{"id":8955,"date":"2018-12-21T15:24:46","date_gmt":"2018-12-21T22:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/?p=8955"},"modified":"2020-11-02T21:09:40","modified_gmt":"2020-11-03T04:09:40","slug":"is-online-college-right-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/is-online-college-right-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Online College Right for You? How to Choose an Online Learning Format"},"content":{"rendered":"

Online colleges are known for allowing flexibility for students who have other commitments; however, they are also assumed to not offer much interaction among students and teachers. Luckily, online colleges have come a long way over the last few years due to technological advances. Evaluating the various formats of online colleges’ classes will help you determine if\u2013and which\u2013online college is right for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

To get a better understanding of how online colleges can now be set up and who they work best for, we talked to a representative at the University of Phoenix, one of the mostly widely used online colleges. Doris Savron, Vice Provost for Academic Colleges at the <\/span>University of Phoenix<\/span><\/a>, explained that there are now many ways to interact with faculty and other students despite the remote aspect of the college.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who online colleges are for<\/b><\/h1>\n

Online colleges aren\u2019t typically structured for young students right out of high school, and are instead designed to accommodate people with other commitments. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely geared towards working adults with the understanding that not everyone goes or has had an opportunity to go into a college or university right after high school,\u201d said Savron.<\/span><\/p>\n

Savron explained that online students are generally older than your traditional student, as many have full or part-time jobs, or are parents. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey have life commitments that take obligation, but they still want to advance or improve their opportunities. A lot of times that requires an actual bachelor\u2019s degree, or even a master\u2019s or doctorate, depending on what their goals are,\u201d said Savron. <\/span><\/p>\n

Due to these scheduling factors, the time and location flexibility of online colleges appeal to these students.<\/span><\/p>\n

How online colleges are set up today<\/b><\/h1>\n

Online colleges used to be in a format where you log into your class, but are on your own from there. As you can imagine, this takes a lot of self-discipline and self-teaching. While self-discipline is still very important for online colleges, there are many practices in place for holding students accountable as they would be in an in-person classroom. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe way technology works today, and the way we set up our classrooms, you still are able to interact and engage. Our tools allow students to post a picture, go into an instant message environment if they want to actually communicate live, and coordinate with different team members,\u201d said Savron.<\/span><\/p>\n

Savron explained that students are also able to connect with faculty members and schedule phone calls as needed. Students are also given the assignments, due dates, and material for the whole course at the beginning, and the class sticks to this so that students can look at weekly requirements and plan ahead to accommodate their schedules. Students are also alerted when assignments are due to help stay on track. <\/span><\/p>\n

University of Phoenix students are also given two methods of communication with other students: a \u201challway\u201d chat area, where students can talk about miscellaneous things, and an official classroom discussion area where students can discuss assignments, materials, etc. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[Students] can see what other students are asking about as well, so they\u2019re still getting the value of what would be a classroom discussion, just in a written format,\u201d said Savron.<\/span><\/p>\n

This format is followed by other online colleges and online courses as well. <\/span>The Penn State World Campus<\/span><\/a> online program utilizes \u201c<\/span>multiple communication methods such as chat, video conferencing, email, social media, discussion boards, and more<\/span><\/a>,\u201d so that students can \u201cstay connected with fellow students and faculty, building personal networks along the way.\u201d The University of Florida Distance Learning Program and the University of Central Florida online programs also incorporate peer tutoring and career services. Oftentimes, students are required to participate through these formats, encouraging engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think a lot of people are intimidated by the idea of online learning. The way the technology is designed today and the way classes are set up, you could actually feel like you\u2019re engaging and interacting like you would in the classroom. It\u2019s just through a lot of writing and static pictures versus sitting in front of a classroom with somebody,\u201d said Savron.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pros and cons of online colleges<\/b><\/h1>\n

Now that you know you won\u2019t be completely alone, let\u2019s address the benefits as well as drawbacks of online colleges, so you can decide if they suit you, your learning style, and your schedule. <\/span><\/p>\n

Pro #1: Asynchronous setup<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The biggest benefit to students who utilize online classes is the flexibility they offer. Students are given the option to work on the material at a set time that works for them, or in chunks throughout the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMost online programs, and ours especially, are in an asynchronous environment which allows [students] to go in and access [classes] throughout the day, in whatever time frame works for them. Then, they can engage through our forums and the workspaces to communicate with people so that when someone else signs on, they have the ability to see that message so they don\u2019t have to be on at the same time as everyone else,\u201d said Savron.<\/span><\/p>\n

Con #1: Self-discipline<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

While online colleges come up with various ways to try to counteract this, there is the factor that students must hold themselves more accountable than they would in a traditional college. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSomebody who\u2019s online has to have some self discipline, because they\u2019re trying to schedule and interact in an online environment and they\u2019re not sitting face to face with someone who\u2019s saying, \u2018OK, hand that in right now,\u2019\u201d said Savron.<\/span><\/p>\n

Know what your tendencies and abilities are before committing to online college. If you aren\u2019t able to stay focused on your own, a different format might be better for you. Time is another factor. If you are working full-time and don\u2019t have time to be a full-time student, consider lightening your course load so that you can fully engage with the classes you are taking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pro #2: Different perspectives<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Traditional colleges are physically located and draw in many students from the surrounding area. While there are many exceptions, the diversity of opinions is somewhat limited. Online colleges open the door to a wider variety of students with unique perspectives.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re exposed to a lot of different perspectives and experiences across the country\u2013and in some cases across the world\u2013with students that are taking those classes. So they have that value in the discussions in the different perspectives they have,\u201d said Savron.<\/span><\/p>\n

Con #2: Lack of hands-on experience<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Obviously, there are certain fields that you can only go so far with in an online format. A nurse, for example, needs to do some clinical work before working with patients independently. Due to this, the University of Phoenix nursing program is geared towards already registered nurses that simply want to acquire the degree for educational\/academic knowledge in order to advance their career opportunities. <\/span><\/p>\n

Evaluate the effectiveness, or even availability, of an online education if the degree you are seeking is especially experience or clinical based. <\/span><\/p>\n

Pro #3: Professors that work in the field<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The flexibility of an online program also allows working professionals to teach classes in conjunction with their career, so many online professors are current industry professionals and can offer this insight to their students.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur faculty members are part of the workforce and are working in the areas and specialties where they teach, so they can bring in those real world experiences,\u201d said Savron.<\/span><\/p>\n

Con #3: You have to be proactive to get connected<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

While there are many resources for students to connect with other students and their professors, you have to be proactive about this and reach out on your own. Networking is definitely possible, but you\u2019ll have to find the events to attend and reach out to the people you want to connect with of your own accord. <\/span><\/p>\n

Of course this can also be said for in-person colleges, but there\u2019s no specific campus to host networking events. So, if this is something you want to do, you\u2019ll need to reach out to other students digitally, set up meetings with your professor, and sign up for local networking events on your own. <\/span><\/p>\n

Online college can be a great opportunity for those who want to advance their education and career, but don\u2019t have the time to attend traditional classes. However, consider your own lifestyle and learning style, and look into the structure of the classes you are looking to take before committing.<\/span><\/p>\n

See also: Peterson’s online college search tool<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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