#OnlineCollege #ProgrammingCourse #ZeroLectures #ProfessorResources
Is it normal for an online college programming course to have zero lectures/resources from the professor?
As a college freshman, it can be frustrating to feel like you’re not getting the full educational experience, especially when you’re paying for it. The lack of lectures and resources from the professor in an online college programming course can leave you feeling like you’re missing out on valuable learning opportunities. However, before you make a decision about dropping the course, it’s important to consider a few key factors.
## Understanding the Structure
### 1. Online Learning Platforms
Many online college courses use learning platforms like Cengage to deliver course materials. These platforms may or may not include lectures or resources from the professor.
### 2. Self-Paced Learning
Some online courses are designed to be self-paced, meaning that you are responsible for reading the textbook and completing assignments without traditional lectures or notes from the professor.
## Exploring Alternative Resources
### 1. CodeAcademy
In some cases, the professor may provide alternative resources, such as a link to a CodeAcademy course. While this may seem redundant, completing a separate coding course can provide additional practice and reinforcement of the material.
### 2. Online Forums and Communities
Utilize online forums and communities to connect with other students and professionals in the programming field. These platforms can provide valuable insights, support, and resources to supplement your learning experience.
## Evaluating the Value of the Course
### 1. Curriculum and Skills Development
Consider the overall curriculum of the course and the skills you are expected to develop. If the course material aligns with your educational and career goals, it may still hold value despite the lack of traditional lectures.
### 2. Cost and Investment
Evaluate the cost of the course and the investment you are making in your education. If you feel that you are not getting the value you expected, it may be worth exploring other options or discussing your concerns with the professor or academic advisor.
## Making an Informed Decision
Before deciding to drop the course, it’s important to gather all the relevant information and consider the following steps:
1. Review the syllabus and course expectations to gain a clear understanding of the learning structure and requirements.
2. Reach out to the professor or academic advisor to express your concerns and seek clarification on the course structure and resources.
3. Connect with fellow classmates to gain insight into their experiences and perspectives on the course.
Ultimately, the decision to drop the course should be based on a thoughtful evaluation of the course structure, resources, and alignment with your educational goals. It’s essential to consider the potential impact on your academic progress and future career aspirations before making a final decision.
At the same time, it’s important to recognize that online learning can present unique challenges and may require a different approach to studying and learning. By actively seeking out alternative resources and engaging with the course material, you can still find value and make the most of your educational experience.
In conclusion, while the lack of lectures and resources from the professor in an online college programming course may be frustrating, it’s important to explore alternative resources, evaluate the overall value of the course, and make an informed decision. Remember to consider all aspects before deciding whether to drop the course or continue with your studies.
My University course on Jetpack compose and kotlin mainly consisted of Google tutorials and a project with little help.
If you aren’t majoring in software engineering, and can learn on your own, dropping it might be worth it. From my experience, programming is one of the easiest things to learn on your own
What a lazy professor. I would complain to the administration at the Community College about the quality problems you are experiencing with their course.
I took a class at the university that had a terrible professor like this and as a class we all complained to the dean of engineering. They fired the professor. It want even as bad as what you are describing.
It’s a bit odd that there’s no lectures. Is the professor (or TAs) open for you to ask questions or get additional help? If so, that might be worth it, especially if you need the credits or if it’s a requirement for future courses you want to take.
If you want to learn programing you should drop the course. Or at leas spent a weekend with youtube and beginner tutorials to get a feeling. After this its crucial to learn how to learn. Then give it time.
Nope. Complain. Much of a programming course should be self directed learning, but with materials and support.
The qualification at the end is worth it, but you don’t have to do it where you are.
Broo im going through the exact same thing
You should complain. I work in administration at a community college and we get complaints like this every semester. We WANT to hear this kind of stuff so we can fix it. I’ve fired more than a few instructors for phoning it in like this.
I guess it’s dependent on the professor. I’ve had courses that are very robust with many researches and articles, and others where the professor just assigned a chapter or two of textbook reading.
You can always drop this class and take it with a different professor if you’re not vibing.
>Am I seriously paying just to have access to an online textbook for 4 months?
You’re paying for someone supposedly credible to verify you know how to do the things you claim to know. You can order textbooks on neurosurgery and nuclear reactor design from amazon that are the basis for courses on those topics. What you’re paying the university for is have someone pick the right resources, and then evaluate the assignments and exams in a way that ‘proves’ you are doing the work.
Ultimately, this is why online education is worthless. The university has no proof it’s you doing it, the privacy and people hours cost of doing that verification is prohibitive, and students just do the minimum if any work necessary to pass.
That said, the most innocent explanation might be the case, the prof could have recorded lectures they’ve uploaded and accidentally not made them visible to students. If you can ask students who have previously taken the course or the prof or a TA. As others say though, it could be a really lazy prof.
>Considering dropping the course, please advise.
Make sure it’s not a pre-req for something that’s actually useful, or if it is that you have an alternative.
This was my experience for most of my college classes. You can complain but more than likely nothing with come of it. Yes, you are paying for the piece of paper. You will likely need to teach yourself most of your degree.
It’s possible that this is just how your degree is structured. I’m working through a computer science degree that I’m taking online as well, there are no lectures and I have to read the textbook for the majority of my learning. There are assignments and quizzes I take and then a proctored final exam. The benefit of this is it’s extremely flexible for adults who have to work or have other responsibilities.
It’s definitely not for everyone and it can be super challenging at times (still don’t know how I got through discrete math), but I’ve learned a ton so far and I’m almost done.
This is EXACTLY what I experienced in my programming course in college. I dropped out and used the free online resources to learn the same thing I was paying $12k for.
Reading some of the comments here makes me very depressed about the state of education in terms of programming and software engineering.
your paying for the credits
not the instruction
just read the book, find lectures on youtube and do the assignments
Sounds like a pretty chill class. Cengage usually has assignments you can do if you click around and look for them.
I can relate with a couple classes I’ve had that were from the same adjunct professor. Getting any clarification on lab grading criteria was like pulling teeth. I know you said it’s located in a major city, but by any chance does it start with the name of a tree?
I was in a similar situation for my Java course and for an introductory OS course. Don’t think I retained much and had to self teach from textbooks recommended from this sub.
Sounds like it is an adjunct (part-time) instructor heavy course. The lead faculty is, therefore, putting in little effort, and the adjuncts don’t have the time or probably agency to change things. As a CC professor, I have seen this too much. You should complain to the chair or Dean as it is unlikely they have audited the course outside every five-year course reviews required by accreditation.
Haha it sounds like my Java professor a year ago. But he actually just included lectures from other professors, Which felt kinda scummy