Online Education
In world where families communicate through text messages, and even spouses are found on the internet, its no surprise that technology is not only being integrated into schoolwork, but that school itself is being run online.
In the past five years online colleges and schools have been steadily closing the gap between on-campus education and online education. Now a serious option for professional and traditional students as well for home-schooled high school students, online education has evolved into socially rich programs with diverse curriculum and qualified instructors. Online schools once depended on students completing work in isolation and offered limited interaction with instructors and other students. Now with online discussions and in some cases virtual classes in popular online 3-D worlds such as Second Life, an online education has increased socialization and makes use of technology often ignored or poorly integrated in traditional schools.
High school diplomas, associate degrees, bachelor degrees, and masters degrees can be earned through online colleges with engaging and enriching classes. Not only are proponents of online education claiming that these online colleges and school equal to brick-and-mortar schools, some organizations like the United States Distance Learning Association have begun arguing the many ways that an online education is superior to programs offered by traditional schools. In the 24 article for CNN “Online Schools Clicking with Students: Flexibility, Technology Key to E-Learning” Greg Botelho quotes USDLA executive Director John Flores in saying “"The for-profits that are increasing their market share are market-driven and not caught up in the bureaucracy you see at many nonprofit universities." Flores argues that an online education is a “very formidable alternative” and “As a result they raise the bar.”
Though many of institutions providing an online education reach the same standards for accreditation as traditional colleges and schools, they are for-profit businesses that recognize the student population as a client and see themselves as offering a service. Unlike traditional colleges and schools, an online education does not expect the student to conform to its schedules and demands. Instead, online colleges and schools bend to the needs and schedules of its students.
Many students who are strained and stressed on traditional campus find themselves flourishing when pursuing an online degree. In an increasingly technological world, some students are finding that an online education is the superior choice.