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| Yes | 43% | 118 votes | Total: 274 votes | |
| No | 57% | 156 votes |
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Add to FavoritesOne absolutely can learn more on-line than from a brick and mortar school. What qualifies me to answer this question? I have a traditional four year degree from a brick and mortar school. I also have an MBA that I achieved through an accelerated program via a reputable on-line University. It's no secret looking at my transcripts that I achieved far better grades while attending school on-line. Comparatively I maintained a 3.0 during my undergrad yet I finished my Masters program with a 3.8 - the highest GPA I have ever received.
With technology on the rise and lifestyles busy, hectic and overloaded with too much to do in a single day, it is no wonder that more and more people are turning to the Internet as a schooling option. I worked full time jobs through both of my education experiences. It was far easier to fit school into my life when I was doing so on-line. Though I had to have impeccable time management skills to balance all my deadlines and participation requirements in live chat sessions and lectures, it was worth it. Instead of sitting through hour long lectures in the middle of the day when my attention span was short, I was able to sit down in the evenings and devote my full attention to an active participation lecture or study session after I had time to decompress and regain my focus. My retention of information increased exponentially because I was able to focus. And instead of being in a controlled, or simulated educational environment where we talked in hypotheticals, I was discussing real business situations with veterans of the work field and directly applying the knowledge I was gaining to my daily life. This aspect alone of my on-line education was priceless. It put all the book knowledge I was garnering into action in immediate and real situations. It's hard to do that at a traditional school where the bulk of your student body is coming in straight from high school where they have not had the opportunity to work in Corporate America yet.
I swore after my bachelor's degree that I would never go back to school. I hated the experience. It was too demanding of my time and not supportive enough of what I was trying to accomplish. I felt lost in the herd, shuffled around like cattle. It was not something I ever wanted to experience again. But working as an admissions advisor for an on-line university I began to see I had more options. On-line learning environments foster communities that encourage open communication and growth. Professors are available via email and often times also for phone conferences. They provide all the tools necessary for a student to be successful and the responsibility is then placed on the student to grab hold of their education and make of it what they will. Make no mistake on-line education is hard. It is challenging and if you chose an accelerated program like I did you will be working your butt off. I gained my MBA in Organizational Psychology and Development in just 10 months. This is typically a two year program at a brick and mortar school.
With knowledge only a mouse click away and all the tools for success at your fingertips on-line learning is a viable option that is growing in popularity. As technology continues to increase and the need for a flexible education gains momentum on-line learning becomes a tool, an opportunity for the masses to achieve their goals on their schedule. It's an opportunity for students to learn more than just what a text book can tell them. It's a platform to discuss and grow in your business field while you learn. Can a brick and mortar school really do all that? They can prepare you for the future. They certainly can provide you a well-rounded education, there is no doubt about that. But on-line education connects you with like minded individuals, often times from all around the world, who are serious about their education and provide some of the richest educational discussions you will ever find.
Learn more about this author, Kristin Lee.
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No
College versus internet
Spoken as a person who has immersed herself in both, traditional academic learning and internet learning, I can clearly say that a college education is still superior to internet-based models.
Information can be passed over the internet but quality relationships, space for discussions, experiential learning, midnight study sessions, and coffee with friends are part of the college learning experience that the internet cannot duplicate.
Clearly the internet is an essential part of a college education now. I am currently writing a thesis and could not do the in-depth work I am doing without the resources that are available on the internet.
In class sessions, a great majority of our readings are assigned from journals accessible via the internet something that was impossible for the last generation. However, in class we have discussions, debates, and conversations that require us not only to express our opinion but to consider others while doing so. The internet is still for all and intents and purposes, an anonymous venture when it comes to making your voice heard. You can speak without being known. In a classroom, you put yourself up front for everyone to see and judge or hopefully, understand.
College learning takes on a flavor of its own depending on the culture of the campus, the camaraderie (or lack of) of the professors, the administrations well-designed or faulty policies. A college education extends beyond the classroom to the spaces between the buildings and the spaces between people. The internet, in spite of Facebook, My Space and Twitter still cannot create interpersonal space for reflection and discussion.
With internet-based models of learning you will obtain plenty of information. You will be able to read the assignments, write about them, email them to your professor. You might even get back well-written comments, but the quality of the interactions will still be lacking. You won't be able to interact in a way that speaks not just to knowledge but to wisdom as well.
Internet learning creates a vacuum where your thoughts and your opinions are the only ones that matter. You can say what you want, when you want. You might receive criticism on a bulletin board or through email, but there is no real risk. Thoughts and ideas are reduced to words on a screen and the very real people behind them are lost.
Learning is about more than memorizing facts or taking in information. Learning is about synthesizing and contextualizing all that goes along with those facts and figures. Learning is about practicing in the world, trying on ideas sometimes falling flat and sometimes soaring but always assimilating and growing.
Learn more about this author, Smithie.
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