By John Ess
There are a lot of beliefs and myths about getting an education at an online school. Some of them are well-founded, but others are just our old notions that just won't go away no matter how much the actual schools have changed. Modern technology has made it possible to have a complete educational experience online.
Previously, an online school was thought of as just another form of homeschooling. Many people believed that the only people who participated in these classes were somehow prohibited from attending "real" classes due to financial or physical conditions (or because of parents who thought they could do better than a public school system).
That is simply no longer the case. These days, most people will choose an online school because that is the only way to fit an education into a busy schedule. Now they can learn what they need anytime and anywhere. Whether it's a young student moving from place to place, or a working professional shooting for a post graduate degree, online coursework makes an education possible.
An online school also provides students with continual access to the necessary materials for the class. That means that a student won't have to lug around heavy textbooks just to get in a little extra study-time. All it takes is access to the Internet, and then the student can turn any spare time into a time for learning.
There are a lot of old ideas about online schools that just don't apply anymore. The old image of someone trying to get an education in a social vacuum couldn't be more wrong. Whether they are connecting through chat groups and forums, or just getting and receiving feedback on a project, online coursework is more social than ever before. Forget class reunions. Once people find their online classes they just keep their fellow students on their "friends list" and keep the communication channels open.
Many of the biases that exist in traditional classrooms and make it hard for some students to participate in a class don't exist in the online world. The anonymity of the Internet based classes mean that there is no longer the "cute one" or the "loud one" or even the "needy one." Students are graded on their level of participation, and only that.
An online school also makes it possible for students that simply want to supplement their traditional education. If they are looking for extra classes or need to fulfill a certain requirement but can't manage it at the time the normal class is offered, online classes are a good option.
Sometimes, students just aren't morning people. At an online school, though, they can take their classes when they are fully awake and alert, and it only has to last as long as their attention span. Online schools are convenient and affordable, and very different from what they once were.
There are a lot of beliefs and myths about getting an education at an online school. Some of them are well-founded, but others are just our old notions that just won't go away no matter how much the actual schools have changed. Modern technology has made it possible to have a complete educational experience online.
Previously, an online school was thought of as just another form of homeschooling. Many people believed that the only people who participated in these classes were somehow prohibited from attending "real" classes due to financial or physical conditions (or because of parents who thought they could do better than a public school system).
That is simply no longer the case. These days, most people will choose an online school because that is the only way to fit an education into a busy schedule. Now they can learn what they need anytime and anywhere. Whether it's a young student moving from place to place, or a working professional shooting for a post graduate degree, online coursework makes an education possible.
An online school also provides students with continual access to the necessary materials for the class. That means that a student won't have to lug around heavy textbooks just to get in a little extra study-time. All it takes is access to the Internet, and then the student can turn any spare time into a time for learning.
There are a lot of old ideas about online schools that just don't apply anymore. The old image of someone trying to get an education in a social vacuum couldn't be more wrong. Whether they are connecting through chat groups and forums, or just getting and receiving feedback on a project, online coursework is more social than ever before. Forget class reunions. Once people find their online classes they just keep their fellow students on their "friends list" and keep the communication channels open.
Many of the biases that exist in traditional classrooms and make it hard for some students to participate in a class don't exist in the online world. The anonymity of the Internet based classes mean that there is no longer the "cute one" or the "loud one" or even the "needy one." Students are graded on their level of participation, and only that.
An online school also makes it possible for students that simply want to supplement their traditional education. If they are looking for extra classes or need to fulfill a certain requirement but can't manage it at the time the normal class is offered, online classes are a good option.
Sometimes, students just aren't morning people. At an online school, though, they can take their classes when they are fully awake and alert, and it only has to last as long as their attention span. Online schools are convenient and affordable, and very different from what they once were.
December 24, 2009 at 3:59 AM
Nowadays online education is becoming more popular due to its flexibility, convenience and low cost. This mode of education is very popular among those who want to continue their study with full time working. You can easily get online degree and you don’t need to travel to the study campus to attend the classes. You can study on their own place and save a lot of valuable time and money.