Thanks for your honest. Some of my thoughts of online education have been proven wrong.

Great podcast (”the 3 myths of online education”), I had no idea online education had come this far…very informative.

Good post. You make some great points that most people do not fully understand.

“Online education is often seen as the red-headed stepchild of higher education. Ever since the early 1900s, when correspondence courses began coming into style, distance education — or any education that isn’t done in the classroom — has been considered inferior. But is this criticism fair? Is there something about distance education, especially online education, which warrants it being thought of the postsecondary second banana? The purpose of this podcast is to respond to these questions by exploring three of the most common myths associated with online education, and determine which — if any — has any basis in fact.”

I like how you explained that. Very helpful. Thanks.

wow i have never thought about on line like that theank you for the honesty you’ve spooken

This man WORKS for an online college, therefore he isn’t exactly a neutral, unbiased resource! If you are applying for jobs with applicants who graduated from First Tier, Big Ten and Ivy League Universities - and your diploma is an online degree from Phoenix University or DeFry College, let’s face it….you won’t even get an interview.

There is absoultely no comparision with online study and being in a classroom with live, in-person discussion with other students and a professor. I’ve taken numerous online classes and found it quite isolating and even downright boring. Online study amounts to reading and writing in total isolation. The online discussion board forum for students to post comments is hardly a substitute for sitting in a classroom with other students for an hour or 1 1/2 hours and having complex discussions. The other aspect you do not get in online courses is breaking up into small groups during class time to work on projects.

There is no “study group” in online education. When I was having difficulty with harder classes - it was always attending “study group” with other students which raised my grade an entire level.

I understand working parents, folks holding down full time jobs, disabled people, people who live in rural areas - all of these people may not be able to complete college without an online degree. It does serve a purpose - but I wonder just how COMPETITIVE you are going to be in this horrendous job market with 10% national unemployment - if all your study was online?

To me - it’s a cyberspace equivalent of a mail order correspondence course.

I recommend taking HYBRID classes, which are a course that does meet in person for class meetings - but also has an online componenet. Before you commit to an online degree, try taking a few online courses at your local community college and see exactly how dramatic the difference is between online learning and in class instruction. Another option is “Distance Learning” which uses watching classes broadcast on cable TV Public Access channels. At least you can SEE the professor on TV - these courses also allow students who are at home to participate through conference calls on the telephone - so you can actually speak up in class, ask questions, make comments regarding other students in class comments.

Online education isn’t necessarily any less expensive than traditional bricks and mortar colleges. I checked out Phoenix University and it was the same price as my local state university!

I’d rather take a couple of online classes offered at a traditional bricks and mortar college - and receive a conventional, traditional degree - than get some rinky-dink degree from DeVry or Phoenix University.