Tell me about online courses

I'm wanting to keep my brain alive and also maybe have new skills under my hat for when I do return to work, so I'm thinking about doing a course by correspondence, or a night TAFE course. I completed a TAFE course when I finished school, but other than that, I have no further education, it's only been on the job training.

So my questions are:

Are courses online any good (naturally depending on the course)?

Has anyone got a job out of it or has further study at uni/TAFE been required?

Do you have timelines, or is it something you can just do at your own pace (I know, this is another one that depends on the course, just sort of asking about your personal experience)?

What's the best/worst thing about it?

Thanks heaps :)

I'm currently doing my degree as a mix of online & at campus subjects. I've found you need to be very organised to do online study but you can do the work when works best for you. I ended up doing study at midnight the other night because i was awake & couldn't sleep. My courses aren't "at your own pace" so i cannot comment on those type.

I have had friends who have completed degrees totally online through a university, not open uni but one of the universities that have distance students.

Hey,

I studied enrolled nursing online, it was at a uni but I got a cert qualification so the equivalent of a TAFE. I started out internal and changed over, it was fairly easy to go external and I was quite surprised at how easy it was to study. My DW was working in Samoa for a while, I had my course on the laptop and sent out my assignments at an Internet cafe.
Im studying a bachelor now at the same uni and working with the qualification I gained before. It's a lot easier now, there are BBs to discuss the courses, all of the tests are online and there are videos etc. All pretty convenient with two kids to look after IMHO!

My uni is a 'real' one and the course has internal students too, there is a strict timeline with normal deadlines for assignments and tests.

The only disadvantage I can see is the social aspect and I guess if your more of a visual/auditory learner you might find it a little tricky to study almost entirely from written sources.

Thanks guys. I think it's something I can do. The course I did (where I physically went to TAFE) was a lot of work at home, more than in class. I don't really remember taking out a pen much in class, so I'm certain I can do work at home. As far as deadlines went back then, I met them all and I work better under pressure. Not sure how I'll go with deadlines though and having kids! Only one way to find out! Thanks for replying :)