As a busy mother of three young children, I have personally benefited from the convenience and accessibility of online education programs. Like many other students, online learning enables me to balance my personal and professional life. All I need to study and take classes is access to a computer. Best of all, it doesn’t matter where that computer is located! Even though I live in Georgia, I can attend Florida State University’s nationally recognized school of library and information studies. I am not alone. Mr. Regier, dean of Arizona State University’s online and extended campus program estimates that their enrollment numbers will triple in three to five years with all the growth coming from students continuing their education online (“Study finds that online…”, 2009).
In addition to removing geographical barriers, online education encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning. Every student has a way of learning that works for them. Online learning gives students the ability to access course materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can review recorded lectures, interact with classmates on discussion forums or live chat sessions, and access a wide range of resources via online databases. Motivation research has shown that as students get older they are more likely to be motivated to learn in an environment where they can build a sense of community and experience a certain level of autonomy (Moreno, 2010, p. 357). As more students become comfortable using Web 2.0 tools, online education programs have the advantage of bringing diverse students and teachers together to create a virtual learning community where they can easily share ideas and concepts.
Finally, for many students, participating in online education is less intimidating as anonymity provides students a level playing field. Race, gender, and ethnicity become less important in virtual chat rooms where students can have informal conversations and create a camaraderie that may be more difficult to achieve in traditional classrooms. Seating arrangements are no longer a distraction, stereotypes and biases take a back seat, and teachers often seem more approachable in cyberspace (Coleman, 2010). Especially for students who may feel anxious answering questions with everyone’s eyes on them, online classes give them the ability to craft responses in a non-threatening environment.
In conclusion, I believe online programs will continue to grow as more students recognize the many benefits of pursuing their educational and professional goals in a virtual learning environment.
References
Anonymous. (Aug. 2009). “Study finds that online education beats the classroom.” Retrieved
from http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom/
Coleman, S. (2010). “Why do students like online learning?” Retrieved from
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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