MEET AN eLEARNING GRADUATE
Justin Lockhart
College of Education and Human Services
Graduate, Master of Education in Organizational Leadership
Being a CSU student has been a great experience for me. As a working professional, I love going to CSU because of the great faculty, facilities, and eLearning programs. Taking classes online allowed me to pursue two Master’s degrees simultaneously. I graduated with a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in August 2008 and a Master of Education in Organizational Leadership in December 2008.
I would not have finished both programs in a timely manner if it were not for the eLearning option. In fact, I enjoyed my experience at CSU so much I decided to go on to get my Educational Technology graduate endorsement online, which I am currently working towards.
As a special education teacher and entrepreneur, my days are jam-packed with commitments. Taking classes online has allowed me to do work when I have moments of free time, whether that is in the morning, at night or during my planning period in the middle of the school day. Because of this, I have learned to better manage my workload and my time.
I also found the students and faculty willing to express their thoughts openly and intelligently. Because everyone in the online environment participates equally, I was exposed to a broader diversity of opinion. It was interesting for me to hear from classmates who had been quieter in our face-to-face classes. From my experiences at the University, the instructors encourage this kind of student interaction and care about their students’ success.
I have found the faculty to be very responsive and willing to help me. While they are available on a regular basis online, that is not the only way I have connected with my instructors. I have spoken over the phone and met with some of my instructors in person. I have found that faculty at CSU are very approachable.
In the real world, a University needs to prepare a student for daily success, and the education I received at CSU has made me very marketable to employers. It has also given me the tools to be very successful in the field of education and a leader in my organization, or any organization for that matter. I highly recommend the eLearning experience for students who want to be engaged and get the most out of their educational opportunities.