|
Feature Article | |
| ||
|
|
More about Online Learning Online programs are tailor-made for busy working adults. But while many colleges and universities are beginning to add some online classes, the options for full degree programs are still fairly limited. This is somewhat contrary to the impression given by all the news, opinion and talk about distance learning flooding the media today. It's not easy for students to distinguish the reality from the hype! The Adult Student Center, with your input, is culling the available information for you to help you find out what's available online now -- and what isn't; what works -- and what doesn't. And we'll be presenting students' experiences in the online classroom to give you a taste of the virtual student life, and see if it's for you. Programs If you're looking for certification or a degree in business or computer-related fields, you're in luck. The majority of online programs are in the fields of: Certification is most prevalent in the computer and information sciences. The Masters in Business Administration (MBA) is one of the single most popular online programs. And there are many job-related continuing education courses available online. Schools There are several types of colleges and universities offering online degree programs: Depending on your needs and preferences, any of these environments can provide a good education. What's important here is that you must know ahead of time what you're getting into. Personal Experience Online If you're intrigued by the idea of earning your degree on your own time but still uneasy about whether it's right for you, you might want to take a test drive. I did this with a writing class through Gotham Writers Workshop. I must admit at first I found it quite uncomfortable! Although I use a computer every day, I don't often have the luxury to engage in lengthy real-time chats. So when I encountered the group's scheduled weekly chats, I had a hard time keeping up. By the time I'd finished typing in my responses, I'd missed about a dozen comments. And by the time I'd answered a question, we were already on to a third topic. To keep my sanity, I decided to forego the weekly chat and concentrate on my non-real-time classroom contributions. This is where I began to see the real benefits (at least to me) of the online environment. I was able to log in any time of day or night to review the assignment, to see other students' comments, or to add my own comments to the week's lecture. I found it a delight to be able to think through my responses and craft a more intelligent (I hope!) response. Most of the students in our small group were from the New York metropolitan area (Gotham's physical locations are in New York), but there were also students from Alaska and Japan. Their perspectives certainly made the class interesting! Overall, I found the class enjoyable and I felt I learned a lot. But I did notice that, without the benefit of face-to-face contact, it's easy to miss subtle nuances of meaning. Sometimes students' comments seemed harsh or abrupt. I began to see that this was often just the way the words came across in writing and not the true intent. One minor quibble: I found myself getting very impatient when waiting for responses to my work. There's just something about the immediacy of the online environment that gets under your skin -- now everything is supposed to happen instantaneously! |
|
|||||||
Home About NDG Contact Us Privacy
| ||||||||||
