Online Learning

The future of online learning is pretty much set after a decade of growth and success.  Move beyond the simple ability to be physically mobile with a laptop or iPad type device and consider the ramifications of universal course availability. The first question that comes to mind is, what is to stop someone from undertaking an online degree from Berkeley for example, while living and studying in Japan or Australia?  Judging from the adoption of online learning as an increasingly viable option at all degree levels the time of global degrees may be closer than we think. These tough questions need to be addressed in the interim.

The competition for student bums on seats is becoming sufficient to compel colleges and universities to explore the option of international online learning. Governing bodies and education ministries will have no choice but to address internet issues that might inhibit this possibility to ensure that American educational facilities aren’t disadvantaged.  The possibilities are huge and some of the implications are obvious. It would mean that American college and university students would be in competition for placement with the global student body. It would also mean that the current obstacles to education of wealth, geographic location and social status may disappear forever as online learning takes hold.

In addition, more and more courses are becoming available online and that isn’t just from the second rate colleges. Schools like Harvard now offer online learning which is brilliant if you need to shore up a few extra credits or improve a sketchy GPA.  The advantage of online learning is clearly a student’s ability to work when it’s convenient and at a time that is optimal for the individual. Online learning is also an affordable alternative to full time classroom study.

International standards and protocols dictate that every child has a right to learn. Computer technology and online learning may see that dream realized in practice and not just in theory. Open source online philosophy is also bound to cross over to all aspects of education. That will mean that rather than working upon fundamental principles of exclusion, exclusivity and proprietary markets, education will become more readily available to more people across geographical and social boundaries. What all of this means is that online learning is set to grow at a much faster rate, and over a range of degrees and courses, beyond what anyone had previously imagined.

Even for those students who aren’t taking online learning courses, online learning resources are becoming standard issue and rapidly replacing the older more time consuming services traditional offered on campus. In person is nice but any student not taking advantage of online student services is wasting time and money. Today everything can be done online; even interviews and contract signing can be done over the internet.

The main disadvantage of online learning is the lack of personal support and interaction with other students, although some online courses will experience high interaction on question boards and wikis. In addition to providing full courses and services online, many colleges and universities also have organizations within the school that offer a range of online services. Now that the Ivy League colleges like Harvard are offering full online student services as well as online learning courses in areas such as biological science, English, anthropology, math and management, amidst an impressive range of others, online degrees have gained real credibility. While in the past some employers might have been ambivalent about a degree obtained online, with schools like Harvard raising the bar that stigma has all but disappeared. Students working at both graduate and post graduate levels are now able to opt for the online learning alternative.