Does everyone like ice cream? Some people may choose not to eat ice cream, but many people do like it. Of course, those who like it tend to eat it. The same is true for online learning. Most of the people who selected an online university did so with some thought about what it would be like. Consequently, I am not surprised that the vast majority of students I work with find online learning to be useful. Many students share that it is more interactive and challenging than the traditional onground courses they have taken. They refer to it as “valuable” and exceeding their expectations, being convenient while not being easy.
However, online learning is not for everyone. Here is one example. This summary is the result of a discussion I had with a working adult student taking her first online course….
Why did you choose the online program: I received an incentive from my employer to attend the online program the university offered.
What is your impression after your first few weeks in the online course: I miss the face-to-face social interaction I have had in my previous courses. Also, I have many demands on my time between family and work and I had no idea how much time would be required as an online student. It requires more work than I expected. (Editor’s note: many students do say online courses take more time each week than traditional courses, but we need to consider how many weeks are in a course. Often, online courses use an accelerated pace.)
What has been most difficult: you really need to be a self-motivator and self-disciplined. If you procrastinate you have to schedule deadlines for yourself. It has been easy for me to fall behind – I prefer the self-discipline a traditional course provides. Also, I am a person who likes to help others and to be a mediator in discussions. I know how to do this face-to-face but not in the online classroom.
What did you miss most compared to your face-to-face courses: seeing teachers and other students and interacting in real-time – getting instant feedback. I expected more instant feedback in the online course. (Editor’s note: online classes do provide feedback and interaction, but it is often not real-time nor instant.)
While online learning is not suited to everyone, most online learners find the benefits far outweigh any negatives they encounter. However, just like ice cream, not everyone is a fan. Before pursuing an online education and selecting a university, consider if online learning itself is a good fit for you. More on that later…
To balance the example above, another student in the same class sent me a note about his experience as a first-time online learner:
“Dr.Chad – I love the class, everything is great with the exception of my computer problems. I never thought distance learning could be this good!” Yes, a reliable computer is important for online learning, just like reliable transportation is important for traditional onground classes. As this student shared, I found most adults who are new to a quality online program find the experience to be valuable.
How about you – if you are an online student, what have you liked and disliked about the experience? Please avoid sharing names of specific universities.
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I have found that the online learning environment is extremely enriching, disciplined, and worthwhile. I have been in an online learning environment for 2 years after taking face-to-face courses for 3 years. The transition from in class courses to online courses was a difficult one because online courses require a student to be in control of their own learning. No one is forcing you to do the readings or to do the learning. That’s all on you! You are really in control of your experience. This can sometimes be difficult because greater success comes from being organized and using strong time-management skills. However, being in charge of my learning really helped me learn the material, not just memorize it for a test. I have really enjoyed my time as an online student and would recommend the experience to others!
I just finished my degree through an online university, and couldn’t have been happier with the experience. In fact, since I work full-time and have a family, online courses provided me the opportunity to finish my degree when traditional classes weren’t an option – yes, you have to be self-motivated, and you need to effectively schedule your time (something I had to learn very quickly!), but one of the greatest advantages is that there is no set classroom time, so you can do your work at one in the afternoon or one in the morning, whatever works best for you. Although I needed to learn how to schedule my time, it helped to do so around the actual class deadlines – have to get a discussion done by Thursday, work on it Tuesday and Wednesday. Paper due by Sunday? Spend Friday and Saturday writing. Reading is reserved for Sunday and Monday, etc. Once you’re in the groove of the schedule, it gets easier, even if it does take more time and work than a traditional class (I found it was anywhere from three to ten extra hours a week. Not a huge extra amount of work, but still considerable.)
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is how online learning is seen in the professional environment. While it is gaining acceptance, some people still view online schools as degree mills, or think that somehow the classwork is far easier than traditional universities. Prior to choosing my school, I researched the reputation of many schools, how degrees were awarded, accreditation, etc. to ensure that not only would I have a piece of paper, I would have one that actually carried some weight as I look to further my career!
Hi Andy — thank you for sharing your experience! For the reasons you stated, adult learners are driving the rapid growth in enrollment at online universities. The combination of convenience and rigor are appealing to many.
Regarding acceptance of online universities in professional environments, more research is coming available to support the effectiveness of online learning. As an example, see the post Department of Education Finds Online Education Better than Traditional Classroom.