Top 5 Online Education Myths Debunked
The U.S. National Governors Association (NGA) says, in 2013, “The number of students taking an online course has nearly quadrupled over the past decade, with nearly one-third of all postsecondary students in the nation—including many working adults—currently taking at least one course online.” Though the popularity of online education seems to be increasing by leaps and bounds, there are many myths that cloud the skies and denigrate this type of study option.
Here are the top 5 online education myths that are commonly heard and completely untrue.
#1 Online courses are EASIER as compared to on-campus educational courses – MYTH!
This is a myth because the truth is that online courses are very demanding in nature. Even if the course does not include a large amount of self-study, students will have to be disciplined and will have to learn to be proactive and involved if they want to get the most out of the course. On-campus, you have to sit through class, whereas online education offers you the option of flexible timing. While this is a huge advantage, it also means that you have to have immense self-discipline to devote the needed time and energy to the course. The key is to be self-motivated and not expect to be spoon-fed.
#2 Online educated students are LESS SUCCESSFUL – MYTH!
In his book, “The No Significant Difference Phenomenon”, Thomas Russell proves that the chances for success of an on-campus student has no significant difference as compared to distance educated students. The same is true in the case of online education. However, it is important to choose an accredited online degree that is recommended by educators and scores high in online degree reviews by your peers. An accredited online college will have a well-developed course that if followed correctly, will result in the same learning outcome as that of an on-campus course.
#3 Online education CREDENTIALS are not accepted by employees – MYTH!
As per Forbes magazine, employer surveys conducted by Excelsior College and the Zogby organization show that more than two thirds of employers consider online education perfectly acceptable. The most important factor when it came to making the hiring decision was whether or not the online college applicants studied from was accredited or not. The overall quality of graduates from the online college also played a part in the decision making process. The best thing to do will be to choose an accredited college from the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) List of Accredited Colleges.
In fact, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ (UNLV) Online Education team suggests that with the growing popularity of cyber teams, online educated students might actually have more takers when it comes to employment.
#4 Student-student and Student-instructor INTERACTION is reduced – MYTH!
In a traditional college atmosphere, the levels of interaction depend on the type of teacher that you have. Some teachers are high on interaction and personal attention, whereas others don’t set much store by it. Similarly, when it comes to student-instructor interaction, it may be a subjective concern. However, online courses are a great platform for student-student interaction because of the fact that there are plenty of communication channels and debate sections open like web blogs, forums, and other project management systems.
#5 PARTICIPATION is not important in online courses – MYTH!
Many students believe that because classes are held online, it is possible and even preferable to hide away and remain anonymous. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. You may be able to hide out in the back benches in an on-campus class but everything that happens online is recorded. This means that your level of participation or the lack thereof is easily noticed by instructors. An exchange of ideas and a wholesome discussion is very important in online study.
Online education serves to bring knowledge to the student in any part of the world. Traditional education faculties have been around for a long time but the importance of online education and its many benefits are now being recognized too. Focus on getting the most out of your online education course instead of getting bogged down by myths like the ones mentioned above.
Author Bio
Stephanie Colaco is a freelance writer, editor and former HR professional. An Honors college graduate, she spends her free time helping students/professionals achieve their academic goals by publishing articles and creating blog posts that answer their many questions on sites like CollegesandUniversities.org.
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