Interview with an Online Student on Active Duty in Iraq

As Gerald Powless advanced in rank andthat requires keeping specific hours. Much like a
responsibility in the US Army, he found it hardertraditional class that meets twice a week from
and harder to attend traditional college classes.4.30-6.30 P.M. for example, a synchronous course
With longer hours, a heaver workload, and morerequires students to be online at certain times.
responsibility, Powless looked toward onlineThis type of course is best for students with
coursework for the first time in 2003. Enlisted incompatible schedules.
the Army for almost twenty years, he isOnline Education Means You're Never Alone
considering becoming a history teacher when heIt is important to know that no matter the type
retires from the Army.of course, online classrooms are set up to be as
Education opportunities have changed since heuser-friendly as possible. Inside a virtual classroom
began his Army career--today Powless takesthere are links to a syllabus with all of the
advantage of convenient and accessible onlinenecessary information, lessons divided by topic
education options to earn a bachelor's degree inand due dates, communication systems, and
history.discussion boards. Students usually can log on at
Online Education in a War Zoneany time of the day or night to submit
"I decided it was perfect for me," says Powlessassignments or join group discussions with fellow
about online courses. "I was able to work away atclassmates. In this way, there is a dynamic
my classes twenty-four hours a day if necessary,community created in the virtual classroom, much
even if I was on a deployment, as long as I hadlike the community created in a traditional
Internet access." His deployments have evenclassroom.
included a year in Iraq. Stationed in the northernOne of the things students worry about when
city of Mosul from October 2004 to Septembertaking online courses is the lack of
2005, he completed a course in college algebra instudent-teacher interaction in the virtual setting,
the middle of a war zone.but Powless says that has not been the case for
Powless exhibits the kind of discipline needed tohim. "Of all of the classes I have taken online, I
complete online coursework, though in his case italways have my questions answered in a timely,
seems extreme. Everyone is busy with jobs, kids,accurate, and professional manner. Additionally, if
and the normal activities of adult life, but ifthere is any information to be passed on to the
students like Gerald Powless can complete astudents, it gets disseminated quickly and
course while making history in Iraq it is certainlyproficiently."
possible for those of us with safer lives andThe truth is, Powless and students like him,
fewer demands.whether they live in the center of New York City
How the Virtual Classroom Worksor in rural Iowa, are part of an educational
Taking college courses through a virtual classroomrevolution. No matter where you live and work,
is not as complicated as it might seem, accordingcollege degree programs are available.
to Powless. "Once enrolled, I get on the schoolOnline Student/Active Duty Soldier
website that is e-mailed to me, browse around"These courses work out perfectly for active
for a while, and get familiar navigating through it. Iduty soldiers who have rigorous, fluctuating
then locate the syllabus and print it out and look ithours," he says. Even if you are not in the
over until I completely comprehend it. Next, I printservice, follow this piece of advice: "One must be
out all of the lessons for the subject. Finally, I putpunctual and disciplined to be successful." No doubt
everything in order, prioritize everything, developwe can all learn from that kind of
a plan, begin implementing the plan, and mostrecommendation.
importantly, stick with the plan."As well as the algebra course he finished in Iraq,
Sticking with the plan is great advice for studentsPowless has completed courses in humanities and
taking online courses. Though you don't have tothe fine arts, business management, and English
arrive at a classroom on time for most courses,literature online. All of these will soon add up to a
there are deadlines that need to be met, and itdegree in history, which he hopes to use to
can be just as easy to fall behind online as in abecome a teacher. With his opinions on discipline
traditional classroom. Each university offersand punctuality, it comes as no surprise that
different types of online classes. Some areGerald Powless is also considering completing the
asynchronous, which means that though thererequired graduate work to become a principal. He
might be deadlines for assignments, there is nosays, "I refuse to stop taking college courses until
"live" component to the course. This kind ofI graduate with a master's degree, even if I have
course is best for students with schedules thatto take one class at a time like I am doing now."
change. A few courses of this variety arePowless feels that with a bit of determination and
asynchronous as well was "self-paced", whichdiscipline, almost anything is possible. As you begin
means you can turn in the assignments wheneveryour education, take this piece of advice from
you get to them, as long as everything is finishedsomeone who knows, "The secret is to do your
by the course end date. The final option is to takebest, and to never quit.
a synchronous course, which is the kind of class