December 3rd, 2007
Fewer People Making Fun of Your Online Degree
NPR’s got a lovely three-part story going on about the improving reputation of online degrees. And the focus of their story demonstrates exactly how and why online degrees are going to finally shed their redheaded-stepchild reputation and get the respect they deserve, gosh darn it.
The first two parts of NPR’s story (the third one hasn’t aired yet) focus on online courses offered by traditional colleges. It spends some time airing the complaints of professors who’ve just now figured out how to post their overhead sheets on Blackboard. (You kids get off my lawn!)
But many of the profs are pleasantly surprised at how well the process actually works. It’s a good thing, too, because the trend is spreading like the proverbial wildfire–NPR notes that one in five college students is studying online.
The increasing use of online technology by traditional schools, I think, is what’s really paving the way for acceptance of online college degrees. Once you accept that the University of Illinois can hand out a perfectly worthwhile degree to students in Nebraska, it’s a short step to realizing that your job applicant’s degree from an online-only college might not be so bad either. As the NPR story notes:
The process looks kind of awkward — the natural flow of a regular class is missing, as responses arrive onscreen in a digital flood. But at second glance, there’s something else here not seen in a regular college class: All of the students are paying attention and all are engaged.
One professor’s English class sets up shop in Ohio, Tennessee and California’s Central Valley; an environmental policy professor speaks fondly of a student who’s a Montana park ranger. The connecting thread among them is a strong desire to learn–something you pretty much have to have in order to succeed in a class where no one can embarrass you for napping during the lecture.
There’s something to be said for the self-selecting nature of online courses. Until and unless they replace on-campus learning entirely (unlikely), they tend to draw students who don’t have the option of a residential college degree. These students are attending school to achieve a specific career or personal goal, not because it’s the thing to do after high school. The motivation to succeed is built in.
[...] that as online education becomes more popular, even online degrees from online institutions will loose the stigma they once had: The increasing use of online technology by traditional schools, I think, is what’s really paving [...]
Pingback by Reno and Its Discontents » What’s So Funny about Online Education? — December 3, 2007 @ 9:50 pm
Other than being slightly offended by the red-headed step child comment, I’m glad online education is getting a second look. Its just the only solution for some students and there shouldn’t be a stigma attached if that’s the case.
Comment by The Red Head — December 4, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
Although online education provides many students with a way to pursue their degrees in a more convenient setting, I shudder at the thought of anyone receiving a degree (especially an advanced one) without ever setting foot in a classroom. Two reasons immediately come to mind. First, part of the challenge of learning resides in attending classes, discussions, seminars, etc., and interacting with both professors and peers face-to-face. While live chat sessions and other forms of online interaction offer a substitute to the classroom, are they really adequate? Second, who knows who is really doing the work? As much as I’d like to think that educated people are honest, I’m not that much of an optimist. It seems like any Tom, Dick, or Harry with a little cash can pay off one of his smart friends to do the work for him. While this may catch up with him in the long run, the damage has already been done.
I do like the idea of hybrid programs, which combine both online and traditional learning styles. I think another blog post on this site mentioned them specifically. This option allows for educational flexibility, and forces students to attend at least one class to present their ideas, work, papers, etc. in person.
Tell me what you think.
Comment by J. Burckhardt — December 5, 2007 @ 1:10 am
You’ve got an excellent point there about cheating and plagiarism, J, and it’s one we’re going to address in an upcoming post. Thanks for your comments!
Comment by Calliope — December 5, 2007 @ 11:49 am
[...] Online Education Offers Options Our boy Albert was basically limited to the few schools in Europe that happened to provide training in his intended disciplines. He needed a train ticket, room & board, and stipend all set up before the first day of class. Not so with online education. Because proximity becomes obsolete with online degrees, you have access to thousands of schools around the world. If you have an Internet connection, you have a classroom. [...]
Pingback by WorldWideBlog » Why Einstein Would Have Lived Online Education — September 17, 2008 @ 4:13 am