I have quite a few college credits at the moment and I'm looking to finish my BA degree before too long, but I've never taken online courses and really learn better when in a classroom setting. My problem is, until I go to A-school and get ranked I'm on Port and Starboard rotation. Lets say I have a college class Tues and Thurs, how would I participate when every other class I would be working?
There's nobody at my station who is doing this so I dont know who to ask. Has anyone out there figured a way around this?

You wouldn't be able to do it. I know that's not the answer you were hoping for, but I figured I'd shoot you straight. Unless you do it online, you won't be able to work it around a port and starboard schedule.

If you go to a Small Boat Station you'll stand Port/Starboard duty. Once you're fully qualified the Command might allow you to leave for a couple of hours on a duty day to attend a class ops permitting. You're better off taking online courses. You don't have the benefit of a classroom, but you can knock out the material at your convenience.

Keep in mind, too, that online learning is a lot more interactive than you might think. Like you, I prefer classroom settings, but my brother is finishing up his degree online and he's had to do a lot of group work and regular postings that keep him engaged much like he would be in a classroom.

Some schools also have hybrid classes where you have classroom meetings 1 or 2 times, but everything else is done online.

Hmmm. Thanks for the input. Yeah I figured i wouldn't be able to do it on P/S rotation, but I figured I'd ask.
ebee, how interactive do you mean?

I know he has to post on discussion boards a certain number of times per week for most classes - they basically have ongoing class discussions online. So it's not necessarily like you are in your own bubble. It's certainly not the same as being in class, but distance learning has come a long way.