<p>College</a> for $99 a Month by Kevin Carey | Washington Monthly </p>
<p>"The next generation of online education could be great for studentsand catastrophic for universities."</p>
<p>There has always been the 0.00 per month self-education option. Today with Internet access, an autodidact can go well beyond the undergraduate level, and in many subjects, all the way to the research frontier.</p>
<p>Great financially, but terrible for the college “experience,” I guess personal preference/situation comes into play when dealing with online colleges.</p>
<p>It especially seems like a good idea for those already in the workforce looking to climb up the ladder opposed to those fresh out of high school.</p>
<p>I can envision a future where students choose a work online/work part or full time options for a year or two, then attend a “university” for that experience. Not every kid is ready to move away to a campus, and with money getting tight for many families, this could be an exceptionally good option. Especially if those courses are transferable and accredited.</p>
<p>Nobody knows where you attended school before a transfer - unless you tell them. </p>
<p>I have taken 40 units + online, and a couple of hundred units in traditional classes. Depending on the subject and professor, sometimes the learning was just as good, and sometimes even more exceptional in the online course. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t have thought that math could be easier in an online format, but just recently my perceptions have changed. I have a student I am working with that wishes to transfer from a community college to a 4 year. He has struggled with math in regular classroom settings, to the point of having to repeat coursework because he has struggled in this one subject for years. But after a bout with mono, and making up some classes online over the summer, he found that he understand this much more. He ended up with exceptional grades and feels like he is finally “getting it”. Sitting in a class for hours caused this young man to tune out. Sitting in front of a computer at a desk without the same time pressure helped him get focused. He has opted to take several classes this semester this way, with just one “classroom” course. </p>
<p>I don’t know if this anecdote will translate with other students, but it certainly has helped this student. Any path towards a college degree is a good path, especially if it allows the student to learn and excel. </p>
<p>The price sure seems right. I will be interested to learn more about this program.</p>
<p>While I think online education is fine for certain demographics and subject areas, our school recently opened a ‘Global Campus’ online component but it was shut down due to student and faculty protests. It does cheapen the school’s name because online learning is asociated with lower-quality learning. I know that’s not fair but that’s the way it is. Stand-alone online universities, I have no problem with. Whatever gets people more educated. But adding online program to a standard university and then giving it the same degree?</p>
<p>They essentially want the name and reputation of an established, expensive school without paying the expensive cost. Bugger to them, that makes it all the less fair for the students who are paying out the nose now to get a quality education that their future employers won’t look down their noses at.</p>
<p>But most of the online programs available aren’t through the Ivy Leagues, are they? There are 2nd and 3rd tier privates, generally, or state public schools. </p>
<p>And many of the online degrees aren’t of the 4 year variety - they tend to be Masters programs, or post grad programs, or individual classes that can fill a gap for a student in a traditional program. </p>
<p>For example, UCLA offers many extension programs in continuing education for nursing, business, education, and so on. These are professional classes - are you suggesting that these are of a lesser caliber? Have you taken any of these classes? I have, and the teaching quality of these classes tends to be with people in the top of their respective fields. </p>
<p>I can understand why many think this - but until you have tried this format of new learning, it is impossible to judge. I had preconceived notions about it, before I began. I didn’t think it would be as challenging. I was wrong, with my particular program. It was tough, with a fast pace and a huge workload. People dropped out because they couldn’t handle the pace or the content. </p>
<p>There are diploma mills out there, this is true. But it isn’t always the standard in online education.</p>
<p>I could see this work for college students during a summer break, but it doesn’t replace the college experience totally. Online is like being homeschooled and isn’t for everyone. As a former online student, I wouldn’t mind having a few online courses as supplements to what I was learning at college. The main lessons learned in college, though, aren’t in the classroom.</p>
<p>Anyone can do this.</p>
<ol>
<li>cross enroll at a nearby community college</li>
<li>sign up for an online class or two</li>
<li>have the traditional college experience plus the ease of online classes</li>
</ol>
<p>I think the traditional college experience refers to 4-years in residence, like at the schools commonly discussed on CC.</p>
<p>It all depends on what you expect from one’s undergrad years… a degree? actual learning? intellectual exploration? experiencing a new environment? living without parental supervision or their immediate help? socialization? living with fellow students from around the country and world? arguing about philosophy, politics, or anything else until the wee hours?</p>
<p>Absorption of knowledge and earning a degree are only part of the optimal college experience, IMO. Of course, the reality is that the optimal college experience may not be attainable by all, and solid learning and a respected degree are still very positive outcomes. I don’t doubt that it’s possible to conduct a first-rate course online, and it’s sad that some of the cheesy online schools have made the rigor of all distance courses suspect.</p>
<p>There was a small LAC in Iowa (Waldorf College) that was in financial trouble. They ended up merging with an online school from the south who needed a physical “campus” to make them more legit. It was a win win situation, but it will be interesting to see how successful the merger was and how it benefits the students.</p>
<p>My son just completed a Calculus online course with CTY. He claims it was best math course he has ever taken. The professor taught at Williams, and I am not sure if he still teaches there. However, my son felt the material was explained very well and the problem sets were a perfect reinforcement to the lectures so that everyone, regardless of holes in their previous curriculum, would master the material. My kids have had so many poor math teachers in Honors math courses who do not teach the material and/or rush through important foundation chapters to meet a certain timetable, that I think this is a great alternative. My daughter is enrolled in a virtual AP Latin class at her high school, and so far is enjoying it better than her previous traditional Latin courses. She can pace herself, go back and review at any time and has access to her “virtual” teacher by telephone for any questions.<br>
I think online classes are a great supplement for a college education and will only improve overtime. They certainly cannot replace a traditional college experience, especially in seminar style courses, but I’m sold on the ability for students to study at their own pace to master the material.</p>
<p>I don’t see what’s changed. For as long as we’ve had the printing press and the postal system, people have had the ability to take correspondence courses. The only difference is that now it is somewhat cheaper and faster.</p>
<p>I guess I am an optimistic. I like the trend towards anything that helps a multitude of students get an education. </p>
<p>Whether it is online, or in the classroom, in a 2 year or a 4 year, the opportunities are out there. It isn’t as easy for everyone to live on campus, either. Some students have to work full time to even afford college, and alternative study options can open up an education to students who aren’t “traditional”, that is - 18 - 22 years old. </p>
<p>What’s happening now in my state (CA) is classes are filling up faster at the Community college level, so it is harder for students to get in those classes. The budget is closing doors, unfortunately. Perhaps more students will elect to go an online option, if it helps them move along the path towards a degree. Students transfer, take a leave of absence, whatever - this could actually help a large cross section of students!</p>
<p>We wouldn’t be here at CC, if we weren’t pro-college education! It is almost 2010. Kind of mind-blowing, but even in the last 20 years, access to college is at it’s highest levels, ever. The key is getting a student to start - and finish - a degree.</p>
<p>What is different (and better) about computer based learning:</p>
<p>1) Instant feedback. DS did EPGY math and online English through the public school. For the math class you solved problems and it was confirmed immediately if you were right, and you were sent back to try again if you were wrong. In English, the whole vocabulary section of the course was structured like a game with instant feedback. The result is that the time a student can be confused, or harbor misconceptions, is cut to an absolute minimum, resulting in faster learning.</p>
<p>3) No discrimination because of age, disability, race, etc! You are judged on your work only. Say no more.</p>
<p>2) The best lecturers in the world, for free. DS learned physics from MIT’s Open Course Ware. The lecturer, Professor Walter Lewin is the best! When he got to MIT as a freshman, DS was able to place out of his first two physics courses through their Advanced Standing Exams.</p>
<p>People underestimate a lot what it requires to develope higher-thinking skills, and they always come with the Bill Gates paradox.</p>
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<p>I keep imagining what people think we do at Graduate Schools… The Research Frontier is not like a place where you hike to, than you just keep going beyond at will.</p>
<p>Online education is a great way to gain knowledge and to enhance one’s education but it misses several aspects of the traditional experience, particularly academic advising and the experimental/laboratory component of a formal education. Team-based problem solving is also very difficult to experience over the internet.</p>
<p>I think online education (OCW, etc) is also a good option if one wants extra lectures to reinforce some information they learned or to do try some more challenging problems.</p>
<p>Wrong wrong wrong. I will not denigrate any institution of higher education, as I believe there is room for everyone, with particular missions to serve a specific “customer”. But…they said the same thing about community colleges 40 years ago and it simply hasnt happened. These online schools will never be accepted by employers as the same thing. In fact, even non traditional programs sometimes struggle…its even the case with evening MBA and Exec-MBA’s. Not the same penache. Not that you cant find jobs…just not the same jobs at the same pay scale. </p>
<p>You may find people who commute to college instead of living on campus to save mega bucks, particularly at state colleges. But they are fully matriculated day students and will get the same degree as resident students and employers wont discriminate between commuters and resident students (or I have never heard of such occurring.) </p>
<p>But online programs replacing resident colleges and being accepted by employers as the same? NEVER.</p>
<p>“But online programs replacing resident colleges and being accepted by employers as the same? NEVER.”</p>
<p>Never say never. It won’t happen all at once. It will happen a few credits at a time when students transfer into conventional degree programs with whatever number of online credits they have earned from a fully accredited provider. The providers WILL litigate to make sure that credits are accepted and at some point they will have more legal firepower on their side than those defending the status quo.</p>
<p>Existing schools, not just colleges but high schools and middle schools as well, are about to be “hollowed out” as they make increasing use of online instruction. Teaching at any level above K-5 may soon look like a very unfortunate career choice.</p>