Online Learning? How Does That Work?
Written by Karen White
DISTANCE DOESN’T HAVE TO KEEP YOU FROM WORKING ON THAT GRADUATE DEGREE. THE ONLINE EXPERIENCE CAN BE AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN ON-SITE LEARNING.
Comparing a comprehensive online degree program to one completed sitting at a desk in a college classroom is like comparing a dollar bill to a dollar coin. They might look and feel different, but they serve the same purpose. That being the case, you might be wondering exactly how online learning works, and looking at the similarities and differences between online and onsite learning is a good way to begin seriously considering whether you might be a likely and suitable candidate to pursue an online college degree, especially if time and distance restrictions keep you from getting to a college campus.
If you are currently in the military, raising a new family, working 40 to 60 hours a week or just plain unable to regularly commute to a local college campus, you should know that an online education is a viable alternative to traditional classroom learning. The exact content required in any course can be delivered online, and online and onsite course instructors provide the same syllabi, notes, and lessons—just in different modes.
One basic component of almost every college course is the written assignment. During onsite courses, these are often submitted on paper. During online courses, written assignments are sent as e-mail attachments. Quizzes are common at the college level, and these too can be delivered and taken online. Onsite students are sometimes asked to give oral presentations, and so are online students. While onsite students stand in front of classes, online students submit audio files, which can be attached to e-mail messages. Perhaps one of the most important parts of the college learning experience is the class discussion. In an onsite classroom, an instructor leads a group of students in a discussion related to weekly lessons. In the online classroom, the same thing happens, but the participants post and respond to comments at times convenient for them.
This mode of instruction is often called asynchronous, or “not in real time,” and research shows that it provides students with additional time to reflect on topics, which is believed to elongate learner retention. The asynchronous mode of instruction also allows for a certain sense of anonymity, which often encourages the expression of deeper ideas and opinions that might otherwise go unexpressed in onsite classes.
If time and distance have kept you from earning a college degree and enhancing your career, it is hoped that this brief look at online learning will encourage you to begin searching for the program that might be right for you. ♦
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Karen White is assistant dean of online learning, Mercy College.