Why I Say YES to Online Education

Overview

When I first started college in 1998, I took traditional face-to-face courses. It was the only way I knew how to learn. It was the only type of learning that I had ever experienced. Like most current community college students, I worked full-time, took care of my growing family, and sat through long lecture classes. I finished my Associate’s degree in Allied Health in 2002. I knew that I would not be able to work through a Bachelor’s degree the way I did my Associate’s. I had more obligations with work and family and was not able to devote a dozen hours a week to sitting in a classroom. I settled in with my new career as a Medical Laboratory Technician at the local hospital.

Although I was hearing more and more about online courses, I did not start to research the idea of distance learning until 2012. I heard about a college that offered all the classes I would need in order to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Allied Health. All of my Associate’s credits would transfer and the program was entirely online. I would not have to attend a class each week. I was hesitant. I know myself pretty well and I was afraid I would not be able to stay motivated without someone feeding me the information face-to-face. Apparently the saying is true, if you want something bad enough, you will find a way to succeed. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in 2014 (entirely online) in Allied Health. I learned to make a schedule, keep it, and ask questions. These were all big obstacles for me.

In my opinion, there is no downside to distance learning. I feel that I gave 100% in every part of my education. I am better at what I do because I completing the online Bachelor’s program. However, there are some that believe that distance learning is a sham and that it is a degree that is “paid” for. When I hear people say this, they are reducing the value of the education I received.

What Online Courses Do for the Student

Distance learning taught me to be organized, it taught me to stay focused, and it taught me how to master the concepts that were presented. It also taught me to be self-reliant.

It has been said that online education is the next big thing. It is becoming more and more popular as each semester ends (Fedynich, 2015). There are conflicting opinions about online degree programs. I believe that taking courses online is not for the faint of heart. Students must have the drive and focus to stay on a schedule. Many of the articles I have read outline two specific advantages of e-learning. The first explains that online courses are a sound financial decision for the college. The second, outlines the  convenience aspect for students of not having to attend face-to-face instruction (Fedynich, 2015). While these are great examples of why online courses are becoming more popular, I have more to add. Having experienced my entire Bachelor’s program online, I feel that there are plenty of other advantages to online learning that should be mentioned. Specifically, students learn critical thinking skills, how to research, how to analyze, how to communicate effectively, and how complete projects under deadlines. In addition, taking courses online requires students to be familiar with, and sometimes master, certain technologies such as Google Drive, Microsoft Office, the Internet, and other digital applications. These are all real-world skills that some students lack upon graduating college. Although students may learn these things in a traditional college setting, we should not underestimate the power of distance learning.

Some instructors have been able to successfully integrate online learning into their face-to-face courses. Dr. Jose Bowen, Dean of Southern Methodist University, Meadows School of the Arts, explains his idea of teaching naked (Bowen, 2013). Not in the literal sense, but stripping down the classroom lectures to a more interactive and engaging learning experience (Bowen, 2014). “As faculty, if we are primarily concerned with transmitting content, then our value will only decrease. The internet contains a much broader selection of lectures, demonstrations, animations, and examples on more subjects, in more languages, and with a greater variety of approaches, methods, and pedagogies than any professor, department, or even entire university can provide” (Bowen, 2014, pp 18, para 3).

Every semester, there are new ideas and applications being introduced to improve student engagement and retention rates. “The engagement premise is straightforward and easily understood: the more students study a subject, the more they know about it, and the more students practice and get feedback from faculty and staff members on their writing and collaborative problem solving, the deeper they come to understand what they are learning” (Student Engagement, 2014, pp 6, para 2). Distance learning does not necessarily mean a student is learning at a distance. In fact, the instructor and students are able to interact synchronously and asynchronously. Applications, such as Google Drive allow students to collaborate in real-time. These are used in the workplace as well, giving students real-life experience through distance learning.

I should point out that there are different variations of distance learning. College programs have been created that are entirely online. There are also individual courses that are online and there are hybrid courses. The latter of the three has students meeting for 50% of the time face-to-face. This time is used for assessments or laboratories experiments (Distance Learning).

Conclusion

The fact remains, online education is here to stay. The convenience aspect is undeniable. There is definitely a different interaction that happens in a face-to-face course versus the online venue. But there are, in my opinion, more advantages than disadvantages when it comes to taking courses online. Continuing education is more readily available through distance learning.

Read more about online learning here.

References:

Bowen, J.A.  (April 01, 2014). The Teaching Naked Cycle.Liberal Education, 100, 2.

Bowen, J. (2013, May 1). Teaching Naked: Dr. Jose Bowen at TEDxLSU. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/HpdUyw_vJcU

Distance Education. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.dtcc.edu/academics/learning-options/distance-education

Fedynich, L. V. (January 01, 2015). Teaching beyond the Classroom Walls: The Pros and Cons of Cyber Learning. Journal of Instructional Pedagogies, 13.

Student Engagement in Online Learning: What Works and Why. (2014). ASHE Higher Education Report, 40(6), 1-14. doi:10.1002/aehe.20018

What is Distance Learning? - DistanceLearningPortal.com. (2012, September 28). Retrieved from https://youtu.be/r6dHK2cXatM

Distance Education. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.dtcc.edu/academics/learning-options/distance-education