Online education...good or bad?

[cynatnite]

I am currently going to a technical school and in a few months I want to further my education even more. There are a lot of options. We do have a local college which is decent, but I really don't want to traipse all over the campus hauling a load of books. I'm not in the best shape for this.

The other alternative is going to school online. I'm unsure of schools like University of Phoenix, Kaplan, and others because I don't know if they would be taken seriously in the working world. Also, I watched a recent PBS Frontline program called College, Inc that did shed some light on for-profit education. It's given me good reason to tread carefully.

I have found only one university that appears to be respectable, has good accreditation, and offers online degree programs. That's Northeastern University out of Boston.

So, what are your views of online education? Worth it or not?

[Captain Hilts]

1. I am against it. As part of a class, fine. But there is no substitute for

a more hands on approach and the bonding with fellow students and faculty.

[Catshrink]

3. I think that depends on the program and the class.

It would be a good way to get some prerequisites out of the way. Some oneline classes have a requirement for posting on BBs or participation in conference calls. I've had both and they were fine for what I needed them for. Other classes I've taken in person for the reasons you mentioned.

[nickinSTL]

4. have to disagree with you

I completed my entire master's program with Florida State University entirely online.

For some, an online program can be excellent. It depends on both the program and the individual.

In my case, I am extremely reserved in person, but found that interacting online in a chat environment, was much better for me. I understand that it wouldn't work for everyone, but it was ideal for my style of personal interaction.

In addition, if you are working full time (or in my case, working both a full and a part-time job) while going to school, being able to go home and sit in front of the computer rather than traveling to class made it doable. If I'd had to attend class in person, it would have been impossible to finish my degree in just over 2 years.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Becoming socialized to people in the same field is an important part of education -

not avoiding those opportunities.

Doing degrees while working are tough. I've done that.

[nickinSTL]

15. you're assuming that no socialization occurs

online. I would dispute that.

Not to mention the fact that while working on my degree, I'd already had years of experience in the field, and both of my jobs were in the field I was studying for, so I hardly had no experience of being "socialized to" people in the field.

I still maintain that for some people, online learning is a good option. It may not work for everyone, but for me it was ideal.

[DailyGrind51]

14. I took two grad courses on-line and loved not having to get back in the car and drive to campus

in the dead of winter. "Attending class" in robe and slippers with a mug of coffee and the couch in the next room, beats the alternative. It saves gasoline and transit time, best devoted to homework.

[Catshrink]

2. Have you checked out a local community college?

A lot of them have online classes & programs and they're cheaper than 4-year schools. You could transfer the credits to a 4-year school. But check this out ahead of time to be sure.

University of Phoenix is expensive and considered a diploma mill by many. I've heard that their classes are rigorous though. I don't know what to think -- but do know that it's expensive and their counselors are sales people in disguise.

[Fire1]

5. True. My girlfriend teaches for Phoenix. It is, indeed,

rigorous but I don't think there's any substitute for being in a class. Inflections and tones get lost in the process.

[NYC_SKP]

8. Given a couple of instructors I had in teacher ed, this could be a good thing!

One in particular was full on lecture, for the entire two hours or whatever.

AND, it was a class called "exceptional child", designed to help us understand how to reach both LD kids and the really bright ones.

You would think they'd practice what they preach.

To have had this one class online would have been more stimulating!!!

:P

[Catshrink]

11. I had that same experience for the same class!

And thought the same thing. It was so incredibly boring. I survived but could have used my time more wisely.

[NYC_SKP]

12. I was shocked by how this instructor broke every rule.

You know, like "change up activities every 20-30 minutes", "engage the students, ask questions", "move around the room", "don't drone on", "consider the multiple intelligences".

Adults are just as "special" as a group of students.

Oddly, later in life, the department head in the graduate program was nearly as bad with her "death by powerpoint" approach.

:hi:

[NYC_SKP]

7. Not good, not bad, just different.

Some things simply cannot be taught online.

But, some of the things that beg to be done "in person", like science labs, can increasingly be done well with live online video.

While any attempt to replace a significant part of traditional education with online ed is inappropriate, we have to remember that online education is able to bring great resources and opportunities to millions who would otherwise have none.

:patriot:

[Dappleganger]

9. It really depends upon the person.

IMO the best way to find out is to sign up for just one class to see how you like it before making a decision.

You'll be surprised at the kind of interaction you get, btw. Skype has made things FAR more interesting in online education.

[BuelahWitch]

10. I go to school online at Fort Hays State University out of Hays, KS

It is NOT a for profit school and they work with distance ed students around the globe. Here's a link to our virtual college
http://www.fhsu.edu/virtualcollege/

[cynatnite]

16. Thank you! n/t

[BuelahWitch]

24. You're welcome!

As I got older it became harder and harder to try and adjust my life to the schedule of a regular class. I still wanted to finish my education, however, and FHSU is allowing me to do that.

[cynatnite]

25. It's the same for me...

The technical college just isn't offering what I hoped. Not only that, transferring those credits is next to impossible. The only school that would take them is an expensive private Christian college and I have no intention of going there.

I'm 45 years old and I want a quality education that will be respected when I go back out in the workforce.

[customerserviceguy]

18. I looked up their tuition rates

They charge even more for virtual college than they do for actual college! My, that's some expensive TV!

[BuelahWitch]

23. You think $168 a credit hour is expensive?

What do schools in your part of the country charge? And it's not TV, it's over the internet.

[customerserviceguy]

26. I have no idea what schools in my area charge

because I've never looked it up. Chances are, it's just as costly.

It doesn't take a lot of resources to put on school over the Internet, that's why I compare it to TV. You don't have the expenses of massive buildings, utilities, staff to clean and maintain them, insurance, etc. to run online classes. Tests can be administered by multiple choice over a computer, it costs pennies to score them.

It's all about the business of higher education: "Give us plenty of money, and we'll give you a piece of paper that might impress somebody when you go to land a job."

[BuelahWitch]

32. So basically you're just talking out of your ass?

I thought so...

[LWolf]

13. Even public univerisities offer online education these days.

Worth it?

It depends on the circumstances. In mine? I don't live anywhere near a 4 year university. There is a satellite campus, but their offerings are limited. I would have a completely different degree if I hadn't gotten my education through a satellite campus to begin with. Now I could get what I want from my home computer; I'm fine with that.

Online education doesn't offer the full experience that attending a university does. My oldest son is finishing a degree; he is a treasurer of one campus group, a vp of another, spends time meeting and discussing and attending events....it's not just attending class and writing papers. There is a lot of face-to-face interaction involved, and it enhances his education.

I already work a 50 - 60 hour work week. I'm finishing up an online class today, and I'm grateful for the ability to do so on my own schedule without having to drive anywhere else. Not that there's anywhere to find what I need locally, anyway.

For those who can access a university physically, I think it's better to do so. For those who can't, or for those who have outside responsibilities that make on-campus classes difficult to schedule, online education is a good thing.

If you are worried about for-profit education, see what is available from state universities.

[customerserviceguy]

17. I'd beware of them

If there are online classes being offered by an accredited school where the majority of its students take classes the traditional way, you're probably OK. I don't know for sure if anyone reputable gives a degree for 100% online classes, its my impression that they all want some face-time classwork to be able to confer a degree.

I'd avoid like hell anything you see that comes up as a paid advertisement when you do a Google search for "online education". They're just offering hyper-expensive TV.

[tammywammy]

19. Look at the cost for Univ. of Phoenix or Kaplan

University of Phoenix is more expensive than the small private (non-profit) university I go to. I would be very hesitant about a for-profit university.

Make sure where you go is accredited (which I know Univ of Phoenix is, but don't know about Kaplan). Also if your local college is decent and you're worried about walking with a load of books, they have lots of briefcases or backpacks on wheels.

[prairierose]

20. There are both good and bad out there...

Many traditional universities are offering more and more online classes. Many people today work and have families and do not have the time to commute to classes or stop working in order to attain a degree. I have taught both traditional and online classes. These days, I prefer online classes.

You must be motivated to do the class work. Many people believe that online classes will be easy and for some reason, many people think that they do not have the same requirements as a traditional class. I use the same textbooks in my traditional and online classes. There is more reading in an online class but there are opportunities for voice/webcam communication and interaction with teachers/classmates. I have believed for a long time that cooperative learning is a method that seems to work well for many people; and those opportunities are there too.

Check out the public universities in your state and see what they offer. There are some private online schools that are quite good. Be sure to check their accreditation and that they are accredited by one of the regional accrediting agencies. There are some advertised agencies that mean nothing. If you know of a professional group in your field, check with them and see what they think of a particular program.

Some people do quite well with online classes;others never seem to get the concept that you have to do the work and turn it in on time. Online classes are much more rigid about deadlines that traditional classes. However, from day 1 you have all of the reading assignments, the discussion questions and all writing assignments so you can plan ahead for the work that must be done before the end of the class. It is planning and organization and time management that make for a successful online class.

Also, do not hesitate to ask your Professor questions if you do not understand something. Many people do not learn this lesson in traditional classes either. Some Professors are very good about answering questions, some are not so good but it is like that in the traditional classroom too.

[left is right]

21. my daughter is a full-time night shift worker, a single mom, and a student as a pre-RN

she takes several online courses as a way to save on her resources of time, transportation/commuting, and childcare. This summer she will test for the nursing program and then she will have to actually take classes in person. I don’t know when she will get to sleep

[blueamy66]

22. online education =

diploma mill and cash...not a real degree

[The Straight Story]

27. Saves on gas, saves the environment

:)

[Prism]

28. A lot of universities now offer online supplemental courses

And when you're crunched for time and trying to balance a full school schedule with work and life, they're amazingly convenient.

This semester, I took an online psychology course. Read the materials, watched some videos, took some tests. I loved it.

But then, I learn from reading and really loathe lectures. Class is a giant time-waster. Give me the materials and post some office hours, and I'm good to go.

[Greyhound]

29. Mostly Ineffective. But if all you're interested in is a cert, why not? n/t

[pinstikfartherin]

30. There are a lot of colleges that have great online programs. I go to

I go to Southern New Hampshire University. Snhu.edu

Local college here, Troy, has online degrees. Troy.edu

Do not just look at the common colleges that you know are online. Check out colleges near you for online programs. I live in Alabama but go to college online from a college in New Hampshire. The courses are challenging and I feel that it is definitely worth the money. Research well. I did, and I am happy with my choice.

[Coco2]

31. not unlike the correspondence courses of years ago...

These sorts of courses are of very limited value at best, and in some instances are a negative on your resume'. I used to teach at a 'business/tech college' and so got to look at all these alternative learning paths...few if any employers are impressed with the results.