheless, the final project truly encouraged a collaborative effort among the group members. Ifelt proud of what we had accomplished in the end.

My final comments to those embarking on a journey in EST 565:
Be patient.
Be positive.
Be prepared to work.

John Stone
EST 565: Fall 2001

• After taking my first distance learning class, I am left with a sense of accomplishment as well as relief. Distance learning is a lot of fun and a lot of work. I still can't believe the amount of information i learned in such a short period of time. But seeing your work on the internet feels wonderful.
  
  If you are like me and have limited computer experience make sure that you plan to spend some extra time learning how to use some of the computer packages on your computer. Do not under any circumstances wait until the last minute to complete your work. Please read and reread the class notes. Most of the questions you have are in there. Check the bulletin board frequently. You will find a lot of additional information there and can get your questions answered. If you still can't find the answers to your questions don't wait to ask. This is a great forum as aking questions on the bulletin board means you have your entire class there to answer your questions.
  
  I loved the class and I have a lot material I can use in the future.
  
  

Tonya Robins EST 565
Fall 2001

• I enjoyed designing and posting all of my projects in 565.
  
  My suggestion to new students is to read the syllabus and organize your work carefully. This will help in "ftp"ing your pages. In an online course, help is not right in front of you so you have to rely on getting help via e mail and the posting on the bullentin board which could take a few days to get to you.Therefore you should start early and check often so you can give help as well as getting suggestions from others. I found the ftp uploading difficult at first but the more organized you are in saving your pages the easier it will be.
  
  Good Luck

Wendy Sokol
Fall 2001

Course observation

There are advantages and disadvantages to taking an on-line computer course. One disadvantage is that it can be very demanding, time consuming and stressful for someone who has not had much experience with computers. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who is inexperienced and needs step by step, hands-on instruction. When you encounter a problem, you can't just ask someone for immediate help, like when you're in a lab. You pretty much have to try to figure everything out yourself. If you can't figure it out, you have to wait for an e-mail response. If you're someone who worries a lot, like me, that can be a big headache. I felt that posting the projects was the most difficult part of the course.The advantage to an on-line course is that once you figure things out, you're not likely to forget it the next time. Being in the comfort of your own home, and being able to work on your projects and join class whenever you want is a big PLUS. It's also nice to chat with other classmates frequently. For someone who is comfortable with computers, I STRONGLY recommend taking the class on-line. It is very convenient.Professor O'Connor, I felt you were extremely accomodating, patient, and helpful in every way. Whenever an e-mail was sent, you replied immediately. I'm just someone who needs more face to face instruction with computers. That's only because I'm not a techie. That's why I decided to take these courses in the first place. It's forcing me to learn how to use computers, and incorporate them into my classroom.

Jennifer Flynn
Fall 2001

Some thoughts on online learning.

Don&Mac226;t think online means easier &Mac246; it is the same material as in a
face-to-face class just presented online.

Don&Mac226;t think online means less time &Mac246; you may spend more time learning in an online class. You will need to find more of the answers yourself; you can&Mac226;t just walk over to your instructor and ask them a question.

Don&Mac226;t fall behind &Mac246; The asynchronous nature of online courses does give you flexibility of class time, but be careful not to get behind. Trying to catch up and do the current required work just puts more of a demand on you.

Do print it out. I have found that it helps me to print out portions of the online material. A printed copy of the schedule makes it easier for me to keep track of assignments, when they are due and what I have finished. I make up a file folder for each of the classes I am taking. I have also found printing discussions helpful. If I don&Mac226;t have access to a computer I can still do online work. I make notes on the discussions and then transfer them to the online system after I get back online.

I have found that I respond more in the online environment than in a face-to-face class. Online discussions give me the time to think about the question posed and what my response will be. I am also not as apprehensive about giving an answer in that there are not a dozen people staring at me when I give an answer.

Online is not for everyone. You need to have the discipline to do the material and the willingness to find some of the answer for yourself. If you can do this I think you will find the online environment a rewarding way to learn.

Brent H. Ricks
Spring 2001

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I like taking courses online because it fits into my particular lifestyle and personality. The flexibility is terrific! I work full time and many nights don't get home until after 6 pm. It's hard to schedule classes not knowing in advance that you can leave promptly at 5 and make it to a campus in time for a class. I was able to schedule my time to complete the readings and construct the projects at my own pace while staying within the course requirements. Don't assume that an online course is easier than traditional classes. It isn't. Also, taking online courses is not for everyone. You have to be disciplined and have the ability to focus on your assignments without having the instructor constantly prompt you for it. If you're a procrastinator, this type of class probably won't work out well for you. Working from home possesses its own set of problems. You have to be able to walk away from the TV, the phone, etc., shut the door and work on your assignments for a couple hours daily and/or weekly in order for this type of learning environment to be successful. If you aren't able (or willing) to do this, you won't be able to keep up with the course requirements. Online courses therefore aren't for you.

I would recommend getting your text book(s) as early as you can. This proved very helpful to me, and I was able to get a head start on the readings. Some of my classmates were unable to purchase the textbook for several weeks after class began and this put them behind the readings. Playing catch up because the bookstore ran out of copies is frustrating! Keep up with the readings and if possible, read ahead. The benefit is two-fold; it allows you to start thinking about your next assignment, project, paper, etc. Secondly, if work or life places demands on your time and you can't get to the readings, by staying ahead, you won't have to play catch up.

Another recommendation I have is to make sure you establish a SUNYSB email address and web page on the University server as well as download a FTP (file transfer protocol) program as soon as possible. One reason for this is if you have trouble or problems, you can start getting help right away and you can start to work on your assignments. Additionally, any required assignments, emailed instructions, etc. won't be delayed, and you won't be wasting valuable time trying to debug what you did wrong during setup.

Lastly, don't be afraid to ask your instructor or other classmates if you don't understand something. Many times, you are not alone and others have the same question/problem. Use the Bulletin Board to ask questions or see if you can answer someone's question. I found this area to be a great resource and wealth of information.

Susan Sadauskas
Summer 2001

I really enjoyed taking this online class "Personal Computers in the Learning Environment" or EST 565. It was both my first online class and my first class at SUNY Stony Brook. I liked alot of things about this course. First of all I really appreciated the convenience of the course; it was online so I never had to travel to a college campus in order to be present in the class. In addition, because it was an online class, all work including assignments, resources, class discussions, instructions, and announcements could be accessed online with the touch of a button while never leaving your home.

In terms of the work itself, the class consisted of drawing on both your creativity as well as your computers skills. Assignments took the form of both class discussion/questions and computer projects. I really enjoyed the projects because I learned so much about designing and creating web pages while simultaneously being exposed to the use of different kinds of software. Through this class, I learned how to use Microsoft Front Page, Power Point, Microsoft Excel, and FTP. I also learned how to use and apply varoius forms of hypermedia including video, clip art, motion and sound clips, animation, email, spreadsheets, databases, Internet links, and photos. The class also required us to search the World Wide Web for related links that were associated with our projects. All the projects required the application of the constructivist approach to learning. So even though the class required the students to do the work on their own and figure things out through trial and error, this approach, in turn, forced you to really learn. At times this was frustrating. However, when you figured something out or learned a new thing or taught yourself something different, it felt so rewarding. In retrospect, I wouldn' t have had it any other way. In addition, the projects created were projects that you as a teacher can implement into your own classroom. Thus, you leave the class with a repetoire of new lessons that you have created.

In terms of class discussion, because the class is online, there is no physical contact with your fellow classmates. However, the class is specifically designed so that you have plenty of contact with your fellow classmates. The class provides both discussion questions and a discussion board to which you can post messages to others; voice opinions and complaints, offer comments, ask questions, and provide feedback. The structure and nature of the class allows you to work closely with others. Furthermore, the professor was often available to offer encouragement and feedback, and to provide assistance. However, in truly keeping with the constructivist perspective, he also required that you figure things out for yourself.

I felt that the workload was more than reasonable. The pacing of the class' schedule or workload allowed you ample time to complete all computer projects and discussion questions. In terms of the discussions questions, the class allowed for you to answer them at your leisure, thus enabling you to put more consideration and thought into your responses. They also provided you with the opportunity to consider and respond to some important issues that involve and affect teachers, students, technology and education. The only thing that I would warn about the workload is that one must remember that this is a graduate level class. Therefore, the workload is fair but demanding. I would really try to keep up with the pacing or sequencing of the work. If you don't and fall behind then you will be forced to play catch up and this can prove to be very difficult. Otherwise, I reiterate that I really enjoyed taking this class as well as working with this professor and would highly recommend both this class and this professor to other students considering it.

Sincerely,
Alexis P. Cioffero
Summer 2001

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Online courses give you the freedom to do work when YOU have the time to do it. I enjoyed deciding when I was going to do work and how much time I would spend on each project.

I started EST 565 with a few years of computer experience. I was not a beginner, but far from an expert. I do use a computer on a daily basis (e-mail, research, typing exams). My first web page was for EST 565 and I have found that I love constructing them.

The downfall of an online course I feel may have been an individual one. I was unsure of the projects that needed to be completed for the class. The expectations of the projects and what they needed to contain.

I found the book, Learning with Technology, to be very useful. I did not find that The Non-Designers Web Book was very useful. I ended up using the Cliff's Notes book for HTML a lot.

Joy Losito
Summer 2001

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Input towards incoming online students:

I would say to them that they should never give up. Even when they think nothing works for them, they should just keep a positive attitude when they are working with their computers. They should also be aware that there will be days when they feel like cracking a homerun hit to their PC's, but they should just take a longer break than usual when they get to that point.

Their end results will be very satisfying and rewarding once they complete all the assignments and read through Jonassen's book. Jonassen's book is a really great resource for all the assignments that need to be completed and it is useful even after taking this course.

I found that depending on the machine that each student uses, I found that getting an HTML for DUMMIES book also helped me get through and understand some coding language. Again that depends on the type of webpage format of the person's choice. Styles is another type of coding that I was not familiar with but used for creating some of my web pages along with HTML codes.

I have to add that in the beginning I had so much trouble but midway through I got more confidence and towards the end of the semester I was totally confident in creating what ever I wanted to on web pages and then posting them on the site.

Given the opportunity to view other people's web sites was another motivating factor for me. I was able to see what types of things other people added to their sites and basically use them as resources for information.

Having those workshops in the CELT were also VERY helpful and made everything seem less overwhelming.

This course was one of the most informative, well organized and unforgettable experiences that I will be integrating into my own classroom next month. Thank you very much Gerry for everything that you have done during this summer session.

Sincerely,
Mary Jackson
Summer 2001

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EST 565 was my first online course as well as my first graduate course so you can say I really did not know what to expect.

The most important thing that you have to do when you begin an online course is READ ALL THE TEXT IN THE DIRECTIONS. This is not a physical course. You cannot skim through text and get the basic meaning. If you miss part of the directions it will cost you a lot of time in troubleshooting the problem. I found it difficult in the beginning to get a web account, so I could transfer files.
In the beginning, the class project will consume a lot of your time because you are tacking two tasks at once. You must first become accustomed to operating a web editor and transferring files. Then you must learn to gear your lessons towards the constructivist theory. I found that the first two projects consumed more time than the last five.
Learning how to use a web editor takes a lot of time. Something as simple as having a picture on your website can become a two hour ordeal. In an online class you are on your own and you teach yourself. The great thing is that once you learn something, you will not forget it. Thus the constructivist theory.

I hope you enjoy this class as I did. I am going to try and take the rest of my masters online. I have now completed two online classes and I enjoyed the two classes more than any of my undergraduate classes. Good Luck.

Dave Angiporti
Summer 2001