In world where families communicate through text messages, and
even spouses are found on the internet, its no surprise that
technology is not only being integrated into schoolwork, but that
school itself is being run online.
In the past five years online colleges and schools have been
steadily closing the gap between on-campus education and online
education. Now a serious option for professional and traditional
students as well for home-schooled high school students, online
education has evolved into socially rich programs with diverse
curriculum and qualified instructors.Online schools once depended
on students completing work in isolation and offered limited
interaction with instructors and other students.Now with online
discussions and in some cases virtual classes in popular online 3-D
worlds such as Second Life, an online education has increased
socialization and makes use of technology often ignored or poorly
integrated in traditional schools.
High school diplomas, associate degrees, bachelor degrees, and
masters degrees can be earned through online colleges with engaging
and enriching classes.Not only are proponents of online education
claiming that these online colleges and school equal to
brick-and-mortar schools, some organizations like the United States
Distance Learning Association have begun arguing the many ways that
an online education is superior to programs offered by traditional
schools.In the 24 article for CNN “Online Schools Clicking with
Students: Flexibility, Technology Key to E-Learning” Greg Botelho
quotes USDLA executive Director John Flores in saying “"The
for-profits that are increasing their market share are
market-driven and not caught up in the bureaucracy you see at many
nonprofit universities."Flores argues that an online education is a
“very formidable alternative” and “As a result they raise the
bar.”
Though many of institutions providing an online education reach
the same standards for accreditation as traditional colleges and
schools, they are for-profit businesses that recognize the student
population as a client and see themselves as offering a
service.Unlike traditional colleges and schools, an online
education does not expect the student to conform to its schedules
and demands.Instead, online colleges and schools bend to the needs
and schedules of its students.
Many students who are strained and stressed on traditional
campus find themselves flourishing when pursuing an online
degree.In an increasingly technological world, some students are
finding that an online education is the superior choice.
