What are the pros and cons of taking IT courses, online or residential, at ECPI University?

2017-06-19T16:14:39-04:00

I'm asking about the reputation and quality of the content, not GI Bill related costs.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jun 21 at 2017 9:43 AM

2017-06-21T09:43:15-04:00

I can't address ECPI specifically, but I taught at a college that underwent a bit of a conversion from in-house to on-line teaching. The feedback I got from both the professors and students is that while the quantity and quality of the education did not change, the instructor to student relationship with the on-line courses was almost nonexistent. I think the major problem is that schools see the on-line classes as being revenue streams that are not constrained by the brick-and-mortar realities. In a conventional class room the real-estate constrains the school to about 30 students and each and every student gets individual "face time" as needed during the instruction. I was seeing on-line classes with nearly 100 students. That makes it impossible for the instructor to offer any one-on-one time during the semester. Also, because of the volume of course-work, individual student work can not be graded so all activities tend to be "team" based .. with your grade being dependent on the quality of the work of the lowest achiever in your team. So in my book .. residential beats on-line hands down .. regardless of the campus.

Response by SSG Walter Dobarzynski made Jun 28 at 2017 9:25 AM

2017-06-28T09:25:32-04:00

What i have found, so of the classes are of to take online, ECPI has simulation programs that are very good; but the hands on with the equipment is the best teacher.