Online Education – Do you want to go back to school?
In our rapidly changing global world, millions of students are currently taking college-level online (distance education) classes. Private and public universities in the United States and abroad are offering Certificate, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral programs through the Internet for adult students. From the Ivy League to community colleges, a growing number of students are able to log into their classes from home, work, or while riding the bus or train. Adult learners frequently juggle a host of responsibilities, including parenting, careers, and caring for aging parents. Previously, a college of interest may have been geographically out of reach. Currently, an employee located in the United States can register for classes held on the other side of the world. Non-traditional settings outside of the more traditional classroom offer viable opportunities for further education.
Adult students make up the largest demographic group at postsecondary institutions in the United States. For this group of students, the benefits of online academic programs are:
o To upgrade current skill sets
o To learn new skill sets
o To obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree
o Fulfillment of the academic requirements necessary for a current job or promotion
or to change careers
o Satisfaction of certification or licensing requirements.
o Personal and spiritual growth and development
Not for the faint of heart, success in academic distance education programs requires high levels of stamina, discipline, and motivation. A good candidate should be computer literate, possess the ability to read large amounts of material in short periods of time, have good writing and communication skills, have high expectations for good grades, enjoy applying critical thinking, and spend a minimum of 15 Hours per week. per course (be prepared to allocate more, if necessary).
The Internet and the World Wide Web provide the critical technological platform for distance education. The technological and operational infrastructures of the university (including hardware, software and transmission) provide the additional pillars to the technological platform necessary to execute distance education programs. The delivery of academic content can be done in various formats. The more traditional venues are correspondence courses, videos, audio-cassettes, CD-ROMs, and television and radio broadcasts. Modern formats include synchronous and/or asynchronous educational content delivery channels. Synchronous delivery refers to real-time interaction between the instructor and the student, that is, two-way video conferences, whiteboards, chat rooms, telephone software (eg Skype), and mobile technology devices. Asynchronous interaction does not imply real-time communication. Instead, instructor-student interaction is achieved through the use of email, DVD, and traditional education delivery formats.
As a student, you will need a desktop or laptop computer, an Internet service provider, a cell phone, software (i.e. word processing, financial spreadsheet, calendar, and Power Point), a backup storage drive (nothing can make your heart race). faster than losing a body of work she has diligently developed), a headset for virtual team discussions, and traditional school supplies. Optional technology may include memory upgrades, scanners, digital scanners, and fax machines.
Ten tips for the successful online student:
o Have a credit or debit card ready to download e-books and other reading materials needed for the course.
o Maintain a list of more than one bookstore in case a required textbook is out of stock. It is always a good idea to get a list of required textbooks mid-term and order them in advance for the next term.
o Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help if you need it. I cannot stress enough the importance of communicating openly with your professor or instructor about course material you may not understand. Online academic programs tend to move quickly, and course content you don’t understand is likely to cause problems down the road, resulting in frustration and possibly lower grades.
o Find a tutor. If there are areas that you know need strengthening, even before class starts, have a tutor available. Also, a computer specialist’s phone number should be on your rolodex.
o Time management will be essential. Keep a plan. Read your syllabus as soon as it’s available and plan accordingly.
o Fulfill your responsibilities as a member of the virtual team. Your contributions will have a direct impact on the team’s rating.
or Exercise. Long hours in front of the computer can cause tension in the muscles of the neck, shoulders, arms and back, not to mention the hands. Remember to stretch and tone periodically.
o Eat a healthy diet. Have good healthy recipes on hand. Hydrate. Avoid heavy snacking with calorie-laden foods and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables instead. Avoid white flour and choose high-fiber grains.
o Consult your doctor. A healthy body feeds a healthy mind.
o Keep in touch with your Academic Advisor to make sure you are meeting the necessary requirements to complete your degree.
In the fall term of 2006, 3.5 million students representing 20% of all US higher education students took at least one online course (2007. The Sloan Consortium). Distance education is projected to continue to grow in popularity nationally and internationally. The most frequently offered online academic programs are Business, Computer Science and Engineering, Education, Engineering, Library Science, Nursing, and Public Health. Whether you select a community college, public institution, private institution, or Ivy League university, enjoy the learning experience.
© 2007-2008 Jeanna Foy-Stanley
