Why are people in education so against online college degree's when there is evidence that employers like them

Question

Everytime someone asks a question about online schools teachers and professors put it down. There is more than enough evidence showing that employers not only support but actaully prefer online education because it proves to them that their employee's are flexible, can multi-task and are able to set goals and achieve them.

Why is there still a small number of idividuals who hate online universities?

Answer 1

This is an extremely good question. Online education is different than the traditional classroom setting and like most people, they see online education as an enemy because it is progressive change. They fear it. They fear it will take away their jobs and make them useless but if they would only embrace it they could use it to enhance their careers.



Online education is the fastest growing section of post-secondary education. While traditional colleges struggle in a highly competitive field of a shrinking pool of traditional candidates, the online revolution is meeting the needs of the fastest growing sector of college learners, the working adult.



While some have been hesitant to grasp the idea of delivering an education online most have realized that online is the only way they are going to continue to attract new students.



Developing an online education system is extremely expensive and very time consuming and that is one of the main reasons public schools have not gotten deeper into the mix and why for-profit universities have been able to lead the pack as top-quality online educators recognized by major corporations and other entities.



Some educator see online as a end of a means (the destruction of education in America) while others see it as the beginning of one in that we can now get instructors from all over the world delivering education to anyone with an internet connection.



Look at education in America today. Traditional colleges are not delivering students that employers need. Mathematic, engineering, and science positions either go unfilled or are being filled by immigrant workers who are being better educated in their own country.



Some educators argue that employers want employees with a traditional, face-to-face education but this is not true. Most educators have never had a coporate job so how would they know what the real world wants. There is a huge difference between what academia thinks is needed and what the real world requires.



We are a global society and it has become that way through the non-face to fac einteraction created by the internet. Employers want people who can think fast, adjust, be focused, and have a very well rounded personality. They don't care where you got your education from.



I can see where it would be important to have 18-22 year olds in class but are you telling me that a 37 year old woman who works in finance for a major company is going to reap any difference in the quality of her education whether she gets it at a land based school or an online school? Probably not.



There are certain professions where the education needs to be face-to-face but most business or IT degrees do not.



What I find funny is that more educators use online as mean s to get graduate degrees than any other sector of the working population yet they are the first to condemn it. Ironic isn't it.



You know you might pay a few thousand dollars more for an online degree but look how much you save in other expenses. Online is needed because most adults can't go to school two or three nights a week and they certainly can't leave their job during the day to go attend class.

Answer 2

This is a question that gets thrown around a lot. The real answer is No. I know tons of people in the IT and engineering industry and they will all tell you the same thing. Regardless of accredition and what not. College isn't just what you learn in books, its more networking and showing you can work with people. Also, many of the online schools are for-profit. This mean that the acceptance rate is almost 100% and that tends to water down your success. HOWEVER.... There are colleges that will offer fully online degrees and not distinguish between online and in class. The best three I know of are Penn State University (www.psu.edu), Robert Morris University (www.rmu.edu), and Rochester Institute of Technology (www.rit.edu). Be aware that these online degrees are not watered down like most online ones are, and you have to be smart and diciplined to do this. All that said, the answer to your question is No. But that is not to say that an online education does not help. But if you put it up against the traditional degrees, they have no stability.

Answer 3

First, an education is not based on what people "like". It's based on what people LEARN. Does it provide you with the skills, abilities and knowledge to get the job done?



Not all online schools are worthless, nor are they all not accredited. There are a number of good, accredited colleges and universities that offer some or all courses online.



So why do many teachers put them down? Well, it's easier to 'hide' in an online class than a Face to face (F2F) class. I teach both F2F and online and one of the most frustrating things in online is that it's really difficult to 'see' if students are "getting it." In my classroom, I can see confused faces and know I need to go at the topic from another angle. Confused online students frequently don't 'say anything' and just stay confused. You only get out of an education what you put into it. It's easier to turn in a crappy paper to an instructor you've never met and won't have to look in the eye when you get it back. If you want to only get the minimum out of it, you can put the minumum into it and more easily get by.



Additionally, there are many things you learn in college by processing information in groups and interacting with others. Much of today's world requires "people skills" and online classes are poor at developing those skills.



Personally, I think online classes can work well for a mature, self motivated individual who is looking to expand their skills in areas they already have some experience with. That's why many employers may like it--it works to improve experienced employees skills and knowledge in specific areas.



It also can work for some people in areas like math. I do not think it is a good method to learn "people based" skills and attitudes.



So there really isn't a "it's great" or "it's useless" answer. It can work for the right person who is trying to learn more about the right kinds of topics.

Answer 4

This is an interesting and complex question.



First I would point out that some employers actually partner with major universities to offer on-line programs to their employees. This generally happens in engineering. If these employers are willing to invest their own money into it, there must be something to on-line education. But in these cases we are talking about high quality, graduate level online education, from universities with very strong on campus programs.



You are right in saying that quite a few people (but certainly not all) in the traditional academic world, and quite a few in industry as well, simply do not believe in on-line education.



Part this is because everything from diploma mills to low quality on-line only schools, to great programs at state universities, to Ivy League online programs (see Columbia, Cornell), falls under the name "distance education". It is easy to forget that there is some very good education, as well as some very bad education going on out there. By the way, you can say the same thing about campus based universities. Is the worst campus based learning in the world really better than the best on-line learning in the world?



It is important to distinguish what type of on-line we are talking about, and frequently this is not done. It is much easier to just dismiss all distance learning as being "not real". Many years ago people thought the same way about evening (on-campus) part-time programs, but attitudes have gradually changed.



Another problem is that some in academia do view online learning as a threat to campus based learning. They ask: If students can learn everything at their computer, what need will there be for the classroom? Academics who think this way are, I believe, missing the point. Most people who have studied online will probably tell you that it is harder than being in class, because you miss certain things. The direct interaction with the professor, the informal discussion with students, the professor's office hours, the library -- these things are not there for you online, at least not in the same format. This is why I think online primarily provides an alternative to in class learning for those who, for various reasons, simply cannot be in class (and who otherwise might not get access to education at all). Online broadens the audience a university can address, rather than shrinking it. But it will take time for everyone to realize that.



Finally, online is a comparatively new form of education being a few years old, compared to the centuries that on campus education has been going on. Considering that, it gets reasonably good acceptance. Over time, I think the situation will improve, because the poorer online programs (which still charge a lot of money for their product) will not get the enrolment they need, and the best programs will show that they can turn out graduates who (along with their on campus counterparts) can make big contributions in industy, public service and academia.

Answer 5

First a lot of on-line degrees are worthless and are from schools that have no credentials or certifications by regional boards. Many offer substandard education. Another is that while they have been around for years they are still unusual. If the degrees are from established, respected universities and colleges they are just as good. Besides unless you tell them know one would know if it was on-line or not.

Answer 6

One day online universities will be more popular and have more students than universities offering regular courses....what is important here it ensure quality and win the trust of the students and their parents.

Answer 7

Are you a teacher at an online university? There are a lot of internet scams these days, people are reluctant to trust them.

Answer 8

I was about to post this question too this morning