Online Education
The depiction of a traditional physical classroom where a teacher is lecturing over a textbook in an enormous hall has become obsolete.
Advancements in technology along with the ease of accessibility to information through computers, tablets, phones and other smart devices, it is easier than ever to attain a world-class online degree from the comfort of your own home or office.
As online education becomes more mainstream, employers are accepting online programs as equal to the formal education methods of yesterday, as most online schools are being accredited, which means they have reached a required level of quality. Learning online is increasingly popular and a valid way to get the education and the degrees needed to acquire certain types of employment.
Why Online Education?
Our online education partners have some serious advantages over the traditional classroom experience of the past. First, online learning provides more flexibility. If you have other life commitments with family or work, taking classes online can fit into your busy schedule. You can log in when you have time rather than attempt to attend a class at a very specific date and time. While the workload is comparable, you’ll be able to complete tasks when you are able. And there is no commute!
Technology is providing more and more ways to learn and for teachers and students alike to work collaboratively. While you won’t necessarily have regular face-to-face time with your teacher or fellow students, you will interact with many on a regular basis through email, video, chats and other messaging technologies. While some of the tasks for the class will be independent study, there is a big social piece to online learning in the form of question and answer, group projects, and more.
An additional advantage to online learning is that you may be able to complete courses quicker. Colleges and universities offer shorter semesters which could mean you earn course credits in half the time. This quick class schedule makes for greater availability for the classes themselves. You don’t have to wait for a fall or spring semester to begin as classes run usually month-to-month.
Accredited Colleges
By now in your research, you’ve probably come across the term “Accredtied College” over and over. Accredited college simply means, the recognition from an accrediting agency that an institution maintains a certain level of educational standards. There are a couple of reasons accreditation is important. The first is known as regional accreditation. If you are studying at one college and then decide that you want to transfer to another college, while you still have to fill out admissions paperwork and get accepted, the work you initially did at the first college will not be for nothing. As long as the college is accredited, the classes will be recognized and the credits will transfer. Another reason accreditation is important is because accredited schools are able to participage in federal and financial and financial aid programs, as well as employer tuition assistance. Accreditaion may be applied to colleges, internships, residencies, programs and online colleges.
Is Online College Cheaper Than Traditional?
The cost of an online degree depends greatly on the type of school the degree is from. At colleges and universities that offer online and on-campus degree tracks, the average online degree is actually slightly more expensive than its on-campus equivalent. However, degrees from a mostly online or entirely online institution, one like The University of Phoenix, it is significantly less expensive. So long that the institution name on your degree is not of great importance to you, it is far cheaper to opt for an online only degree program.
Can I Work Full-Time While Getting My Degree?
In addition to the steep cost of college, perhaps even the greater expense is the lost wages from not being able to work during the days when many traditional classes are offered. It is far easier to work a full-time job or raise children while attending an online degree program than it is to do so with a traditional in-person program. While classroom participation and other student engagement activities may still be necessary and required, it is far more likely with an online degree program that the instructor will do things such as record a lecture and post it online for students to view on their own schedule.
Really beginning in 2002, a growing number of students are opting to pursue online education to gain their degrees, and the most common reason for doing so is because these individuals are able to earn a Bachelor’s Degree while continuing to work or raise their family.
According to The Online Learning Consortium, an organization devoted to advancing quality online learning, 85% of Americans enrolled in postsecondary institutions are non-traditional learners and one-quarter of U.S. students are currently taking an online class.
Online Degrees and Education Partners
Online education and online degrees are certainly a great ways to set you up for success in the workplace. There is a growing number of colleges and universities offering classes, programs, and degrees online. Whether you are looking for a degree in a particular program such as English Literature, Accounting, or Liberal Arts, or you are looking to take some special classes of interest or to help your career- we have the right education partners and great online learning resources to connect you.