Online Classes causing lack of understanding

2014-02-06T03:14:01-05:00

Soldiers, NCO's, Officers.

In the last few years I have noticed that online correspondence (classes not just ACCP) have taken a huge rise in the military. Though it is efficent and easy to make sure that the their is a standard in what is taught, it seems to me that this has caused also a lack of understanding for some things. An example would be sexual assault. I enjoyed SHARP classes where we had a sort of town hall approach versus watching a whole bunch of people make horrible mistakes in a movie sequence. I also don't have the opportunity to sit around and hit the 'next' button just so I check the block.

Train me, Sergeant (not computer), that one day I too can be called Sergeant, trainer
of soldiers

EDIT 20141219

It has been ages since I have looked at RP. Since then I understand the benefits now of Online / Offline. At the time it didn't feel as if training was done properly, since then it has been and I, among others, am better for it. Thank-you all for your input.

Response by SSG Andrew Dydasco made Feb 6 at 2014 3:29 AM

2014-02-06T03:29:38-05:00

I agree. I think it's too easy to fudge an online class. The town hall approach you mentioned seems to me the best way of going about it. I think online courses just allows there to be one trainer for the whole Army, freeing up time for everyone else, and providing a course with no feedback or personalization.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2014 3:31 AM

2014-02-06T03:31:05-05:00

Same problems in the Air Force too SPC Peaslee. I recently took the AF SNCO Correspondence Course, a required course, and it was a joke. I had to take a proctored final exam for each block, but I didn't really learn much. This is especially true when comparing the online course to the in-residence NCO Academy I had recently attended.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Sep 6 at 2014 1:22 PM

2014-09-06T13:22:27-04:00

SSG Randall P. I would rather have an open class/discussion than a computer class with no interaction with others.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Dec 1 at 2014 5:33 PM

2014-12-01T17:33:24-05:00

Ummm, you enjoyed sexual assual classes? Someone is not being P.C.

I think you are just as likely to fail to understand in a classroom setting as you are on-line. It is all on the learner...well mostly, there is some on the instructor as well but you get what I mean.