Has any one else taken an online college course?

[RStar]

Thanks guys! I finally got a message back from the insructor. I think I have it figured out now. I was in the "online" mode, thinking the lab was where the homework that I sent to her was produced. It's not. I have to run the Excel 2007 on my machine and then submit the spread sheets I put together according to the textbook.

Why don't they tell you before the class starts that you will need the following:

Course cost $66 (including health fee, that they disclosed)

(They listed course materials as $0)

Textbook with lab $117 (disclosed day class started which is typical)

Microsoft Excell 2007 (Office Pro 2007 bundle) $299.95 (but can be purchased through the college for $84.98- a fantastic discount!) which wasn't disclosed until three days AFTER class starts and we were trying to do the work.

Total to take class:

Expexted : $66

Actual: $267.98

Why can't they list all nessessary materials and books before hand? Do they not get the book info from the publishers in time to print the information? I have the computer requirements, Win. XP SP2, Explorer 6.0/7.0, bandwidth, screen resolution, plug-ins needed, etc. so why can't they through in "Oh, and you'll need Excell 2007 loaded on your machine to do the work."?

I guess they figure everyone should know thay need it if that's what they are learning, but I though I was going to be doing it all online, and the version of Excel I have on my machine (and use at work) was irrelevent.

And perhaps a little instruction about how to do the course would have been nice. What my teacher finnaly told me is the book is the course, the lab is an inhancement. Duh....

/rant

Ok, I'm going to go on the Verizon website and order our new phones now. Thanks again for your help!