Education via the internet
Ten years ago I received my associate degree in human resource management and I had to attend class everyday and drive roughly 100 miles to do it. Online courses had not yet made their debut, so I was forced to do it the old fashioned way and actually go to school. According to Brown & Corkill (2003), 30 percent of public post secondary institutions offered online classes. That number continues to increase due to the popularity of the online learning environment and the opportunities it provides.
The convenience and advantage of online classes makes them appealing to want to be students who have full time jobs, children, and other obligations. Online classes offer flexibility in location, since as long as you have a computer and internet access you can learn from anywhere. Students can also learn at times that are convenient to them whether it’s 6:00p.m.or midnight. By utilizing the online atmosphere students also have the ability to communicate with a more diverse population, since some of their classmates may be located in different countries and have different backgrounds.
Unfortunately, for all of the convenience and advantage afforded to students through online classes, there are some disadvantages also. There may be people, states, Sparnon, (2004) who do not possess the computer skills or technology knowledge necessary to be successful in this type of learning environment. It is my opinion, that if a student is not a strong visual learner, they will also certainly have difficulty adapting to this type of learning. Many students may experience some difficulty in the online environment, because it lacks the personal interaction that a classroom can offer.
Despite the disadvantages of online learning, students demand an alternative to the traditional classroom, to meet the ever increasing demands on their time and resources. Without this as an option, many students including myself, would be unable to continue their education and may lose out on opportunities both personally and professionally, due to the inconvenience of having to attend a conventional educational program. Online classes have opened doors for students wishing to return to school that would have remained closed otherwise.
References
Brown, W. & Corkill, P. (2007). Postsecondary online education. Educational Digest, 73,
Ten years ago I received my associate degree in human resource management and I had to attend class everyday and drive roughly 100 miles to do it. Online courses had not yet made their debut, so I was forced to do it the old fashioned way and actually go to school. According to Brown & Corkill (2003), 30 percent of public post secondary institutions offered online classes. That number continues to increase due to the popularity of the online learning environment and the opportunities it provides.
The convenience and advantage of online classes makes them appealing to want to be students who have full time jobs, children, and other obligations. Online classes offer flexibility in location, since as long as you have a computer and internet access you can learn from anywhere. Students can also learn at times that are convenient to them whether it’s 6:00p.m.or midnight. By utilizing the online atmosphere students also have the ability to communicate with a more diverse population, since some of their classmates may be located in different countries and have different backgrounds.
Unfortunately, for all of the convenience and advantage afforded to students through online classes, there are some disadvantages also. There may be people, states, Sparnon, (2004) who do not possess the computer skills or technology knowledge necessary to be successful in this type of learning environment. It is my opinion, that if a student is not a strong visual learner, they will also certainly have difficulty adapting to this type of learning. Many students may experience some difficulty in the online environment, because it lacks the personal interaction that a classroom can offer.
Despite the disadvantages of online learning, students demand an alternative to the traditional classroom, to meet the ever increasing demands on their time and resources. Without this as an option, many students including myself, would be unable to continue their education and may lose out on opportunities both personally and professionally, due to the inconvenience of having to attend a conventional educational program. Online classes have opened doors for students wishing to return to school that would have remained closed otherwise.
References
Brown, W. & Corkill, P. (2007). Postsecondary online education. Educational Digest, 73,
39- 41. Retrieved October 3, 2008 from Academic Search Complete database.
Sparnon, D. (2004). Online at midnight. Knowledge Quest, 33(1), 38-39.
Retrieved October 4, 2008 from Academic Search Complete database.
1 comment:
Leigh,
This is excellent and so very true! Not only is it amazing that students can attend one college or university and live hours away but also that you could have an instructor from a distance as well! I love the flexibility of online courses! It allows me the time to do the work when it is convenient for me. The only classes I feel would be difficult to take online are the main degree courses. So for me as an Accounting major I feel more comfortable being able to go to class for all my major accounting courses! To be honest if it was not for online courses I do not think I would have went back to school yet with two young children!
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