Insider Tip #3 is all about realizing the option you have at your fingertips, quite literally: online education. What is online education all about, and why is it so popular? Which type of people benefit from enrolling in online courses, and what do they have to say about their experiences? Let’s explore these questions to explain why you should consider studying in cyberspace.
What is Online Education & How Does it Work?
Online education is "a classroom without walls," says Dr. Stella Thompson, an online Assistant Professor of English at Prairie View A&M University. It's "engaging in assisted, self-directed learning." Once you apply and are accepted to one of many online colleges, you do what traditional classroom students do: register for classes. Instead of walking into the classroom to begin your journey, you simply log on, anywhere with an Internet connection. Every online degree program is different, depending on the instructor and the topic.
"In the program I teach, all students log in at the same time each day," says Joanna Strong-Millsap, a distance learning instructor. "We use microphones and headsets to communicate in real time. And the software program the school provides allows me to use a white board, PowerPoint presentations, and film, video, and audio clips. We can even pull up websites."
Students are graded based on homework assignments, final projects and test scores, just as they would be in a traditional classroom environment. While some online degree programs use voice-enabled software, others may offer real-time video lectures for students to watch at their own convenience.
What do Online Students Have to Say About Their Experiences?
With 4.6 million students enrolled in one or more online course in 2009, we didn’t get around to speaking to every single one. We did, however, get feedback from one online student, Brittany Davison. While pursuing her online master degree in forensic accounting from Florida Atlantic University, she lived in California and kept a full-time job. When asked what she liked most about her online degree program experience, she commented:
“It was a two-year, 10-course, executive master's program. The program was made for working professionals, with Saturday morning lectures. I appreciated the teamwork in group projects while earning my online degree. In every online course, we had weekly discussions about certain topics pertaining to the lesson for that week. I was worried I'd feel all alone earning a degree online, but the group projects and class discussions made me feel just as I would in a classroom. Also, a tutor was provided for those of us that weren't accounting majors. I've never had tutoring on the phone before, but was pleasantly surprised by how effective it was.”
In 2010, anything is possible when it comes to pursuing a college education. Before committing to a traditional campus program, take the time to investigate the various online degree programs available. Hey, you can even do the research online!
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