No one is going to argue with online education having its benefits.

For one, you don’t have to pay for parking permits – and at $160 per semester, that’s a not-insignificant savings for your pocketbook. Your gas-price worries are limited to how much it takes to get to the grocery store for some more Easy Mac and booze.

If you are smart about it, textbook costs are low and free time is high – but this does not mean everything about online education is sunshine and rainbows.

According to the Sacramento State course catalog for the upcoming spring semester, a total of 68 courses – most with multiple sections – are either fully online, hybridized or televised. According to the online Student Registration and Advising guide, Sac State organizes online classes into three different categories: web-assisted courses where “less than 20 percent of the instruction is accomplished using technology;” hybrid courses, which “substitute online or televised instruction for a number of class meetings;” and online classes, where “electronic forms of content and delivery for the majority of class instruction and assignments.” Each of these types of classes can benefit a student depending on his or her needs.

Recreation, parks and tourism administration as well as accountancy both have more than six classes available as online or hybrid classes, and there are a total of 29 majors with online or hybrid classes available.

Though there are definite benefits, there are sometimes downsides to online education. With the recent push for online learning – not just from Sac State, but from other schools as well – it might be wise to see what others have to say about their online learning experiences.

“Last fall, I took two online classes, both of which were required for my degree. I had read the reviews of each professor, which I would classify as mixed at best. I never watched my online classes and skimmed through the reading materials – I found quiz answers online using Google Books’ preview feature and friends who had already taken these classes advised me on what to do for my final projects. I barely listened to my professors’ lectures and would skip around until I found the piece of information I needed for my quiz.

I was often late posting assignments and I know for sure my professors would not recognize me if they passed me on the street. I saw one a few weeks ago and waved hello as we passed, and he looked at me as though I were from an alien planet. At the end of it all, I did not learn anything except online classes take minimal effort to pass. I aced both of those classes. – A State Hornet editor”

“In my experience, online classes are all about self-discipline because you don’t have to physically go to class at a specific time. I found it’s better when the professor is super organized and has things due at least twice in one week and not just all at once. It makes it harder to procrastinate. – A State Hornet copy editor”

“I had an online accounting class my freshman year counting toward my business degree. After keeping up with the class material and lecture videos for the first couple of weeks, I quickly learned how little effort I actually needed to get by in this class.

Accounting, in any class form, is a dry, miserable and horrible experience. The content is bland and the professors are rarely excited about teaching the subject.

While I slacked off the first half of the semester, passing by with a low C, I realized I wasn’t actually learning anything. Tests were taken online in groups with a couple of people looking up answers while the rest fill in answers.

Cheating this class became too easy – almost encouraged. I ended up passing with a C, but the bottom line showed I never learned a thing. That was the last business class took, as it pushed me toward my current major of journalism. – A State Hornet editor”

“I took a COMS class as an online course last semester. It was a good experience because all the online lectures were helpful. The professor was always accommodating and although we only spoke through online chats, he made the class fun and interesting.

Probably one of the best things about the class was his test reviews – which were all online chats. Not many people participated since it was optional but his review methods were different because he asked the students questions that could be on the test and when none of us answered correctly, he was nice to explain and made sure we all understood the material.

I think online classes are good only if you are willing to commit to the class and you are willing to follow along. If you only go to the online class for tests and don’t read the material or lectures – you probably won’t do well in the class and most importantly, you won’t learn anything. – A State Hornet online editor”

“I have come to believe that online classes are much harder than in-class ones. Do not be deceived by the idea of not going into class and being able to sleep in. Teachers require extra amounts of work out of you for those hours you get to spend in pajamas. I have grown to really like hybrid classes as they allow teachers to post lecture notes and allow you to ask questions on the discussion board on the weekends if you need help.

However, the one pitfall I have found for every online or hybrid class I have registered for are tests are not fail-proof online. Matching questions are better graded with the eye rather than an automatic grading system. Although there are benefits to both in class and online classes, I would strongly suggest reading up on the teacher and his or her style specifically in online classes before enrolling. The worst thing that can happen is realizing halfway through the semester how much worse the class is to take online than in person. I know I have regretted many classes I have registered for online without checking up on the teacher or thinking about the type of class I am registering for.

Some classes are just better in person. – A State Hornet editor”

Whether an online class is better than a “regular” class is up to everyone to decide for themselves – just make sure to do your research about the teacher and yourself first.