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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 OPINION 
6

Online Colleges: Ready for Some Respect

Department of Ed. study shows e-learning is effective

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(Newser) – The educational establishment has been slow to accept online colleges as serious teaching institutions—programs like the University of Phoenix are commonly dismissed as “diploma mills.” But a new study by the Department of Education shows that, in many cases, students perform better with e-learning than in a traditional college environment. The US needs to take advantage of online schooling as much as possible, writes the Christian Science Monitor’s editorial board.

The ED’s study found that e-learning works because students can set their own pace, devoting more time to a problem than in the traditional school environment. And online school can help close the US education gap, as the time flexibility and lower cost puts it in the reach of adults for whom traditional schooling is not possible.

Lisa DiPasquala, right, from Glen Gardner, N.J., gets resume tips from Donna Sweiden, during a Careerbuilder and University of Phoenix job fair in New York, Thursday, July 9, 2009.
Lisa DiPasquala, right, from Glen Gardner, N.J., gets resume tips from Donna Sweiden, during a Careerbuilder and University of Phoenix job fair in New York, Thursday, July 9, 2009.   (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Drew Faust, president-elect of Harvard University, attends Harvard's 2007 Commencement exercises on campus in Cambridge, Mass. Thursday, June 7, 2007.
Drew Faust, president-elect of Harvard University, attends Harvard's 2007 Commencement exercises on campus in Cambridge, Mass. Thursday, June 7, 2007.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
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Someday the best college teachers in the country will find their lectures and course materials spread to millions of students at low cost via the Internet. That would be a huge leap in productivity for the education industry. - Christian Science Monitor

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6 comments
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Casiotone
Sep 1, 09 3:55 PM CDT
I would, personally, absolutely love to find an accredited and worthy place to get my master's from online. Speaking for myself, I'm not in a situation I can just let go of my day job to go back to school, even though I have the desire to do so. There are some amazing courses available on the web, for free, that I've gained a lot from - now only if I could get that effort recognized on a diploma somewhere... Reply
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Timinator2K
Sep 1, 09 4:16 PM CDT
Online learning is great BUT, people have to understand that if they are terrible time managers, they're burnt toast in online classes. There are FEW, if any, real "set your own pace" classes and you better keep up or, else. I'd like to go after a Phd online but, online is/can-be just as pricey as regular classes. The potential is awesome though! Reply
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Sayyiduna
Sep 1, 09 4:24 PM CDT
I have had semesters in which I have taken 5 classes (at once) online. They take a great deal of planning and time management but I've always felt they take more work and understanding on my part than in-course subjects. With online classes, I work to make sure I understand every single part of the subject, as opposed to in-class which frequently had study guides or professors that selectively teach certain things. That said, online courses can be very difficult if you're disorganized or irresponsible, but I'd completely support the claim that the quality of education is on par if not better than in-class work. Reply
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Derni
Sep 1, 09 6:58 PM CDT
and I'm not surprised-and I'm an educator-the American education system is based on an industrial model-the Online model isn't- Reply
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0
Todd_English
Sep 1, 09 11:54 PM CDT
Online may work for some but not me. I need to sit in a lecture and absorb all the material I cannot watch or read it online. Reply
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