Online education is in a nascent stage but is estimated to gain popularity in the coming years.
Written By: Alison Stanton
As Internet technology continues to shape our everyday living, it's also affecting some of life's major institutions. As the world increasingly goes digital, business, entertainment, communications and now education are all impacted by ever-advancing technology and the promise it holds.
Online learning opportunities mean students no longer have to sit in classrooms to earn a college degree. More than 5 million students are enrolled in online college courses, according to CollegeOnline.org, and this number is expected to grow by an impressive 25 percent every year. In its recent online education report, the Babson Survey Research Group reported that more than 6.7 million college students took at least one online class in 2011. This is up significantly from 2002, when only 1.6 million people were enrolled in an online course.
The rise in laptop and tablet sales, the growth of interested students and the lowered costs of online education all contribute to the takeoff of online learning opportunities.
What Online Learning Offers
Schedule flexibility. Let's look at the average college student’s schedule. In addition to going to school, many students hold down full-time or part-time jobs, and some have family responsibilities. Schedules are fuller and tighter than they were a few decades ago. By not having to drive to a destination, attend classes, study and come back home, college students have more time to work online learning opportunities into their schedule.
Coursework selection. Online learning also gives students a wider range of programs and course options. In the past, most course selection was determined by numbers of professors or teachers available on the subject. Now, students can rely less on the teacher's core expertise and more on available resources on the Internet. As long as there is Web access, online learning can take place.
Coursework availability. Another bonus to attending online classes, according to the college resources at CollegeOnline.org, is that most college courses and related materials are available all day, every day. Rather than listen to a lecture once in person and refer to notes later on, online students can access the class's resources 24/7/365 and re-familiarize themselves with any pertinent demonstrations and discussions of the material. Online students can pursue their studies when they are fully awake and ready to learn, not just when the schedule tells them they have to be in class.
Real-world preparation. By using the Internet to attend school, study for classes and review materials, online college students are also perfecting the very skills they will most likely use in their future careers. This may be the most alluring reason for online college learning—using all the tools that are transforming the modern workplace. Smart learning, tech tools, tablets, wireless access: All of these help equip future employees. By communicating online with other students and using the Internet for research, graduates of online learning programs are prepared to handle the online technology that will likely be part of their future careers.
The Drawbacks of Online Education
While the range of benefits of an online education seems great, some critics have called out the underlying tensions with the entire online learning experience.
There's a disconnect. Anecdotal evidence suggests that online learners don't feel as connected to their fellow students or their professors as do those enrolled in a bricks-and-mortar college. Detractors say online learners are missing out on the traditional college experience, including face-to-face contact and the free exchange of ideas that takes place in a classroom.
It's only for the motivated. Some students aren't properly wired to do school without supervision and surveillance. Online teachers do some of this, but it has to be up to students to stay motivated and budget their time well. Less organized students may face more difficulty to get their school work done on their own. With no professor keeping tabs on them in a face-to-face class, this may be a problem for some students.
Try It Out First
According to John E. Reid Jr., the coordinator of distance education technology at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, online learning may not be for everyone. Students who are thinking about enrolling in an online college or university may not want to dive in with both feet at first—instead, Reid advises, they should try taking just one online course. This will allow the student to test out the online learning waters and see if it’s the best educational option for him or her.
It may just be a matter of time before we watch today's high schoolers prepare for online college, rather than going away to college. New avenues and ideas will surely present themselves in the coming years, and hopefully, our nation's young adults will benefit from it.
About the Author: Alison Stanton has been a freelance writer for the past 14 years. Based in the Phoenix, Arizona area, Alison enjoys writing about a wide variety of topics, but especially loves meeting interesting people and telling their stories.
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