Chad Nykiel (FGCU): “MyITLab”

Considering that I have already given my opinion about MyMathLab, I figured that I would also talk about another program that is similar to it called MyITLab.  This is an online computer training program that teaches students how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access.  This class is required for those entering into the Lutgert College of Business.  I took this class last semester and once again hated this program.  I understand that the teachers are trying to make it easier for students to be able to do their homework and trying to get students to pass their class, but MyITLab is worse than MyMathLab.  The program definitely favors PC’s, because Macs could not run the program, but I think that the program was still in its beta version.  For instance, I know from experience that most of the time I tried to do the homework online it would not even let me.  If it told me to bold a word, in Microsoft Word, sometimes it would not even let me do such an easy task.  Also on my computer MyITLab would freeze and then I would have to shut down the program and restart it all over again.  Sometimes it would even freeze my computer which would take even more time.  So I tried to find out the problem and I was told to use the computers on campus because they are compatible with MyITLab.  The next time I did my homework I went to the computer lab and still encountered the same program malfunctions.  There is also a hint button that shows you steps in order to do the task and throughout the entire semester I was never even able to use that button because it would freeze any computer I was on.  Another main problem with MyITLab is that it gets very meticulous.  By that I mean that you have to start doing tasks that not everyone even knows Word, Excel, Powerpoint, or Access have.  I know the goal of the class was to teach students how to use certain programs and be more efficient, but I think that this program was not the correct route to take.  This semester a couple of my friends are taking the same class and again must use MyITLab.  I watched as they took one of their tests and I noticed that they did a lot of things that my class never even touched base on.  For example, they went into such detail as to change the general properties of Microsoft Word.  Most students at this school are required to know computers and how to operate a lot of programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access.  However, I believe that MyITLab went too far.  They showed students how to do things that most of them will never need to do.  All of these in depth questions also makes homework and tests hard to pass, which is changing what classes are intended to do.  They are supposed to require effort but not be so meticulous to make students not understand what they are doing or even how to do it.  I believe that this class should at least have some sort of test in order to be exempt from taking it.  Also MyITLab should not be used for the class.  If there are any other students that feel as strongly against this program or have any other regards to make concerning this subject please comment and let me know.   

This entry was posted on 7. April 2009 at 19:19 and is filed under Introduction to Sociology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.