by Brenna Mae

Created on: December 16, 2008

Most people assume that an online degree is the "slacker's choice." However, I am currently enrolled in two colleges at the moment: A traditional university, and an online school. Through my experiences, I can officially say that online learning is not a slacker's choice for upper-level schooling.

Why an Internet Degree is Not Only for Slackers
I've taken quite a few online classes. I've taken them through my online school, my traditional school, and even at a community college over a summer break. Sure, it was nice to sleep in and do my homework in my PJ's.

Why do people assume that makes it easier though? Does doing your homework in your PJ's mean the content is easier to understand? Does waking up early because you have go to class instead constitute for a more prestigious degree? No!

Because there is more freedom, it is a lot less stressful. However, a student's stress level does not mean courses are easier. The same amount of work is being done in an online classroom as it is in an offline classroom.

It is completely illogical to think that because somebody is learning online, that they're not learning as much.

May be a Better Learning Style
I actually feel as though I learn better online. Like I said before, whenever I took an online class, I was not sleep deprived. I studied when I felt most productive. That's not to say I studied whenever I felt like it. Just like offline courses, there are schedules, final exam times, and homework due dates. I just didn't have to wake up at 7am to learn the material.

Another beneficial part to online learning is that you're notes, homework assignments, etc. are all right there. As you take notes from a video lecture, or your professor gives them to you, you have them all right there on your computer. Taking notes from a professor in a classroom may mean you skip a lot!

Now I am not answering the title of this article with a full-on 'yes.' With my own educational background out of mind, I'd say my final answer is, that it depends. Depends on what you ask?

The Degree Type
Another big argument for online degrees vs. traditional degrees is whether or not the student received adequate hands-on training.

I'm getting an online degree in Fine Arts and Web Development. If I were to get a web development degree at a traditional school, my day would go something like this: Wake up for an early class, go out into the cold weather, walk halfway across campus, enter my classroom which is a computer lab, and then follow assignments and guidelines

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