More Schools...

Back to Articles

On the Rise: Online Education (Part II)

Challenges and Barriers to Widespread Adoption

With freedom comes responsibility, and online students have to meet the challenges of an open schedule and the possibilities of autonomous learning. Almost two-thirds of academic leaders surveyed in the Sloan study cited the need for more discipline on the part of online students, which may be a significant barrier to success. Each student is entirely in control of their own education – there is no one to tell you to go to class, no reminders to do the necessary work. It is up to the student to contact the professor or outside help if they do not understand the material.

Faculty has to put in a greater amount of time and effort, especially at the beginning, in order to adjust to the online learning system. However, it is important to note that these courses are being taught by the same mix of core faculty and adjunct/part-time instructors as face-to-face courses.

All Levels and Disciplines

Associates (39.8%) and Master's degree programs (43.6%) have the most online offerings at schools that also offer traditional programs, as well as specialized Certificate (35.3%) programs. Business programs have also experience online penetration, with 43% of them offering online degrees. The undergraduate (Bachelor's programs) is slower to catch on to the trend - but still has nearly a 30% penetration.

In terms of disciplines, online education covers all of the main grounds, from Business to Computers to the Social Sciences and Humanities

Online Learning Here to Stay

Most schools are optimistic about future growth – 74.8% expect online enrollments to increase in the future. Most academic leaders believe that online learning quality is already equal to or superior to face-to-face instruction (Allen & Seaman, 2003) and acceptance of online degrees is growing among faculty and employers. In fact, 85% of employers feel that online degrees are more acceptable than they were in 2000 (Vault via eMarketer).

Chief Academic Officers – those that shape tomorrow's educational offerings – also agree that online education is critical to the long-term strategy of their schools. Fifty-eight percent recognize the importance of this growing trend on the evolving needs of tomorrow's student and how their institution must change to accommodate them.

Is Online Education the Right Choice for You?

Use the following checklist to investigate whether or not online education is the best choice for you:

	I need to enroll and complete a course immediately for a degree or to improve my career options.
	I am self-directed and get things done ahead of time or on schedule.
	Face-to-face interaction is not essential for me to learn new things.
	I appreciate getting immediate feedback on my assignments so I can revise as I go along.
	Reading texts without help or explanation is not a problem for me.
	I enjoy trying to figure out instructions and methodology for assignments on my own.
	I look forward to learning new technological skills (computers, video, etc.)
	I am already fairly comfortable and competent in a variety of online skills.
	My personal and professional commitments give me very little time to commute to a campus and/or flexibility with class schedules.

If you nodded yes to 4 or more of these questions, you are a likely candidate for an online education. Start researching your options using the All Degree– Program Finder!

Back to Part I...

More Schools...