In comparison of various viewpoints, many opinions are similar regarding the value and soundness of online education.
The increased quality and technology of online courses are attracting millions of students to enroll instead of attending traditional schools. More and more students are opting for E-learning convenience despite the complaints of poor quality and high expense. Competition and technological advancement will eventually drive the cost for online education down. Many new educational Internet start-up companies will be providing low cost online courses despite not yet being accredited.
“The competition and technological improvements add up to "a great thing" for anyone interested in learning, says Clayton Christensen, a Harvard Business School professor who studies the impact of technology on education. “What used to be expensive and inaccessible becomes convenient and accessible," he says. "You can see price competition coming." What's more, the best online courses, in many cases, now rival the quality of traditional classes, says Christensen, who recently virtually audited a Brigham Young University online accounting course. "Anything beyond the 10th row in a large lecture hall is distance learning" anyway, he jokes.”[1]
Many online colleges are improving their service and quality in order to remain competitive. As tuition for online education decreases due to price competition student enrollment in online degree programs will dramatically increase. Several of the new educational start-ups including a new nonprofit “University of the People” [1] (which will offer classes and textbooks free of charge with minimal costs for an admission fee and final exams) are on the horizon to become accredited. As these I...
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...t. Online education has had a great impact on the way we educate ourselves. Telecommunication provides students with the ability to pursue or continue education online as an adult or while in the workforce, leading to employment opportunities or advancement in current positions which increases earning potential.
Works Cited
[1] Kim Clark. (2014, February 6) Online Education Offers Access and Affordability. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2009/04/02/online-education-offers-access-and-affordability [2] Caitlin Kneram. (2014, February 6) The Value of Online Learning Retrieved from http://www.salary.com/the-value-of-online-learning/ [3] campusdemocracy.org (2014, February 6) Online Education and its Intrinsic Value. Retrieved from
http://www.campusdemocracy.org/articles/online-educations-intrinsic-value.html
Shown in the essay, they are worth nothing and teach nothing, ”online courses are perhaps one of the most complete expressions of the denigration of university education (Srigley),” there is no good side of online classes shown. There is nothing to show how online learning is making learning accessible,”work online with no direct support from a faculty member. Digital lectures for live classes with real students? Sounds expensive. How about no lectures, no students, and, best of all, no professor (Srigley).”
In “Can You Be Educated from a Distance?” by James Barszcz, the author attempts to pinpoint the negative aspects of distance education compared to traditional classrooms. At the beginning of the article, he first describes the basic format of online courses, which results in a vast minimization of face-to-face communication of students with instructors. He then touches on some of the beneficial qualities of online education, and the reasoning for its quickly growing popularity among students and schools alike. He mainly attributes this trend to the overall convenience that is promised to students by online courses. These courses allow students to learn material in the comfort of their own home. Barszcz also considers the financial appeal for universities. Having an increasing number of students enrolled solely in online classes allows schools to save money on electricity, as well as decrease the amount of staff they employ. Also mentioned is that many strong advocates of distance...
The face of education is changing. Technology is being introduced to provide more opportunities to more people. Gee et Al states that “the argument here is that the world has changed and the nature of learning and knowledge is changing along with it” (Gee et Al, 5). Traditional schooling is becoming less popular and having schooling online is in demand. Due to this change, students are relying on access to technology. Online learning and traditional learning have been compared in research resulting in evidence providing that distance education can have the same effectiveness as traditional learning, providing that the equipment is used accurately for the course and there is still student interaction with their classmates and their professor, and they are using their learning strategies. This paper will discuss education, economy, gender, age, and ethnicity. So, how do these aspects of online colleges support fast capitalism?
With the advancement of new technology, more students enroll in an online course. Alexander Spring’s post, Online Learning: The Ruin Of Education, argues negative aspects of learning through the internet. He introduces his argument with a brief flashback to his seventh science teacher. Spring wrote his discussion based off of his own opportunity. In his argument, he said this about his experience, “I had the horrific opportunity to experience online learning for a few weeks.”
He states that individuals need to know, “how much today’s traditional university has in common with General Motors of the 1960s, just before Toyota used a technology breakthrough to come from nowhere and topple G.M.” Through this statement, it is hinted that individuals need to know how important, it is to have, “unique experiences that blend technology to improve educational outcomes.” Friedman wants universities to know that by providing students with many resources, there is a greater chance of them doing well as they can resort to additional help. He recommends that students should investigate the difference between an online course and in-class learning, as they often are, “just as good,” and that universities such as “Harvard Business School,” recommend that their students take the “online accounting course” through “Brigham Young University.” Friedman, confidently provides recommendation which classify the reader about the many possibilities they can resort to for a university education.
Online education is a booming trend in the education world. It is something different than the traditional classroom. It is allowing student around the world the opportunity to get an education. Online education allows student to have a more proficient and cheaper way of learning. Having multiple ways to give a student an education allows all learning types to find their own way of learning. Education changes lives but it can be difficult for students to get to a classroom to sit through an hour class 4 times a week, this can be for many different reasons. There are many doubts about online education, but this a new world without borders it is a new opportunity for people from all over the world to get an education.
Furthermore, some may suggest that online learning is benefiting our students in society. There has been a breakthrough in time and geographical limitations of education via online courses (Ho, 2009). Online education is cost-effective, efficient, and easily accessible (Schmeeckle, 2003). Online classes are used for individual and independent learning in which the student can learn at their own pace (Gonzalez, 2009). Not only is online education beneficial for breaking down barriers, online education has the potential to help students learn material more efficiently. Students are more likely to seek help from their instructors when the material is taught online (Whipp & Lorentz, 2009). Computer use in statistical classes could help decrease math anxiety (Gundy, Morton, Liu, & Kline, 2006). In a study that measured online students’ ability to achieve the same efficiency of course material as face-to-face students, at least 98% of students reported that they had, so one may be lead to believe that online learning is just as efficient as face-to-face courses (Liebowitz, 2003). With all of the positive aspects of online education, one may wonder why there is any debate as to whether or not online education is beneficial for
Today’s generation is like no other. The nation as a whole has completely evolved from past times, with technology being one of the greatest improvements. Traditionally, schooling takes place in a classroom setting, but, with the many modifications in our world’s system, we are able to assimilate more modern means of education, such as online learning. However, with many changes comes differences and requires adjustments. The online learning system has proven to be just as effective as traditional learning, with some minor differences, however, nothing of great significance. A few of those insignificant differences include online learning being convenient, especially for the non-traditional students,
When students are deciding on where to go to college, 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. Although the online classes offer just as much as the traditional classes, they are completely different when it comes to teaching methods, course material and time.
This article made some interesting evaluations; online learning was a big dilemma for me when I decided to go back to school. While I possessed the discipline to attend online, I did however lack the skills needed to maneuver within my course of study. After attending a classroom-based school with some online classes, I made a decision to continue my studies online. The teachers design and interaction meets my level of understanding and when I’m not sure of an assignment, I simply contact them via e-mail. I feel the author did a great job in addressing his chosen topic, showing both the strengths and the weaknesses of his study.
Many people think online education can be more expensive than a traditional school setting. Previous generations did not have the option for online learning experience, so why should we start now? An interesting point about online education is that LeBaron (2010) states, “The largest school in the U.S. is the University of Phoenix Online, with a whopping 380,232 students. That’s over 5x more than the largest public school, Arizona State University, which has 68,064 students” (para. 7). Despite the cost effectiveness, distance education is becoming the educational model of the future.
Education should be one of the most important things in a person’s life. Most people are trying to achieve an education. It is stressful when you are trying to decide what school you want to go to. While debating on whether to attend college or not, many people wonder which education is better online or traditional education. As the cost of education increases a lot of students are choosing online education because its’ flexibility. If you look at it from both point of views you are accomplishing the same thing from both, which is a degree. Some people look at the cost of the school to see if they will go to school there. When you going by means of the cost of how much it will be for the degree you are trying to achieve you have to look at the salary you will be making with the major you are pursuing. Online and traditional education has a lot of similarities and differences.
Over the years it has been seen that education has taken up several forms. With the advent of technology, education has also been integrated with technology. Previously it was seen that education was achieved through written forms of paper with pen or pencil. The use of pen and pencil can be dated back to the Roman Empire. However, with the developing pace the traditional means of attaining education are changing. The introduction of information technology has brought forth a new way of learning through the internet. E-learning is the new form of education introduced by IT which helps people to attain knowledge through the use of their computers. A portal is introduced by the use of information technology which the students are able to access and to take tests. However, this new technology also brings with it other ethical issues of plagiarism and social contact. Online education is an inadequate alternative for traditional, classroom-based teaching for several reasons: there is no interactive communication between the student and the instructor, potential employers do not value online course work, class offerings are limited, instructor feedback to the student might be delayed for days, and group projects are nonexistent.
Some of the advantages of digital learning are providing a flexible way of education from anytime, anywhere and any place where Internet connection and computers is accessible. It is also an affordable way of learning which reduces travelling cost for coming to classrooms. Students can take the exams and quizzes over the web; even they can submit assignments over the Internet. Instructors can provide all the materials online which in turn no cost for paper and printing. Ernst & Young University had 35% cost decrease because of virtual learning (Hall, 2000).
There are many advantages to online learning, it affects the way people can learn. According to “Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students”, “students have a greater willingness to write or work on computational skills”. “They say student like the immediate results of having online learning.” Another advantage is that students can learn at their own pace. With learning at their own pace they will be able to actually know the information well. If, they are in a regular classroom setting they may no...