Recently my sister and I spent four weeks traveling through Europe, where we made a three-day stop in London. While snapping away photos of Big Ben I told her that the Marketing course I had enrolled in back in the States was about to start. “No need to jump off the double-decker just yet,” I said. “Class will be waiting for me once we return to the hotel.” So off to the London Bridge we went. Once we made it back to our room, l I logged on to the Internet and was able to read up on my new class, introduce myself to my fellow students, and get started on the first week’s assignment. Setting your own schedule is only one of the many benefits of attending school electronically these days. Did I mention that you absolutely must try the local Fish and Chips should you ever visit London?
Distance education has come a long way since its start of correspondence study in the late 1800s. Even though you may not be face-to-face with your teacher in the virtual classroom, there is always assistance available to facilitate your learning experience. Chat rooms, e-mail and discussion boards are just a few ways to stay in touch with your teacher and peers.
The Sloan Survey of Online Learning, "Making the Grade: Online Education in the United States, 2006" shows that there were nearly 3.2 million students taking at least one course online this past fall, up from 2.3 million just last year. This and other statistics are in the 2006 Condition of Education report published by the U.S. Department of Education. Each year, the department collects data and statistically paints a picture of where U.S. education stands. Seventy-three percent of the students asked agree that online education reaches students not served by face-to-face programs. This kind of virtual access increases enrollment particularly among populations like working adults and others who traditionally have not been able to access higher education. Today distance education courses are offered at more than half of the country's two- and four-year postsecondary institutions.
The electronic campus reaps benefits not only for its students. Just last week I learned that my professor teaches from the other side of the Atlantic. She recently moved to Madrid, Spain while keeping her American teaching job by lecturing online. This opportunity allows her to live in the place she loves, while still doing the things she loves. “That is the wonderful joy of technology today!” she states on our discussion board.
Feeling bogged down by a super busy schedule? Don’t think you have time to open a book, let alone attend a university? I know the feeling because most days I barely have time to walk my dog. However, with today’s blogs, wikis, virtual libraries and classrooms that stretch further than any traditional campus, higher learning is taking new dimensions. You can now omit the time spent in traffic, eating café lunches and waiting between classes. Your home and PC make up your campus so you set the schedule and pace as opposed to being stuck to a traditional schedule and driving back and forth to campus. In addition to time already saved, many programs offer all the material to complete the program up front, so you are able to finish assignments earlier – perfect opportunity should you by any chance ever have the extra time to kill. These kind of time management opportunities are needed for older students, as well as students who work and raise a family, or all three in some cases. So don’t fret – it is possible to earn a degree or certification without of giving up on precious time, job and family. Make sure to browse the many programs and schools offered at www.CollegeAidAward.com. You may be on your way to an exciting new career just by logging on to your PC for a few hours per week!
Note: The Sloan Survey of Online Learning is a collaborative effort between the College Board and the Sloan Consortium. It's based upon responses from more than 2,200 colleges and universities nationwide and represents the state of online learning in U.S. higher education. The complete survey is available at www.sloan-c.org/publications/survey/index.asp.