| More and more young people are choosing | | | | discussions and comments on the work of others. |
| non-traditional education to start and advance in their | | | | The synergy that exists in the student-centred virtual |
| careers while completing and furthering their formal | | | | classroom is one of the unique and vital traits that |
| education. "Typical distance learners are those who | | | | the online learning format posses.. |
| don't have access to programs, employees who | | | | 13. Access to Resources: It is easy to include |
| work during scheduled class hours, homebound | | | | distinguished guest experts or students from other |
| individuals, self-motivated individuals who want to | | | | institutions in an online class as well as allow students |
| take courses for self-knowledge or advancement, or | | | | to access resources and information anywhere in the |
| those who are unable or unwilling to attend class" | | | | world. An instructor can compile a resource section |
| (Charp, 2000, p. 10). Three key elements surround | | | | online with links to scholarly articles, institutions, and |
| the online learner: technology, curriculum, and | | | | other materials relevant to the course topic for |
| instructor (Bedore, Bedore, & Bedore, 1997). These | | | | students to access for research, extension, or in |
| elements must be keenly integrated into one | | | | depth analysis of course content material in the global |
| smoothly and operationally functional delivery tool. | | | | classroom. |
| While an online method of education can be a highly | | | | 14. Creative Teaching: The literature of adult |
| effective alternative medium of education for the | | | | education supports the use of interactive learning |
| mature, self-disciplined student, it is an inappropriate | | | | environments as contributing to self-direction and |
| learning environment for more dependent learners. In | | | | critical thinking. Some educators have made great |
| order to successfully participate in an online program, | | | | strides in applying these concepts to their on ground |
| student must be well organized, self-motivated, and | | | | teaching. The nature of the semi-autonomous and |
| possess a high degree of time management skills in | | | | self-directed world of the virtual classroom makes |
| order to keep up with the pace of the course. For | | | | innovative and creative approaches to instruction |
| these reasons, online education or e-learning is not | | | | even more important. In the online environment, the |
| appropriate for younger students (i.e. elementary or | | | | facilitator and student collaborate to create a |
| secondary school age), and other students who are | | | | dynamic learning experience. |
| dependent learners and have difficulty assuming | | | | Cons of Online Education: |
| responsibilities required by the online paradigm. | | | | Briefly explained are some factors that could |
| Millions of students use e-learning solutions in over | | | | negatively affect your success with distance learning |
| 140 countries: corporations such as Kodak and | | | | courses: |
| Toyota and education providers like ExecuTrain, New | | | | 1. The Technology:a. Equity and Accessibility to |
| Horizons, the Enoch Olinga College (ENOCIS), Phoenix | | | | Technology: Before any online program can hope to |
| University amongst the hundreds of schools and | | | | succeed, it must have students who are able to |
| colleges. | | | | access the online learning environment. Lack of |
| Studies have shown student retention to be up to | | | | access, whether it be for economical or logistics |
| 250% better with online learning than with classroom | | | | reasons, will exclude otherwise eligible students from |
| courses. Several recent ones have helped frame the | | | | the course. This is a significant issue in rural and lower |
| debate. The Sloan Consortium published a widely | | | | socioeconomic neighbourhoods and educating the |
| distributed report titled “Growing by Degrees: | | | | underserved peoples of the world. As far as Internet |
| Online Education in the United States in 2005” | | | | accessibility is concerned, it is not universal, and in |
| that examined the growing prevalence of online | | | | some areas of the United States and other countries, |
| education across U.S. institutions. | | | | Internet access poses a significant cost to the user. |
| In addition, a study conducted by the Boston-based | | | | Some users pay a fixed monthly rate for their |
| consulting firm Eduventures found that, while about | | | | Internet connection, while others are charged for the |
| half of institutions and more than 60 percent of | | | | time they spend online. If the participants' time online |
| employers generally accept the high quality of online | | | | is limited by the amount of Internet access they can |
| learning, students' perceptions differ. Only about 33 | | | | afford, then instruction and participation in the online |
| percent of prospective online students said that they | | | | program will not be equitable for all students in the |
| perceive the quality of online education to be "as | | | | course. This is a limitation of online programs that rely |
| good as or better than" face-to-face education. | | | | on Internet access. Equity of access to learners of all |
| Ironically, 36 percent of prospective students | | | | backgrounds and parts of societyb. Requires New |
| surveyed cited concern about employers' acceptance | | | | Skills/Technologies: if you're not computer-savvy or |
| of online education as a reason for their reluctance to | | | | are afraid of change or new technologies, then online |
| enroll in online courses. | | | | education will probably not work for you. The online |
| But what actually drives quality? A March 2006 report | | | | students are required to learn new skills, such as |
| released by the U.S. Department of Education's | | | | researching and reviewing the internet.c. Computer |
| Office of Postsecondary Education identifies six | | | | Literacy: Both students and facilitators must possess |
| quality indicators: mission, curriculum and instruction, | | | | a minimum level of computer knowledge in order to |
| faculty support, student and academic services, | | | | function successfully in an online environment. For |
| planning for sustainability and growth, and evaluation | | | | example, they must be able to use a variety of |
| and assessment. | | | | search engines and be comfortable navigating on the |
| The debate rages on while the Pros and Cons of | | | | World Wide Web, as well as be familiar with |
| Online Adult Education for today’s international | | | | Newsgroups, FTP procedures and email. If they do |
| students are constantly analyzed to determine if this | | | | not possess these technology tools, they will not |
| type of education platform can deliver predictable | | | | succeed in an online program.d. Limitations of |
| and measurable results. | | | | Technology: User friendly and reliable technology is |
| The Enoch Olinga College (ENOCIS) is one institution | | | | critical to a successful online program. However, even |
| which uses this type of delivery system. ENOCIS | | | | the most sophisticated technology is not 100% |
| enhances their learning experience by offering many | | | | reliable. Unfortunately, it is not a question of if the |
| other “value added”, cost reducing benefits | | | | equipment used in an online program will fail, but |
| to students. Online pupils can apply for scholarships | | | | when. When everything is running smoothly, |
| available to students of excellence and other financial | | | | technology is intended to be low profile and is used |
| aid programs like the Parent Loan for Undergraduate | | | | as a tool in the learning process. In downtime |
| Students (PLUS), with attractive interest rates. They | | | | situations of broken systems the technology is |
| also provide convenient payment facilities, on line | | | | neither seamless nor reliable and it can detract from |
| banking, Western Union Quick Collect, bank cards and | | | | the learning experience. |
| a student who is granted a loan can start repaying it | | | | 2. The Institution: Many online education facilities are |
| after two months if they have a corporate | | | | relatively new with many courses and hence, lack in |
| guarantor. | | | | modern instructors for instructing the new curriculum. |
| Pros of Online Education: | | | | Estimates show that there is still a need for an |
| The key advantages of the online education | | | | increase of more 50% of qualified instructors for |
| experience are briefly explained below: | | | | online education.b. The Administration and Faculty: |
| 1. Cheaper: Online courses may be more affordable | | | | Some environments are disruptive to the successful |
| than those offered at colleges or trade schools. You | | | | implementation of an online program. Administrators |
| may also save on transportation costs like gas, bus | | | | and/or faculty members who are uncomfortable with |
| passes, and parking permits because you don't need | | | | change and working with technology or feel that |
| to commute to school and there are no housing or | | | | online programs cannot offer quality education often |
| meals plans to worry about since you do not need to | | | | inhibit the process of implementation. |
| live on or near a college campus. Housing expenses | | | | 3. The Facilitator: Lack of Essential Online Qualities: |
| and other costs associated with living expenses are | | | | Successful on-ground instruction does not always |
| usually the most expensive aspects of a college | | | | translate to successful online instruction. If facilitators |
| education, so by taking an online course you could | | | | are not properly trained in online delivery and |
| save quite a bit of money. The best part of online | | | | methodologies, the success of the online program will |
| education is the absence of travel and immigration | | | | be compromised. An instructor must be able to |
| problems. | | | | communicate well in writing and in the language in |
| 2. More Convenient: By taking courses online, you're | | | | which the course is offered. |
| able to decide when you study and for how long. | | | | 4. Perceptions/Reputation: while slowly changing as |
| You are also able to schedule your studying around | | | | more and more mainstream colleges and universities |
| your work or social schedule. | | | | embrace distance learning, there still is a stigma |
| Since you're not bound to a classroom, you may do | | | | attached to distance education to the student’s |
| your work wherever you have access to a computer | | | | interaction in the online education. Some of the |
| and the internet. You'll be able to set your own pace | | | | students believe that, there are few opportunities |
| and decide exactly how fast you want to go over | | | | with regards to face-to-face interactions and |
| the material. Take online courses when you need | | | | feedbacks. |
| them, not based on some college's annual or | | | | 5. No Instructor Face Time: If your learning style is |
| semester schedule. You can learn when you need it | | | | one where you like personalized attention from your |
| (Just-In-Time) | | | | teachers, then online education will probably not work |
| 3. Flexibility: with no set class times, you decide when | | | | for you. |
| to complete your assignments and readings. You set | | | | 6. Little Support: students are expected to find their |
| the pace. In some programs, you can even design | | | | own resources for completing assignments and |
| your own degree plan. The online students can carry | | | | exams, which is empowering for some, but daunting |
| out their private or official work, along with the online | | | | for others. There is little support and limited guidelines |
| education. They can allot more time in the topics, | | | | provided in on line education system. |
| which they feel comparatively hard and vice versa. | | | | 7. Lacking Social Interaction: while you often interact |
| The speed of learning depends solely upon the | | | | with classmates via email, chat rooms, or discussion |
| students. | | | | groups, there are no parties or off line get-togethers. |
| 4. Technology: With the help of the scientific | | | | 8. No Campus Atmosphere: part of the traditional |
| technology, students can do their online education at | | | | college experience, of course, is the beauty of the |
| any place. The only mandatory pre-requisite is the | | | | campus, the college spirit, but you have none of that |
| availability of computer along with an internet | | | | with distance-education courses. Since you're not on |
| amenity. | | | | campus or in classes, you may lack opportunities to |
| 5. Availability: distance-learning opportunities have | | | | meet other students. |
| exploded over the past few years, with many | | | | 9. Making Time: if you are a procrastinator or one of |
| accredited and reputable programs. | | | | those people who always needs an extra push to |
| 6. Accessibility: with an online course, you can work | | | | complete work, you may have a hard time making |
| on the course just about anywhere you have | | | | time for your online classes. On line learning requires |
| computer access. Your learning options are not | | | | new skills and responsibilities from learners |
| constrained by your geographic location. The new | | | | 10. Academic honesty of online students: requires a |
| virtual classrooms have created a myriad of learning | | | | new mindset to online assessment. Most education |
| opportunities for global learning and education center. | | | | experts agree that rote memory testing is not the |
| On line education is a new era experience adapting to | | | | best measure of learning in any environment and |
| the needs of the world citizen. | | | | new measurement and evaluation tools are evolving. |
| 7. Self-Directed: you set your own pace and | | | | 11. Types and effectiveness of assessments: The |
| schedule, so you control the learning environment. | | | | importance of outcomes in online learning cannot be |
| 8. Time Spent in Classroom: now you can take a | | | | over emphasized. Does the program have measurable |
| course on just about any subject without ever | | | | results? Are students learning what you say they |
| having to be in, or travel to, a classroom so you | | | | should be learning? Then there are institutional |
| have very little wasted time. Note, however, that | | | | outputs: course completion rates, job placement |
| some distance-education programs still do have an | | | | rates (if that's the goal of the institution), graduation |
| in-class component and normally to receive a fully | | | | rates, student success on third-party tests, and |
| accredited US university degree an international | | | | student satisfaction scores. |
| student must spend one or two semesters on | | | | These factors, both the pros and cons, contribute |
| campus. | | | | greatly to making an informed decision about the |
| 9. High Quality Dialog: Within an online asynchronous | | | | direction of your career path and how you are going |
| discussion structure, the learner is able to carefully | | | | to accomplish your goals: on line, in the classroom or |
| reflect on each comment from others before | | | | a combination of both. |
| responding or moving on to the next item. This | | | | Institutions and companies that use continuing |
| structure allows students time to articulate responses | | | | education to meet their needs also face similar |
| with much more depth and forethought than in a | | | | decisions. Institutions that deliver online education are |
| traditional face-to-face discussion situation where the | | | | confronted with a series of challenges, including the |
| participant must analyze the comment of another on | | | | search for good faculty, use of technology, and |
| the spot and formulate a response or otherwise | | | | provision of adequate student services. |
| loose the chance to contribute to the discussion. | | | | The Sloan Consortium report “Growing by |
| 10. Student Centered: Within an online discussion, the | | | | Degrees: Online Education in the United States in |
| individual student responds to the course material | | | | 2005” found that 64 percent of chief academic |
| (lectures and course books, for example) and to | | | | officers and faculty believe that it takes more |
| comments from other students. Students usually | | | | discipline for a student to succeed in an online course |
| respond to those topics within the broader | | | | than it does in a face-to-face course. |
| conversation that most clearly speak to their | | | | More and more major business and industry is turning |
| individual concerns and situations resulting in several | | | | to on line continuing education as a viable and cost |
| smaller conversations taking place simultaneously | | | | effective resource for training its personnel. Hilton |
| within the group. While students are expected to | | | | Hotel has 380 hotels worldwide and is represented in |
| read all of their classmates' contributions, they will | | | | 66 countries. |
| become actively engaged only in those parts of the | | | | When you weigh the benefits and advantages of on |
| dialog most relevant to their needs. In this way, | | | | line adult continuing education the cost of study and |
| students take control of their own learning | | | | flexibility of scheduling tip the scales of programs like |
| experience and tailor the class discussions to meet | | | | the Enoch Olinga College, Capella and Phoenix |
| their own specific needs. Ideally, students make their | | | | University's distance learning program on line adult |
| own individual contributions to the course while at the | | | | continuing education is becoming a world wide |
| same time take away a unique mix of information | | | | respected form of education. |
| directly relevant to their needs. | | | | However, as with any situation, there are both pros |
| 11. Level Playing Field: In the online environment | | | | and cons with the concept of online education and |
| learners retain a considerable level of anonymity. | | | | the benefits of the virtual or global classroom. You |
| Discriminating factors such as age, dress, physical | | | | may want to evaluate both before you decide on an |
| appearance, disabilities, race and gender are largely | | | | online education program. By examining the |
| absent. Instead, the focus of attention is clearly on | | | | advantages and disadvantages, you will be able to |
| the content of the discussion and the individual's | | | | make a more informed decision. But, at the end of |
| ability to respond and contribute thoughtfully and | | | | the day, online learning is independent learning. A lot |
| intelligently to the material at hand. | | | | of structure has been put into online programs, but it |
| 12. Synergy: The online format allows for a high level | | | | still comes down to a learner sitting in front of a |
| of dynamic interaction between the instructor and | | | | computer by him or herself. The knowledge you |
| students and among the students themselves. | | | | receive or the benefits it will generate either in |
| Resources and ideas are shared, and continuous | | | | development of self esteem or increasing earning |
| synergy will be generated through the learning | | | | capacity will depend sole upon you the student. |
| process as each individual contributes to the course | | | | |