Today, more and more colleges are offering courses to students that are entirely online. Students who are drawn to online courses include students working full-time jobs, students who would prefer a private study environment or students who find that online courses are easier than traditional courses. Most people have very busy lives, thus not leaving much time for anything else. Many of these people would like to have the time to return to school for different reasons (i.e. earning a higher degree, taking a class on something they enjoy, etc.). What comes to mind when trying to fit schooling into a very busy schedule is online classes. Taking classes online has become very popular lately. Although popular, these classes have their advantages and disadvantages. I will examine the issues of online-based classes to give a better insight as to which one would prefer; online classes or face-to-face classes. Whereas before, formal academic qualifications could only be gained by participating in a full-time course on site, the internet has allowed institutions to expand their reach and offer recognized courses on a contact-partial, or virtual basis. Institutions can do so with few extra resources, and for paid courses this constitutes excellent value, and a student will benefit greater educational access and greater flexibility to learn and get qualified. Flexibility is one of the most important benefits of online learning. Online learning is very beneficial when it comes to flexibility and working your courses and your daily routine, online courses give you the advantage of planning when you can do homework and study around your daily
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Show MoreSo it’s 9:00 am and your class has finally ended. As you are on your way out, you glance down at your watch to find out that you have approximately 15 minutes to get to work. As you practically sprint at full speed to your car, you come across a brief thought in your head, “I knew I should have just took that online class”. It is true that online classes do provide flexibility and convenience while traditional classes, typically, do not. And this isn’t the only difference, online and traditional classes are two helpful learning environments that differs in numerous ways.
Online education has increased significantly due to flexibility that’s offered to students. Online education is beneficial to students because “course material can be accessed 24 hours a day.”...
The twenty-first century the exponential increase in technology has allowed people to have unprecedented access to seemingly limitless information unlike any other time in human history. Today people from all corners of the globe now have the ability to harness a vast sea of resources at their very fingertips. One of the byproducts of the technological revolution has been the dramatic increase in online, or distance learning, from perspective students looking for a more flexible option to pursue higher education. And although online learning does present a tremendous opportunity for students who may not otherwise
Yet one cannot praise the advantages without taking a look at the possible limitations of Web-based delivery. The authors, (Sunal et al., 2003) stated that Web-based students indicated dissatisfaction with the number of opportunities for interaction with the instructor and other students. (Simonson et al., 2003) concluded that access to technology, paradigm shifts for instructors, bandwidth limitations, and training and technical assistance may hinder course delivery. They (Simonson et al., 2003) reported too, that online courses require students to be motivated, self directed and responsible for their success. Another possible disadvantage with Web-based courses is the potential loss of social relationships and sense of community that exists in traditional face-to-face courses (Hiltz, 1998).
Many benefits are associated with enrolling in an online degree program. Flexibility, convenience, overall lower cost due to the savings of travel expenses and parking passes, and a higher degree of anonymity, are the most common benefits of enrolling in an online program. Moore and Kearsely(2005) indicated that most online students are adults between the ages of 25 and 50.(resource number 7) In 2003, 34 percent of 1000 representative higher education institutions offered a complete online degree program (Allen & Seaman, 2004)(Resource number 7).
As the Internet becomes increasingly popular, so do online classes. Last year alone, there was a 13% increase in registration for distance learning classes throughout the public university system. (Beverly Creamer, 2003) It is now possible for people to learn conveniently from home or office. People that want to go to school can do so now because scheduling and geographic location does not matter with online classes because the class course is brought to the student rather than the student to the course.
I managed to complete my Associates Degree in a year and a half, and after completion took time to reflect on my online studies and how they impacted the rest of my life. I was now an entry level candidate for a career level job, and after getting over my initial fears and the stigma that follows online universities, I realized that the online classes not only supplied me with the knowledge needed for my career, but also shaped the way I would study in the future. Even now, as I am returning to school to continue my education, I no longer hold the same fears about online learning that I once did. Instead, I am excited to put what I learned in my first online course to work again as I move through my Bachelor’s Degree program with Western Governors University.
As online learning continues to boost in popularity, more institutions of higher learning are focusing on a common occurrence practiced among universities and colleges offering online courses (Street, n. d.). There is significant growth in the online market because students working full time are the fastest growing part of the learner population and they bring commercial tuition dollars with them. It is estimated that five of six online students have some type of employment and would not be able to attend customary face-to-face classes (Thomas, 2001). The quantity of universities offering online education courses and the amount of students registering for online courses are on the rise.
Education plays a significant role in every one’s future and lives; therefore parents have to ensure that their kids receive proper education.There has always been controversy over which is better: online or traditional classes. While some of the differences between traditional school and online school are the academics, socialization, and structure, the similarities are still evident.
There are also many conveniences and benefits to taking an online class over a traditional, face-to-face class. Many students benefit logistically, financially, and from the course structure itself. Online classes provide the student with more opportunities to be successful in their coursework. Online courses can be completed based on the student's own schedule, provide for faster and less nervous interactions with instructors, and in many cases, are more educationally beneficial setting alternatives to traditional, face-to-face classes. In fact, Sixty-seven percent of academic professionals evaluated online courses as equivalent to as or better than face-to-face courses (Lytle).
One of the major advantages of an online degree program is the flexibility it provides to someone working a demanding job, living geographically removed from a college campus, or that simply finds it most convenient for a host of other reasons. These challenges of the modern workforce have in fact been the big driver behind the exponential rise in online degree programs over the past decade. Furthermore, the flexibility provided by an online degree program enables tailoring a program matched to personal learning style and pace.
The opportunity to obtain a degree through an online setting has provided some liberation to students who then take advantage of that opportunity. The problem, however, lies in employment upon successful completion of an online program. Having an online degree possibly means some bumps down the road of employment, being that the degree could perhaps be ranked lower, as opposed to the traditional degree. Studies show that employers are more prone to hire someone with a traditional degree versus an online degree. In the Chronicle of Online Education, Carnevale states that, “The reviews of individuals who assess qualified candidates for particular positions demonstrate an inclination against online degrees, although these programs are becoming more readily accessible through universities on the web (Carnevale 2007)”. It is clear that even with the qualifications that one may possess from online education, employers still remain inclined. Some employers may feel that the degrees can’t correlate with one another and that one receives a better understanding of the coursework at traditional colleges. In the article, Employer’s Perspective of Online Education, Linardopoulos finds apprehensions regarding employer’s views of online learning. He says, “Online learning does not provide adequate
When students are deciding on where to go to college at they have the option of choosing between online classes and the traditional classroom classes. Today some students are finding it much easier to maintain a job, family and start a college career all by taking online classes. Although some students still prefer to stick with the traditional classroom classes, they still have the option to take online classes. Both online and the traditional classes will provide the educational requirements needed to obtain a college degree and opportunities in the work field.
People have a lot of options in educating themselves online in today’s time and technology. Online education has improved a lot in the past twenty years. Even though it has had its setbacks, it continues to show promising results. Online education has many benefits with little to no disadvantages. It provides flexibility in scheduling and offers various options in educational online programs. In the past decade, education has evolved into a more technological-driven world.
The implementation of online learning in many universities has proven to be a successful method of course delivery (Regan, Evmenova, Baker, Jerome, Spencer, Lawson, & Werner, 2012). Dickson-Dean, Galyen, and Moore (2011) proposed that online learning can promote successful learning opportunities for students as well as rewarding benefits for all educational stakeholders. Factors that contribute to the success of online learning include, but are not limited to, flexibility and accessibility, cost reduction, increased retention, and varied learning opportunities (Neely & Tucker, 2010). Online learning and associated technology is becoming increasingly adaptable and can be used to meet the educational needs of all students while providing opportunities for differentiated instruction (Krishnakumar & Kumar, 2011). Online learning provides both students and instructors with opportun...