Are Online Schools Good for Busy Moms?

Thinking about going back to school?  Is it because of the state of the economy?  Perhaps it's because you’re looking for a career change.  Whatever the reason, there are many other things to consider. 

When I decided to pursue a master’s degree, I first had to think about how this would affect my lifestyle.  Did I have the time and energy to be a successful student?  Could I afford both my children’s tuition and mine?  Can my husband handle it?

All these questions ran through my head.  I knew that if I took on this mission, I needed to be dedicated and committed.  But in order to attend classes, do homework and study, I would have to sacrifice some other part of my life.  Luckily, I have the best support: My husband, parents, friends and neighbors totally supported me and gave me their blessings.  Therefore, I knew that if I were in a bind with either child care or homework, one of them would be there to help me out.

With five children and working full time, I had to figure out what type of classes would be most advantageous for my family and me.  My two options were either to attend online or [commute to take] traditional courses.  Both type of courses provide different experiences. Online instruction delivers flexibility and convenience, whereas traditional instruction builds personal relationships.

After taking a few traditional and online courses, I prefer traditional instruction.  I would much rather sit in a classroom once a week and interact with my professor and other classmates than blog in cyberspace. Online instruction is a lot of work.  You have to keep up and check on your work daily. Because online courses are like virtual classrooms, discussions boards are pretty standard.  So, I spent many hours writing to students who I have never met. Online courses exhaust me. 

It is really important to set time aside for homework. I look at homework like a job, so I set aside certain amount of time each week for school projects. This time is nonnegotiable.  I know if I began to change my schedule, then I would continue to switch my designate homework time. 

To sum it up, I really appreciate being back at school. I am very fortunate that I have the support and resources to be able to go. I’m not sure what I’ll exactly do after I receive my degree, but I hope this raises the bar for my children.