Can you learn as much from the Internet as you would get from a college education?

Yes

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by Joseph Whalen

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The quick and easy answer to this question is likely to be a firm no for most people. While the question itself may seem simple, the answer is subjective at best. A college education today with the ability to engage in online courses and never step foot in a classroom is a very different type of education than a traditional brick and mortar college education. Many people fail to take into account the online college experience before answering this type of question. Another factor to consider is what exactly is meant by the term "learn".

Already established as a uniquely vast source of knowledge, the Internet plays a major role in many people's lives today. While the concept of "it must be true because I saw it on the Internet" is finally being dispelled in favor of a more diligent view of source material and effort to utilized trusted sources, many people still fall into the trap of trusting information on the Internet more than it deserves to be. As a result much of the material one would reference in their self initiated education must be considered suspect at best until verified by an authoritative source. Many of these sources are University based, or at the very least University associated.

When a self initiated student is pulling his or her source materials from the same knowledge base as the college courses themselves it is very possible for both the self tutored and institutionally educated students to acquire the same base of informative learning. From the perspective of what is popularly called "book knowledge", the Internet can match what most colleges provide today. This is even more so with online universities whose course material and online references are available to the general public on an increasingly frequent basis. As such a casual Internet user could very easily setup a self study program similar to that presented to an online university student.

What the Internet provides in abundance as far as reference material it generally lacks in a structured and organized curriculum of study. The result of this deficiency has inexperienced and unqualified individuals attempting to steer themselves through what is at best an unfamiliar subject in order to conduct their studies. While an exceptional few people in the world might be able to make up for this inadequacy through organization and enhanced intelligence the vast majority of self initiated students will likely suffer the ill-effects of a poorly administered program. However this does not mean learning the same things is impossible.

To properly understand the differences between an "Internet" education and a University education we must look not at the online college option which is increasing in availability each year. We must look at the traditional brick and mortar University and College institutions. While all three may or may not share the same core of material they disseminate to their students, traditional colleges offer something that neither of the two virtual learning sources can, experience. The knowledge and experience gained from attending a traditional college is a supplemental benefit to the actual learning that is bestowed upon the student by the institution. It is this experience in responsible conduct and self sufficiency that fortifies the teachings of the college and makes the attendee more than just a student. This is where the value of a college education is most prominent and it can only be found in a traditional college campus environment.

Looking at the most simplistic interpretation of the question "Can you learn as much from the internet as you would get from a college education" we must answer yes. However we must also understand that a college education is more than simply learning what is written in a book. It is about the experience of participating in a new phase of our lives. It is about expanding one's self through the experience of a higher education and expanding our knowledge, not just our intelligence. It is about growing into an adult through not only learning but by doing.

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