I am embarking on my master’s degree via an all online program. I have been contemplating this most of the summer. What led me on this path of contemplation was that I found myself in quite a dilemma. My teaching position at my school had been drastically changed and I was unhappy with the change. To top it off, I found out I was expecting a baby the very day I was informed that my job of 17 years would be profoundly changed: (non-renewed and re-hired at 60% load). I chose to take a sabbatical for the upcoming school year. It was then that it hit me that while I am taking some time off that I should pursue an advanced degree. Sure, a master's degree sounds great, but how could I accomplish that. I am married to a farmer and I have a small child and expecting another. I am simply tied down and I am not willing or able to go to a conventional institution and attend "regular" face-to-face classes. I had to consider online education. I spent many countless hours searching for information on the Internet. Google and online master’s degree searches became images burned onto the screen of my laptop. It all seemed so overwhelming. There was so much information to digest. When the dust settled, I had found something I was happy with. I applied, was accepted and enrolled. Then the fear of what had I done hit me. Online courses? Am I out of my mind? How can this possibly be better than “real” education? After some more investigating and questioning, I really felt that an online program was actually going to be a great fit for me. The flexibility was what intrigued me the most. Although I am not working this school year, I still had real life to contend with. The ability to work at my own pace and in the comfort of my own home was just right. Could I be disciplined enough to perform at an acceptable level? That will be something that will have to be determined as I go. I certainly plan to be successful.
We have had some exposure to “online” education at our school through the IVN system. I have seen it be both a good thing and a bad thing. It gives students opportunity to take a class not offered at our school. Since we are a small school there aren’t many choices to be had in the daily schedule. But I am not convinced the instructing has been conducive to the best learning environment. I have seen kids squander their class time as well! This is sort of the same concept with Online Education. Basically, if it is online, it is available to you. You get out of it what you put into it. What a web of wonderful opportunities.
As I have discovered by a study done by SRI International for the Department of Education my decision to study online is apparently a good one. I feel better knowing that there is some sort of “scientific” evidence to support my choice.
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I hope everyone in this class is happy with online education as we are paying a pretty penny for it! Actually, that article was nice to read because it certainly makes me feel better about an online degree. However I have some definite issues with online education that I feel bear mentioning. First, we are paying the same tuition and receive less services. We cannot attend office hours, we can't stay that extra five minutes after class to ask a question and we don't get to ask questions in class. I have also found that the amount of feedback on assignments in an online setting is significantly less than in face-to-face classes and this is a real sticking point with me. With some professors having a full load of face-to-face classes, online classes may get pushed to the back burner and the students who are paying the same tuition and fees pay for it.
ReplyDeleteBut at the level we are all at educationally and professionally, I completely agree that we indeed get out of it what we put into it. We are all adults here and do not need our hands held; rather what we need are experts to guide us and point us in the right direction in our pursuit of knowledge. To be sure, one can learn just as much out of online classes but they need to be disciplined and have to have the want to learn. And given the convenience of online courses, I think this is a fair trade!
cheers,
ct
I think online learning is difficult for everyone the first time they try it but if you have an class that is active in discussion and the format is laid out in a professional manner it is enjoyable. I have to agree with Clint that classroom student might get more attention at times because they are face to face, but in most cases the online instructors I have had respond back in a day or two. I think online learning will only grow as people become more busy and with that the technology will get better.
ReplyDeleteOn-line learning...positive or negative?
ReplyDeleteWhile in high school, I took a class that was based at a different school. It was an interactive course, but the instructor was never in the actual classroom, only through the TV's. This was pretty advanced for back then (the 90's)!
Now a person can get an advanced education all on-line and never having to meet the instuctors or fellow students. As a social person, I guess on-line learning isn't my favorite. However, it meets the needs of my family so this is the best choice for us.
Back to the 90's....after two weeks of this 'interactive' class I took in High School, my teacher kicked me out. Back then, I had little to say about the matter because I was "only a student". Hind sight being 20/20, I now can say with absolute certainty that I shouldn't have been the one to get kicked out!! In fact, my 4 fellow classmates who were also in the class with me, agree!!
The point I'm trying to make is everything has it's positives and negatives...nothing and no one is perfect...
From the research I also dug into, there was no perfect answer for on-line learning. Only what you get out of it. So if on-line learning benefits you and your family in a positive way...then go for it. Everyone in these courses have experience and knowledge in many different aspects. Therefore why not also learn from them?
Thanks for the article...
Denise Turnquist
An online education can be very beneficial in many ways. I am a big fan of distance learning. On several occasions I have taught IVN classes to rural areas. The students greatly appreciated it. It was difficult to get to know the students as well as if we were in the same room, but it gave students an opportunity to take classes that they wouldn't have been able to take otherwise. Online classes are just an extension of IVN.
ReplyDeleteAn online master's program was important for me, as my life is too busy to drive a couple hours to take classes on campus or spend weeks of my summer on campus. Being able to take classes online, being able to schedule the coursework around my classroom preparation makes earning an advanced degree achievable for me.
The part I don't like is that it is harder to get to know the other students in class, since we are never face-to-face. Technology helps eliminate some of that, but being able to discuss issues in person is still more beneficial.