| Billie Hill |
How Online Schools Are Helping to Make Education Accessible to All
Long gone are the days when higher education meant having to watch the hands on the clock, while sitting through seemingly endless hours of classes and lectures, in a traditional school setting. No longer does the working man/woman have to break traffic laws racing to get to a campus after working their 9-5, to rush into a classroom and plop (stuff) themselves in a chair, all while digging through their pockets (or purse) to find toothpicks to hold their eyelids open, Nope. Those days are gone. As much as technology has changed (and continues to) over the years, so have the opportunities available to learn and be educated in non-traditional fashions. For many years now, traditional schools have been increasing their “distance learning” programs, offering students the ability to take classes online and participate in classroom-like activities while outside of the actual classroom(s).
As the popularity of these classes began to rise, more and more institutions found themselves having to increase these offerings in order to address student needs, as well as, keep pace with current trends in the online education model. Like traditional educational programs, the online programs are designed around the same material, and the classes are similarly structured to promote the best learning experience for the students. Instructors may make slight modifications to their class structures, but overall they incorporate the same best practices of traditional teaching, in the virtual classroom.
In no way are the academic standards or expectations lowered for students in the virtual settings. If anything, they are enhanced. As the virtual classroom model continues to evolve, there seems to be no stone left unturned, when it comes to designing the best virtual learning environments. Think you’ll be all alone? Guess again. Many schools offer multiple ways for peers to interact with each other through online study groups, chats, message boards, and projects designed to promote peer involvement and collaboration. Students also have direct access to instructors via email and message boards. Some instructors even provide their students with a telephone number to reach them. How’s that for keeping the lines of communication open between student and teacher?
As more and more schools embrace online education, we will continue to see more creative ways in which schools learn to keep their virtual students engaged, while making sure their programs mirror the same high-quality learning experience as that found on-campus. We will also see the type and number of courses each institution offers, continue to grow, as they aim to appeal to a larger group of people. Not only do online courses appeal to working adults looking for continuing education, but also to younger students just getting started with the college experience, as well as students already enrolled in on-campus courses.
Popular schools like the University of Phoenix and Strayer University are known for their online degree programs, but they are not the only ones extending their reach, by finding ways to capitalize on the e-learning craze, and increase their enrollment. Over the years, schools all over the world have joined the online learning revolution, and have been opening their virtual doors to students seeking higher education. From California (University of California at Berkeley) to Maine (University of Maine), there are plenty of schools offering you the opportunity to “get your virtual learn on.” Atlanta is on the map with schools such as Emory University, Georgia Tech, and Georgia State University, to name a few.
Emory University continues to blaze the trail and secure its place on the map as a top choice for virtual learning, by offering distance learning degrees that include a Masters in Public Health and a Masters in Business Administration. Their distance learning programs offer busy professionals the opportunity to earn their degrees with the convenience of online learning, while still balancing and promoting interaction between pupils and instructors on-campus. Georgia Tech offers courses which cater to both matriculated and professional development candidates. They have continued to expand and improve their virtual offerings by partnering and collaborating with other educational institutions and platforms to make learning more accessible and affordable. Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMS CS) program was actually cited by President Barack Obama as a nationwide model for controlling the rising costs of higher education. There is also Georgia State University, which offers a variety of online degree programs, courses, and certifications, including an undergraduate degree in special education and a Masters of Education in workforce education. These schools continue to evolve and create awareness about the way education is changing today, and all of the benefits virtual learning offer.
One of the many great benefits of being able to participate in online learning, is the fact that you are not just limited to having to take courses from schools in your local area. Because these are virtual courses, you can basically take them from anywhere. Though there are some programs that require both on and off-campus participation, there are plenty that are offered 100% virtually. The key is to do your “homework” first to find out exactly what the requirements are for each school or program.
There are many online resources available where you can research different schools and their programs/requirements. The website GeorgiaONmyLine.com provides a list of online courses and degree programs offered by the 31+colleges and universities governed by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Another website full of information is GetEducated.com, where you can find reviews and details about a number of nationwide schools and programs. If you already have your heart set on a certain school, inquire about any distance learning programs or courses they may offer. You might be surprised. Because online learning is quickly becoming the norm, most schools have found, or are working on, ways to implement online courses into their current curriculum.
So, think you might be interested in going back to school to get (or finish) your degree, or obtain a certificate of some sort? Hold on. Just because a school offers online classes, doesn’t mean that it’s going to be a “ride in the park.” To be successful in a virtual learning environment you must be disciplined. Though it may sound great that you can listen to a lecture while at home in your bathrobe shoveling ice cream down your throat, or while in between meetings at your J.O.B., you still have to be focused and keep your eye on the prize. Sure, the virtual setting definitely offers you more flexibility, but you still have to “show up,” participate, and turn in assignments just like in a regular classroom. It’s far from an easy, automatic “pass.” You still have to be committed to putting the work in and earning your grades.
Next Month: Part Two – Education at your Fingertips