The Bright Tomorrow of Online Education

Online education will play a major role in the future of postsecondary education in America. Colleges and universities are scrambling to be aboard, and state legislatures, with long-term economy in mind, are making major commitments of support. There are, however, many hurdles before viable cost-effective/learning-effective online education programs are in common use. At this point, the majority of programs is simply an extension of passive lecture or lecture discussion through electronic means. Few institutions understand the economies of these programs, nor have they faced the structural changes that are required. As important, institutions have not understood the quality and accessibility of programs that will be needed to meet the challenge from private sector initiatives.

"You Can't Predict the Future But You Can Plan for It"

The following are ten important questions concerning the future of distance learning:

• Will faculty adapt? The pay isn't great, but the job of a full-time faculty member is really very nice. By tradition a faculty member controls his own work; functions independently; gets to perform by lecturing; and has adequate time for study, reflection and interaction with stimulating colleagues. The use of technology in education, and particularly in distance learning, requires cooperation, teamwork, performing a role in an organized structure, more effort in design than in delivery, and less self-directed time. Quite simply, it is counter-culture for faculty. Will sufficient numbers of faculty adjust to permit institutions to design and deliver educational services in new ways?

• Will online education grow through shadow colleges? In many instances, rather than face the obstacles presented by traditional faculty, the existing work rules, union contracts, and faculty attitude, many institutions have created new organizations outside of the basic institution. These organizations have new salary schedules, reward systems and work policies. Will this be the only way that colleges can restructure? Can these organizations exist within traditional institutions?

• Will college administrations adopt new, more sophisticated planning and/or management systems? While it will be difficult for faculty to adapt to new delivery arrangements, it will also be difficult for administration. In educational budgets, management has typically been concerned with only three variables -- classrooms, mean class size and professors. The use of information technology and online education introduces a myriad of new cost elements that have to be worked into the basic cost structure. New and more sophisticated planning/management systems must be put into place, or the new arrangements will simply cost more and will not be practical to initiate.

• Will state bureaucracies establish a single online education institution? It is no secret that in recent years state legislatures and bureaucracies have increased their control and decision-making with regard to public higher education. In a number of states significant appropriations are being made to develop infrastructures for distance learning. The question that will be asked is, "if distance programs are expensive to develop, and if all of our sites are tied together, why not have one organization that delivers these services statewide." Colleges and universities need to prepare to answer that question.

• Will funds become available to develop quality learning software that uses the full capability of information technology? To date, substantial state appropriations for online education have gone for infrastructure, equipment and networks. While these are useful, there is real question as to the need for these expenditures. There are so many networks (for example, the Internet) available to use. Important advancements in learning can be made if significant appropriations are shifted to learning software. This software should use the full capabilities of information technology and the research on adult learning.

• How will learning be certified? In the United States each institution basically makes its own decisions with regard to what learning will be credited. Very often decisions are based on a well entrenched "not invented here" syndrome. As increasing numbers of individuals register for courses and learn through a wide array of institutions, there will be a demand from the public for that learning to be assessed and credited toward degrees and certificates.

• Can colleges keep their certification monopoly? The strongest cards that colleges and universities hold in competing with private organizations in online education are prestige and certification control. To keep the certification monopoly. Colleges and universities are going to have to work with other organizations and be considerably more accommodating in recognizing learning that was not provided by their institution.

• How will on-campus and distance use of technology integrate? Much present online education is simply the extension of the lecture classroom to distance locations. But, there are few examples of the instructional software designed for distance coming back into use on campus. Materials that are developed that are time and place independent. As well as time variable. Can be used on campus with the addition of more interaction with college staff. This would provide new options for students and increase student volume. Thus providing more capability for greater expenditures on development of quality educational software.

• How can we substitute for the inspiration of personal interaction with faculty members? In all of my years at Miami-Dade Community College, I never received a letter complementing a college program without reference to a faculty member or other staff member who had inspired or contributed to the development of the writer. Almost all of us can point to an individual, very often a faculty member, who had major impact on our lives. Is there a way to keep that inspiration in an online education situation? Is there something to be substituted?

Mathew Simond is a journalist and copywriter. He is also a webmaster of many websites including http://www.paralegal-degree.org and http://www.humanservicesdegree.net He aims to provide healthy information and advice on academic degrees.

Online Learning - An Effective Way of Getting Educated

The Internet is more than a way to look up Web pages of suppliers, travel agents, and retailers. It has become a whole new way to further education, both formal and informal.

Such education, called e-Learning, allows organizations and individuals the opportunity to progress at a pace that is comfortable for the student, while fitting into his or her daily work schedule.

Companies such as Nabisco, Raytheon, and McGraw-Hill use e-Learning as a means to help educate their work forces. For these organizations, Web-based education provides their employees an opportunity to improve their productivity, capabilities, and job performance in a format that is compatible with most schedules.

For individuals, e-Learning allows them the opportunity to grow and improve their job standing and marketability, while not taking too much time away from work and family life.

Web-based learning can be separated into several categories:
• Professional courses for continuing education or graduate credit
• Professional courses simply to learn a new skill or to improve an existing one
• Training courses, sponsored by the employer, designed to improve an employee's skills
• Courses taken for the sake of learning something new, disregarding all credits.

Credit courses

Continuing education and graduate credit courses are offered by myriad universities and professional organizations. Many independent study courses, which were previously offered through various departments, are now accessible via the Internet.

For starters, the University of California at Los Angeles, The University of Michigan, Seton Hall University, San Diego State University, and The Ohio State University are just a handful of the universities offering classes via the Internet.

Eastern Michigan University started its online programs 3 years ago with 100 students in 14 classes. Today, the school has more than 700 students taking such classes, and continuing education director Kathy Randles says that more than 100 students are on waiting lists because enrollment is full in many of the classes.

For those who simply want to develop new skills, many Web sites are offering Internet courses covering everything from Windows 2000 secrets to efficient use of palm-top computers. For instance, Headlight.com offers courses that prepare users for certification exams or improving basic skills.

Other sites that offer such courses include Trainingnet.com, Smartplanet.com, and Hungryminds.com. These sites offer a variety of courses designed to help students better their skills.

Employers offer courses

Employer training courses obviously vary by employer. However, they are generally set up by a consultant or manager and designed to provide employees education at a cost that is relatively low for the employer. For instance, Nabisco produces e-Learning programs that are about 50% of the cost of the industry average. Included in this savings is the reduction in costs associated with printing large employee manuals those are done electronically.

Finally, Internet courses are available that allow students to bone up on skills that may or may not be related to their work. For instance, Learn2.com, while offering a variety of business courses, also has tutorials on a variety of subjects, including how to tie knots, make sushi, train your dog, and research your family tree.

Which Ways Online Education can be Useful?

First of all, each site differs somewhat, but most operate somewhat similarly. A "class" will consist of an instructor and up to 20 students. The instructor is usually an experienced professional in the field; however, most university courses are taught by professors. The students will have backgrounds that vary greatly-it is not uncommon for all 20 students in a class to come from 20 different states!

The big difference between online learning and conventional classes is that you will have no classroom to go to. You will have dialogues with your instructor and the other students, however, these will be mostly by e-mail or in chat rooms. Your course will have a schedule, but much of that schedule revolves around your convenience. You decide when you want to "attend" class, read lectures, and ask or answer questions. The only deadlines are when your coursework is due.

When communicating in your online course, you generally have two options: posting your comments on a bulletin board for the entire class to see, or privately e-mailing them to the instructor or classmate of your choice.

Most online educators request that you check your e-mail at least once a day to ensure you don't fall behind in your coursework; the caveat of online learning is that it is independent study and does require discipline.

In fact, course managers and administrative personnel with the site will often contact you if they notice you have missed picking up a lecture.

Online learning differs from the correspondence courses of the past because there is actual interaction between students. Correspondence courses require you to read material and answer questions based on what you have read. Online education has the same guidelines; however, you can bounce some ideas off another student perhaps 1,000 miles away to get a different perspective on your thoughts.

In addition, an advantage of e-Learning is that students are not limited by the proximity of the class to their homes. For instance, a student in San Diego who cannot find an appropriate class in that area can take classes at Eastern Michigan University without having to worry about navigating the 2,000-mile trip.

Online students should expect to spend about 10 to 15 hours per week on their coursework. This will, of course, vary depending on the subject matter, but there is a commitment involved.

The nice thing is you can spend those hours when you want to and not have to commute to a classroom at a specific time.

Self-study courses

Many Web sites also offer pure self-study courses. These courses are not led by an instructor. Instead, the student will have access to materials posted on the site and will test on the information covered after studying it. Most often, these courses cover subject matter where a certification is not needed-students taking these courses are generally taking them for the information value only.

Usually, self-study courses are free, or at the least, very inexpensive.

For someone who is interested in personal development, e-Learning is an ideal option to study without having the added concerns of scheduling, commuting, or logistics.

The prospects are there. But the commitment must be strong. You will be on your own, and what you learn will be up to you.

Mathew Simond is a journalist and copywriter. He is also a webmaster of many websites including http://www.paralegal-degree.org and http://www.humanservicesdegree.net He aims to provide healthy information and advice on academic degrees.