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Are online educational programs common today due to the growth of technology or globalization?
Results so far:
| Technology | 76% | 52 votes | Total: 68 votes | |
| Global | 24% | 16 votes |
Technology
by Tammie Schmid-Thompson
Created on: July 07, 2010 Last Updated: March 01, 2011
The concept of distance education has existed for decades, but leaps and bounds in technology create an atmosphere for a new twist on an old idea.
Not long ago, distance education involved laborious mailing between student and institution. The option was used mostly by people who didn’t have the access to traditional classrooms such as members of the military and missionary families in remote locations. Now, quality education is just a mouse click away and much of the feedback is instant.
People take advantage of distance learning programs due to the wide availability of computers and the flexibility online class offers. Classes are self-paced or on a traditional semester schedule, but in general the material is available 24/7 and the teacher is only an e-mail or a phone call away.
The explosion in distance education is easy to link to the affordability of computers in many parts of the world. Existing programs scrambled to go online and new programs cropped up like mushrooms after a heavy rain. Colleges all over the world are in favor of this development because it allows traditional course offerings to a wide variety of students. The student who works full-time can complete assignments during off hours and not worry about making it to a class at a specific time. Distance learning is also a revenue stream schools can’t afford to ignore.
So, is it cheaper?
In some ways, the answer is yes. There’s no commute to a campus, but in general most colleges charge by the credit hour as they do for traditional students. However, distance learners often avoid activity fees. High school programs vary from free through the local school district to about $2800 for selection of cores and electives through a program like Keystone National High School.
How about scams?
Yes, scams are all over the world wide web. Like anything else, careful investigation is required. Programs with good reputations clearly display accreditations. If something appears to be too good to be true, it probably is. Education takes hours of work no matter where it’s done. If a program offers a quick degree at a high price, it’s a scam.
Distance learning isn’t for everyone. All the technology in the world isn’t going to motivate the lazy student or interest an English major in the study of geometry. However, it does offer an extra option for people who are looking for an alternative to the bricks and mortar experience.
Learn more about this author, Tammie Schmid-Thompson.
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Global
by Kris Kennedy
Created on: October 11, 2009
Global Cause expansion of Online Education
Distance education always existed especially for your military. Many are living away from where the potential student can attend college so distance education needed expansion. The internet made it possible, but globalization provided the need.
Previous Programs
The University of Maryland had been the prime distance education program for the Military. Soldiers living abroad could take classes through mail services. Other mail order programs were vocational programs marketed in magazine articles and on matchbook covers. In the seventies, some Universities had limited classes available but very few programs leading to a completed degree.
The need for programs where people existed prompted some states to expand their campuses. In Washington State, the two major Universities built branch campuses. At the time, Washington State University started it branch campus they had many satellite classes with the home campus. Many students felt disconnected from professors and as secondary students. What made the expansion of programs in every community?
Society
The Feminist movement of the sixties and seventies promoted the movement of woman into the workforce. Woman wanted the skills to succeed in her jobs. The problems that existed were that the family might live in a city without a University or without the programs necessary to succeed in the career choice of the woman. The internet made it possible for a woman to train in the field of choice.
Adults have changed the demand for education. Colleges and Universities have witnessed a change of the demographics to mature adults. They are living, working and going to school in the same city. Today, college demographics rarely are the freshman arriving immediately after graduating from high school. The adults comes with challenges
In the past when we lived within extended families, adults who wanted to extend t educational opportunities had childcare for the children. In the past, the senior members of the family cared the children while the young males and females completed the physical work to support the family. Now families live away from the other family members. To take a class at brick and mortar colleges meant someone would need to hire care for the younger members of the family. Internet programs made it possible for the students to study where the parents care for the children.
Needs
With community need reflecting choices at a college, a student's choices could be limited. If there was an interest that was not in high demand for the community, the local university might not offer the program. Community leaders might offer financial or political support for programs, which met the industries' needs. With the internet, all options are available with no regard to what the community needs.
No longer does it matter where someone lives for education. People live everywhere so education needs to be everywhere.
Learn more about this author, Kris Kennedy.
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