Hi, If for instance I decide to take an online course and it has a lab component. How will this lab component be administered? Would i have to go meet at a certain location to do it or will it be online as well? Anyone who has taken a course at athabasca university with a lab component, please help ! Thanks

Which course is it for? I'm actually planning on doing a course and had this same thought.

Some online courses require you to fly to their university in order to complete the labs. An example of this is Microbio at Athabasca. On the other hand, there could be an online lab that you complete on your own time and submit assignments afterward.

You need to look at the specific course description on the Athabasca website.

As Angoose said, the microbio course at Athabasca requires you to go there to do the labs. But physics 1B03/1BB3 equivalent at Athabasca mails you a kit and you do self-directed at-home labs. So it depends on the course.

Last time I looked into courses at Athabasca, it was organized where you fly in for a week (number of days depends on the course), and you have labs all day, for just that week, go home and do the writeups needed, submit them, and you'd be done the lab component in about a week.

is there a link as to where i can see which courses require me to fly there to do the labs and which courses i wouldn't need to fly there?

Originally Posted by Jennnnn

is there a link as to where i can see which courses require me to fly there to do the labs and which courses i wouldn't need to fly there?

As I said, you need to look at the specific course you're interested in on the Athabasca website.

I switched programs, so I've done CHEM 1A03 but i would like to do the second one online because there are other courses with lab components that id like to get done with during the summer as well

Originally Posted by Jennnnn

I switched programs, so I've done CHEM 1A03 but i would like to do the second one online because there are other courses with lab components that id like to get done with during the summer as well

Okay then...so look up the equivalent on their website. I'd be pretty surprised though if they had a mail-out kit for chem labs. It's possible, but unlikely.

thanks for the help! also for the final and midterms, are they usually online as well depending on the course ?

Usually you'll be required to book a testing centre plus an invigilator. Tests can be online or on paper, but you shouldn't expect to do them at home . It's always at an approved testing centre.

Originally Posted by Angoose

Usually you'll be required to book a testing centre plus an invigilator. Tests can be online or on paper, but you shouldn't expect to do them at home . It's always at an approved testing centre.

Just to add to this - you also have to pay for the invigilator, so keep that in mind.

anyone whos taken an online course and wrote the exams, how much would this range around? I would just to make sure on these facts before i choose to keep it or not

Originally Posted by Jennnnn

anyone whos taken an online course and wrote the exams, how much would this range around? I would just to make sure on these facts before i choose to keep it or not

Yup, Star is right. Invigilator fees range from 35-100, it just depends where you go. At Mac it was 100 dollars for one session.

Originally Posted by Jennnnn

thanks for the help! also for the final and midterms, are they usually online as well depending on the course ?

I did it at the local college and they charged $25/hour and capped it at $50. I am pretty sure that even if you do it online, you still have to be invigilated and that's what I was charged for, unless it's an open book exam