Once-weekly evening classes are more rewarding

by SAMUEL HUXSOLL

Staff Writer

For any students dreading taking their first night class next semester, do not fret. That was my experience early in my time here, but some of the best classes I’ve taken were these dreaded evening classes and now I’ve even grown to prefer them. They might not be for everyone, but needless to say, registration is less of a pain for me after I realized how beneficial these once-weekly classes are.

Classes that meet multiple times a week are more popular among students, so they fill up before you may even have the chance to enroll. They also meet so often that they almost always have schedule conflicts with other desired classes and responsibilities. Since they only take place one day of the week, three-hour weekly classes fit better in a busy routine.

As a commuter, driving to campus and back takes me over two hours every day. This is time that could be spent studying, hanging out with friends or doing anything other than driving. I also work, as many students do. Every day that I have to commute to campus is a day I’m spending time and gas money. Five days a week on campus not only becomes impractical but can negatively affect students monetarily. 

But having only one session of class a week saves time for all, not just commuters or non-traditional students. Think about how much time is spent on each class outside of instruction and planned activities. Time is spent walking to class, getting settled, recapping what was discussed last class, packing everything up at the end, going over reminders for next class and walking back to your dorm afterwards. It might not sound like a lot, but it adds up throughout the semester. 

The more three-hour classes I take, the more the conventional schedule feels impractical. Condensing classes to meet only once weekly streamlines the experience of attending class, while also providing a more relaxed, student-focused environment. 

With the pressure of the ticking clock and constantly changing classrooms eliminated with the longer format, discussions go deeper and group work becomes more collaborative. Trying to get a word in during a 50 minute class can be difficult, but an extended duration makes the learning space more inclusive.

As well, the energy that professors bring to these three hour courses often feels different. Classes feel more personal rather than going through the motions, and you can tell when a professor is actually excited to be there with what they have planned. Rarely would I ever describe college as fun, but I usually enjoy these classes. 

When classes aren’t chopped up into hour-long segments, professors are free to teach with more engaging methods. Videos, short projects and Kahoots help in the monotony of long days. Given the length of the class, professors are also usually fine with students having something to eat on the side. This all makes for an experience that I actually look forward to, rather than questioning whether it’s too late to drop.

These professors also typically have their own careers outside of academia, whether they be policy analysts, playwrights or project managers. This perspective gives their courses a more job-relevant education for students who are not looking to be academics. However, this means that some of them are only available one evening a week to teach a class. Longer evening classes allow students to learn from these professors in a schedule that works feasibly with a full-time alternate career. 

Now, there are some disadvantages to once-weekly classes. You are sacrificing one-seventh of your evenings. Morning people may be winding down by 7 or 8 p.m. Missing one class is the equivalent of missing two Tuesday and Thursday classes, or three Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes. Missing a once-weekly class could be detrimental when exams roll around. There is also, of course, just how long the class periods are. 

However, the benefits outweigh the potential drawbacks. Three hours sounds like a lot, but it doesn’t feel that long, especially when you’re often let out early—which is unheard of in hour-long classes. In return, you get a smaller, quieter learning space. Especially in an upper-level course, the professor and the smaller group of students can delve more deeply into topics that are hard to do when trying to jog your memory on what was discussed two days before. Three-hour evening classes can thoroughly go through one topic, and be prepared for the next one the following week.

I’ve always felt a consistent rhythm to these classes that has me take more notes and pay more attention. It’s a vibe that can’t be replicated in any other class. With the focused atmosphere where everyone has time to chime in, make small talk during the halfway point break, and meet other commitments, the benefits of once-weekly three-hour classes are well worth giving up one evening a week.