An angel among us

For a lot of us, the number one most important part of each semester is our class schedule. It can either make or break us. Our daily lives revolve around it and our social activities must wait for it. For people like me, who also work full-time and have a family, it can be the difference between sanity and the rubber room. So, needless to say, our academic work load is vital to our mental and physical well-being.

It is with that in mind that I discovered online classes at Ole Miss. From my very first semester here, I utilized this wonderful alternative to the normal classroom, and I loved it. If you’re self-motivated and have an addiction for the computer (like I do) the virtual world of academia is just what the doctor ordered. The classes are taught in Angel, a program that is both easy to use and wonderfully multifaceted. Depending on the course, there’s everything from the traditional lectures (complete with PowerPoints) to discussion forums and your weekly quizzes. Your progress is noted and if you need to contact your instructor, the communication tab is at your disposal. Just send a quick e-mail and usually your questions are answered. And if not, just like in regular class, you can make an appointment and have a meeting with the professor in person. It’s just that simple.

Angel is an answered prayer for a lot of us. The work is interesting and the courses are always challenging, but the best part for me is that I can do them at home, after work, and still get my full credits, allowing me to spend some quality time with my family. The midterm and final are proctored, and they’re the only tests that you have to actually go onto campus and take.

Now I’m not saying that the actual experience of going to a daily class on campus is not awesome, because it is. There’s nothing like hurrying across campus on a crisp fall morning, trying to get to your next class, leaves turning colors and drifting to the ground beneath your feet. It’s exhilarating. For some of us, the reality of graduation would be impossible without the offer of online classes. It enables us to hold jobs, have families, and go to school.

I am thankful for the Angel program at the university. I have gathered more than a few credits through the web classes. However, sometimes it is hard to get into them. They stay booked, and depending on when your registration window opens, you may be unable to actually get one on your schedule. But if you need those web-based classes, for whatever reason, keep trying. They’re well worth the continued effort.