Let’s talk about online education. What prompted this discussion for me is the many of conversations I have had with friends, family and associates over the past couple of months and the extreme negativity that has be spewing from them about online education. So I pose this question:
Education: How do you define it? What is your standard?
As technology is advancing and the evolution of the traditional 9-5 jobs to now work-from-home careers, the waters can get a little “murky” depending on who you ask. In the age of Iphones, Androids and Blackberry, where you can literally get everything done with the click of one button, it truly shocks me that there is such a negative “stigma” as it concerns online education. The desire to even want to better one’s self by continuing their education is a plus in my book, but to downplay someone’s efforts and degree(s) because they chose to go a less “traditional” route is absurd, in my opinion.
Let’s be real for a quick second….who sits in a classroom anymore? In this day and age, “non-traditional” is the NEW traditional in every sense of the word. Even students that have moved away from home and staying in the dorms at their campus are enrolling in majority of online classes. In a day and age where you can literally have someone pay you for services via the swipe of their debit card to your cell phone, how can anyone negatively discourage people not to pursue furthering their education online? I’m sure traditionalist would say “how can you really learn anything when you can’t even put a face to the name of the professor that is teaching you?” Well my dear traditionalist, LIFE doesn’t lend itself to “putting a face” on every lesson you have learned. There are some people out there who can’t even put a face to themselves because they haven’t discovered who THEY are yet. All of that to say that for anything worth having, it is worth investing some time and effort to make sure that this is the path you want to take for your life. Do I think there is some merit to the negative stigma? Yes. I do. And there are some clear numbers (negative) that can back it up (See this article by Kennebec Journal {Augusta, Maine}
: http://www.allbusiness.com/labor-employment/human-resources-personnel/15157705-1.html) among many others. But for ALL negative numbers, there are positives as well. There are some schools that really got it right in giving student a quality education and are doing what is necessary to make sure students are not wasting their time and money.
Now having said that, do I think the days of “traditional” classroom education is a thing of the past? Absolutely NOT! Why? Because even though about 90% of colleges/institutions have implemented some type of online program and are in full support of the ever-moving/changing technology and education, employers are not fully on board yet. A Vault.com study reports that 77 percent of hiring managers say that an online degree received through an established university such as Duke or Stanford is more acceptable than a degree earned through an Internet only university like Capella or Jones International (http://www.back2college.com/onlinedegrees.htm). And while both schools hold the same regional accreditation and close to the same academic standards, one is viewed much higher than the other simply because of the “stigma” of one being an online school/program.
My take on it is to help yourself by KNOWING FOR YOURSELF! A person should NEVER depend on ANYONE to tell you what is right. Part of your responsibility as a student is KNOWING the commitment you are making and ensuring that all your T’s are crossed and I’s dotted before putting your blood, sweat and tears into a degree that will only yield nothing in the end. If you are considering online education, here are some tips to consider:
Accreditation:
Accreditation is very important, but often times, people forget about this very major detail. What is accreditation and why is it important? Accreditation is defined as officially recognized as meeting the essential requirements, as of academic excellence. “The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. Accrediting agencies, which are private educational associations of regional or national scope, develop evaluation criteria and conduct peer evaluations to assess whether or not those criteria are met. Institutions and/or programs that request an agency’s evaluation and that meet an agency’s criteria are then “accredited” by that agency.”
For more information on accreditation in the United States, please visit: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. In most cases, when you get out in the job search, employers are going to be looking for someone that has graduated from a regionally accredited college or university. It is essential that you keep these guidelines in mind when selected your college. A few questions you should ask yourself:
Cost
Let’s just face it. It is expensive to go to school. That is a reality that we have to face, but TRUST when I tell you, in most cases, the end result definitely outweighs the front end cost. Colleges and universities are making education more accessible to everyone through mean of financial aid, scholarships and other forms of revenue for schooling. While I know student loans are not anyone’s first option….it is an option that should be considered when none other is available. Just make sure that you are fully aware of the cost and financial responsibility that goes along with it.
Expectations
The biggest misconception about online education is that because it is online, it is easy. NOT TRUE! As an experienced online student, I can honestly say that I had some better and easier experiences IN the classroom, but I don’t regret either experience at all. It introduced me to a new way of learning and has opened doors for opportunities to grow in my career. Because most online schools target students that are full-time working adults with families, time management is key in making sure that you are successful in your program. I think all online students, particularly those with other responsibilities, should pace themselves and really project and schedule their time wisely.
Communication
Communication is self-explanatory, but I will elaborate on what I mean by this. In order to be successful in your online program, you are going to have to be well versed in knowing how to communicate with your teachers, advisors and administrators. In most cases, online students are nowhere near the school that they are enrolled in, so it is important that you establish that rapport with all necessary faculty and staff from the start. Not doing so, can leave a lot of room for miscommunication and failure in the end.
All in all, education is important part of life. In the society we live in now, a Master’s degree is a high school diploma. Because I am an extreme advocate for higher education, I will encourage anyone to make the decision that bests fits your lifestyle, but DO make the decision to go to school and further your education.
Higher Ed. with Ty Jones 