Posts
College students are no longer constrained by having to take classes on a college campus. Recent technological advances have created the opportunity to earn online college degrees, and tens of thousands of students are taking advantage of this option.
Many people are unable to pursue a traditional, campus-based college degree because of family commitments, demanding jobs, and/or other obligations. For them, online education is a great option, an option that allows them to achieve professional goals which otherwise might not be possible.
One of the greatest advantages of online education is that it allows students the freedom to complete class assignments when it best fits their schedules. There is no such flexibility in on-campus degree programs.
And, online education eliminates commuting, which saves students both time and money.
What about course scheduling conflicts? They do not exist for online students. And, online students are never "closed out" of a class because a classroom can not accommodate additional students.
Because online students can enroll in any courses they need, whenever they wish, they are frequently able to earn degrees much more quickly than their counterparts enrolled in campus-based degree programs. As a result, they have the potential to reach their professional career goals more quickly.
Discomfort with technology used to prevent some adults from earning online degrees, but those days are virtually gone. Because almost all jobs now require at least as much computer skill as are needed to take classes online, most adults now feel far more comfortable sitting at a computer than they do in a classroom.
Some students and educators are concerned about losing the human interaction that takes place in a traditional classroom, but it is a mistake to think that no such interaction is possible in online courses. In fact, online classes frequently include webinars and discussion boards that allow for significant interaction among students, and between professors and students.
Online colleges and online degree programs may not be the perfect fit for everyone, but they are a great options...sometimes the only option for busy adults who wish to move forward in their careers.
Many people are unable to pursue a traditional, campus-based college degree because of family commitments, demanding jobs, and/or other obligations. For them, online education is a great option, an option that allows them to achieve professional goals which otherwise might not be possible.
One of the greatest advantages of online education is that it allows students the freedom to complete class assignments when it best fits their schedules. There is no such flexibility in on-campus degree programs.
And, online education eliminates commuting, which saves students both time and money.
What about course scheduling conflicts? They do not exist for online students. And, online students are never "closed out" of a class because a classroom can not accommodate additional students.
Because online students can enroll in any courses they need, whenever they wish, they are frequently able to earn degrees much more quickly than their counterparts enrolled in campus-based degree programs. As a result, they have the potential to reach their professional career goals more quickly.
Discomfort with technology used to prevent some adults from earning online degrees, but those days are virtually gone. Because almost all jobs now require at least as much computer skill as are needed to take classes online, most adults now feel far more comfortable sitting at a computer than they do in a classroom.
Some students and educators are concerned about losing the human interaction that takes place in a traditional classroom, but it is a mistake to think that no such interaction is possible in online courses. In fact, online classes frequently include webinars and discussion boards that allow for significant interaction among students, and between professors and students.
Online colleges and online degree programs may not be the perfect fit for everyone, but they are a great options...sometimes the only option for busy adults who wish to move forward in their careers.
About the Author:
Laura Greene is an education columnist and freelance writer whose interests include online college degrees, adults returning to higher education, scholarships for adult students, and the advantages of online college attendance.
No comments:
Post a Comment