Online Courses vs. Traditional Campus

Online Courses vs. Traditional Campus Shelia Cortes COMM/155 November 18, 2012 Kathrine O'Neil Online Courses vs. Traditional Campus Having the option of attending college online makes it possible for anyone to receive a quality education. Today online education competes with traditional education at every level. In fact, today more than 60% of traditional colleges and universities, including Harvard, Duke University, and Pennsylvania State University, now offers online degrees. Today with the great rise of Internet use, online schools continue to grow in their offerings, quality, and reputation. How does a student decide whether to go to college online or to attend at a traditional campus? That depends on the preferences and needs of the individual student. Some students, because of other obligations, may need the flexibility they can only find with an online education. An online course allows students to work on their courses at the time and place of their choosing. Working students or single parents, who need a flexible schedule, often find this ideal for them. Students who practice self-motivation are able to excel in their courses, while still meeting their other obligations such as careers and family. However, students who struggle to be self-motivated may find themselves falling behind. Dedication and time management is the key to success in online education. Others may have physical limitations, such as illness or disabilities, which would make physically attending a campus every day for a set number of hours difficult if not impossible. There may be days when they could not work at their full potential in a traditional classroom, if they could even attend. (This writer is one of those students. Due to illness, the only way I could attend college at this time, is by going online. That is the main reason behind my choice of online courses.) Many others have similar situations. Sometimes that would mean that an otherwise excellent student might fail or have to quit college because of attendance problems through no fault of their own. While most colleges and universities offer special services and accommodations to their students with disabilities, the availability of attending college online in their homes, or anywhere, is sometimes the best option. In addition to other obligations and limitations, some students may have a problem with transportation. Online education is the solution to that problem. Any place there is access to the Internet can be a classroom. This includes the break room at work, the local restaurant, library, or a hair salon, and even a hospital room. Wireless Internet access is available almost anywhere- All that is needed to go to classes online is some kind of Internet access and a computer, while some would find it more difficult, it can even be achieved with some cellphones. While there are locations where traditional campuses are available, they may not offer the course the student is seeking, be the school the student wants, or be close enough for the student to get to. Furthermore, online students are able to, in a variety of ways, interact and communicate with other students, instructors, advisors, and counselors. Students of all ages, from various backgrounds and cultures, and from all parts of the country have the chance to interact with their fellow classmates via various forums and groups. There is e-mail, classroom discussion forums, message boards, chat rooms and sometimes even video conferencing that will link students and teachers together in a unique way. No longer do they interact and communicate the traditional way, only in the classroom or by snail-mail. Teachers, counselors, and advisors even often make themselves available to be reached at any time by telephone, emails, or even video conferencing. The cost of a college education is also important and in many ways, attending college online can be less expensive. For example, on a traditional campus, books and materials would need to be purchased by the student. Online education most often has all the books and materials needed available on the website at no additional charge to the student. Financial aid pays that the tuition covers all costs. However, if not able to receive financial aid, the student may be relieved that they are going to college online and do not have to pay extra for their books. There are also the costs of transportation and housing can be avoided by taking online courses instead of going the traditional route of the college campus. While some may be concerned about an employer’s acceptance of a degree obtained from online courses, for the most part, there will not be a question on any job application about if a degree was done online. To most employers, the degree itself, and where it came from, matters far more than how it was completed. Different schools have different reputations and a traditional classroom degree from a school with a little known or poor reputation is not as valuable as an online degree from a school with a known track record and an excellent reputation. This fact is solidly supported by academic research that shows an online degree from a good school will be picked over a classroom degree from a school with a lesser reputation, if all other things are equal. When the two schools are the same (for example, an online degree from University of Phoenix or the same level of degree at a University of Phoenix campus) there is no statistical difference in hiring preference. With the availability of a quality online education, anyone wanting to further their education can now achieve that dream. Also online degrees are increasingly being accepted by employers and most do not even ask how the degree was obtained if it came from a good school. In addition, the online classroom is accessible at anytime and anywhere there is access to the Internet. Students with jobs, families, physical limitations, or transportation problems can still go to a good college. They can have interaction and communication with fellow students, teachers, and advisors in ways not always available on a traditional campus. Advancing technology and growing desire for education will ensure that online education remains a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.