Online College Education
From LoveToKnow College
It's a dream for many to get an online college education, but it's a dream that is coming true for thousands of people today.
History of Online College Education
Online college education has its roots in distance learning programs, which started in places like South Africa and Canada to serve students who lived, and needed to remain, in places far distant from any colleges or schools. Most distance learning programs were based around mailed homework assignments and, when local public television became available, lectures delivered via television.
But when the Internet became available, many distance educators paid attention. France was one of the first countries to start leveraging the power of the Internet back in the 1980s, with its implementation of an online national library. Other countries followed suit, but not until the University of Phoenix opened its virtual doors in 1997 with its first fully-online degree programs did online education gain status as a valid delivery method.
Finding Online Colleges and Universities
Fortunately, the least of your problems is finding a good online college to attend. Besides the University of Phoenix, many other reputable colleges have started with fully-online content. And many well-known physical universities, like Harvard and Georgetown University, have instituted online education programs that lead to degrees or that will lead to degrees in the future.
Most accredited online universities also can take federal student financial aid money, too. Though online universities may not be the ideal answer for everyone, they might be ideal for anyone who can't consisistently attend regular classes: members of the military, busy professionals, young mothers, or people who live in remote regions.
Problems with Online Degrees
As with any new technology, online education also has some problems. There's no doubt they will shake out in time, but for now you should be aware of some of the issues.
Fraudulent Colleges and Diploma Mills
The number one thing to watch for is fraud. Online colleges are making a lot of money, and greedy frauds may try to get yours. There are several tell-tale signs of a fraudulent online college.
Do they offer credit for "life experiences?" Do they say you may have already gained a college education just through the things you've experienced in the real world? These people are diploma mills. They charge you as much as a couple of thousand dollars for a "transcript" detailing how your life has gained you education, an impressive looking diploma, a class ring, several college-related bits of paperwork, and nothing else. This is comparable to the spy kits you've seen in the movies, where 007 or another spy receives a package with passport, identification, etc.: looks nice, but literally paper-thin. These colleges often offer up to a PhD if you're willing to pony up extra money.
Do they offer federal financial aid? Many will offer their own "financial aid" consisting of a couple of small grants and a really big loan, but only properly accredited schools can offer you Pell grants, Stafford loans, and the other special federal financial aid programs. Check out the accreditation the site claims to have. Is it a real accrediting organization? If it is, it will list numerous colleges and universities and have a board of directors.
Limited Degree Programs
Even legitimate online college education programs may have limited degree programs. Initially, online colleges were designed to serve older students and those who were already established in careers. It later opened up to younger students looking for a bachelors or associates degree, but the advanced degree programs were well-established. Though the lower-level programs are becoming well-established in most online colleges, there will always be some critical hands-on programs that cannot be put fully online, like nursing.
How Online Education Works
Using a variety of online technologies like streaming video, chat, forum services, and ordinary web pages, colleges deliver material to students completely online. The professor is usually available during lecture times and during office hours to chat with directly. He or she also answers questions via email. Assignments and tests are delivered online, and are often heavy on writing. Textbooks may be online or ordered from Amazon or other providers.
New methods of delivery are developed every day. Streaming video and two-way videophone are among the newer techniques. In some classes, test-taking is done at a certified center, instead of at home, so the exam can be proctored to eliminate cheating.
If you need human contact to do your best in class, you should experiment slowly with online college education; it may not be right for you. But if you feel at home online, or if you absolutely must carry on your education from a distance, this might be a perfect solution for you.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 1,199 times. This page was last modified 21:53, 22 October 2008.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.
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