Online Learning Changes Society's Expectations
School used to consist of a brick
and mortar building, but that is not the case anymore. People of all ages are
now able to attend school, via the internet. When doing online schooling,
students are able to connect with their professors/ teachers as well as other
students in their classes.
With
students working online, it allows them to complete their studies, generally,
in the comfort of their own homes and at their own pace. If a student also
works a full time job and has a family, it is difficult to attend classes in the
conventional form. Setting aside time that works for the student, is something
that may be more beneficial to the student.
More students
are utilizing online classrooms to further their education with a variety of
classes available to them. “With nearly three million students currently
enrolled in fully online degree programs and six million taking at least one
online course as part of their degree program, online education has clearly
become one of the most popular higher education alternatives (OEDb, 2012). That
number is continuing to increase with more students looking into the benefits
of online schooling.
Students
want a cheaper alternative for school with more options. Online classes are
generally cheaper than if students attend classes on a campus. Some books may
be free with classes as they are downloaded. “[it is estimated] "that full-time
virtual schools cost, on average, $6,400 per pupil, compared with $8,900 for
blended schools and $10,000 for traditional brick-and-mortar public schools’”
(Vander-Ark, 2012).There are also no fees for commuting, saving time and money.
Cost saving being lower is not only the thing that drives students to online
learning.
Local
schools may not offer the courses or degree a student may want, online opens up
a new realm of possibilities. A local college or university may offer several
degrees in Business Management and Healthcare, but not much in Liberal Arts,
what are the options? Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers a degree
in Communications, focusing on New Media and Marketing, for someone who wants a
degree in that field, but lives in Oregon, SNHU online, is the best fit.
Mass media
plays into online school with assignments consisting of watching videos and
perhaps Skyping as an instructor demonstrates and teaches. Pictures are worth a
thousand words, as sometimes it is easier to visualize when seeing things for
themselves. When posting something an entire class can see, allows for more
feedback and opportunities to improve the work, versus turning something in and
waiting for the instructor to grade and analyze the work.
With
technology advancements students attending online school, the demand for the
options available have been increasing. More schools and universities offer
online programs as well as class and degree options. It has come to be expected
that when a student is attending online classes that it will be cheaper, they
will have more options and be involved with mass media to help them learn.
References
Agarwal, A. (2013). Six Advantages of Online Learning. Wall
Street Journal. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/R8sUpgRqkgI
OEDb. (2012). 10
Advantages to Taking Online Classes. Open Education Database. Retrieved
from
Vander-Ark, T. (2012). Is
Online Learning One Third Cheaper? Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-vander-ark/is-online-learning-one-th_b_1198033.html?
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