Online Education

The appeal of an online education through distance learning as an educational alternative is ever increasing. “Its presence will continue to grow”, say curriculum directors, who expect that by 2010 nearly a fifth of students will be taking some of their career training coursework through online education or E-learning at an online university or college.

Technological advances in medicine, aerospace, agriculture, the environment, communications and education permeate the world we live in. We have new drugs and vaccines, new ways to strengthen the immune system, the International Space Station, alternative crop and livestock systems, renewable energy sources, personalized information technology and E-learning, online education and distance learning.

• With the introduction of $100 Laptops by MIT, E-learning will reach millions of children in developing nations like Brazil, China, South Africa, Egypt and others.

Nicholas Negroponte, co-founder of the Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is working on a plan to distribute the laptops to schoolchildren. A goal of the project is to make the low-cost PC a grassroots movement like Linux or Wikipedia. The laptops will have a 500MHz processor, 1GB of memory and an innovative dual-mode display that can be used in full-color mode, or in a black-and-white sunlight-readable mode. Power for the new systems will be provided by electric current, batteries or by a windup crank attached to the side, since many countries do not have power in remote areas. The systems will be Wi-Fi and cell phone-enabled and will include four USB ports for connectivity. “The idea is simple. It’s an education project that will make online education a simple reality.”

Research has predicted that in the future more people will complete their studies at home as distance learning concepts continue to evolve. Over two million students enroll for online university and online college courses each year. Just as the world continues to change so must the conditions in which we live and learn. In a fast paced society we will see E-learning designed to accommodate busy students – time flexible, geographically independent, competitive cost and value and learner-centered. E-learning offers both synchronous and asynchronous modes of learning thus enabling a student to access information anywhere and at anytime. The numerous features and benefits of an Online Education and E-Learning will play a major role in post secondary career oriented education.

• E-learning is self-paced and gives students a chance to speed up or slow down as necessary

• Geographical barriers are eliminated, opening up broader education options

• 24/7 accessibility makes distance learning easy and allows a greater number of people to attend classes

• Travel time and associated costs (parking, fuel, vehicle maintenance) are reduced

• Online education fosters greater student interaction and collaboration

• E-learning is self-directed, allowing students more control over their learning process, leading up to a 60% faster learning curve.

• Web-based products allow instructors to update lessons and materials across the entire network instantly.

• Develops knowledge of the Internet that will help learners throughout their careers

• Exposure to resources not commonly found in standard classroom settings

Wireless technology has paved way for Mobile Learning, where one can easily access learning materials anywhere and at anytime. Instructional and communication techniques create an interactive online education environment including case studies, demonstrations, role-playing, simulations, streamed videos, online references, discussion groups, personalized coaching and mentoring, chat rooms, bulletin boards, tutorials, FAQ’s and wizards.

Collaborative education will play an important role in developing future Online Education and E-learning strategies. Almost all Learning Management Systems (LMS) conforming to E-learning standards offer collaborative networks, enabling students from remote areas to share knowledge and communicate ideas with fellow classmates from around the country and the world.

Virtual and Augmented learning will gradually replace existing scenarios thus giving a new dimension to knowledge management. Certain concepts which are difficult to imagine or simulate can be implemented using augmented learning.

Online education has been touted as the new wave of education for the future. As more and more colleges and universities hop onto this virtual bandwagon, the opportunities for students increase both in terms of quality and quantity. Nowadays, it doesn’t matter whether you live in a small rural community, if you are trying to complete your education while juggling a host of other responsibilities, or even if you are looking for extremely specialized niche degree programs, online education is your best bet. As the number of students who enroll for online schools and colleges grows annually, colleges step up their efforts simultaneously to deliver the best designed degree programs that come along with a host of other benefits.

Propagating the ease of ‘school at home,’ online education can be your best option if:

You have other responsibilities besides your education – For stay at home parents, students who are already working, business men who travel a lot, students can study anytime, anywhere, and on their own schedule. As long as you have Internet access and a computer, you can plan your studies around your other schedule. And while it does offer great amounts of flexibility, an online education program does not mean less work. You have to be committed to take out time for your research and online lectures and fit in your assignments whenever you get the free time to do so.

You cannot physically be on campus or at a particular location – Whether this is due to prohibitive travel times or budget constraint, there is no need to commute daily to school or relocate to the city of your college of choice. You can be at home, at work, or even on the road and complete your work on time.

You do not have the money to fund an expensive college education – Online degree programs are significantly cheaper than the more traditional programs offered by colleges. You can now enjoy in your own home the benefits of an education without many of the financial hardships that are often associated with attending school. In addition, you will also save on traveling and accommodation and even childcare.

You need individual attention – Most college courses have too many students attending classes to assure any real one on one interaction with the professors. Internet education offers course material that is accessible 24 hours a day and students have the ability to re-read lectures and discussion as often as they require. Online students also have more interaction with their professors as email correspondence is vital in this method of teaching. In this way, a rapport between student and teacher builds up and proves useful in determining ones strengths and weaknesses.

You need to be up to date on a diverse range of study material – Many careers today demand recruits to be exposed to a larger field of knowledge than just their specific major. Online education offers up-to-date theory along with practical knowledge. Online healthcare programs, for example, offer on site practical training at a nearby hospital or clinic along with its theory based course material. Students also get exposed to knowledge and a broader range of content due to online access and e-content. Teachers are located all around the world and offer a world view on events and discussions that are invaluable in creating a diversified approach to education.

You want to be skilled with the latest technologies – By just using the Internet to attend class, students improve their online skills. Research and communication techniques are developed along with several other skills that prove important when applying for a job in today’s competitive market.

You benefit from team learning – Online graduate programs offer chat rooms and forums for students to interact with each other. Discussions, newsgroups and emails all encourage constant communication for problem solving and instruction. Instructors are also more approachable and open to online meeting and brainstorming sessions. Many online students feel that their education experience is much richer as a result.

All in all, online degree programs offer a host of benefits to interested students. And while the traditional forms of institutions will never be totally eliminated, it’s easy to understand why people are terming this type of education as the next big thing.

Product Description
Instructional technology and distance learning have changed the meaning of attending college. Today’s students can now learn through various forms of electronic communications media, including radio, television, the computer, and the Internet. But are the costs outweighing the benefits? This new addition to the Series on Higher Education, analyzes and assesses the costs of information technology for teaching and learning in higher education. Containing 15 essays tha… More >>

Dollars, Distance, And Online Education: The New Economics Of College Teaching And Learning