Are online learning environments rigorous?
Dean of the Metropolitan College Jay Halfond wrote about online learning environments, “we need to get past the myths and preconceptions – and hold both the status quo and emerging online instruction to similarly high standards” (2009, ¶4). This statement is something that in my experience I have found to be true about the beliefs of online education. When I first started my master’s degree in an online learning environment, I found that many of my coworkers had little respect for the work I was doing, because they believed that I was doing nothing more than buying my degree. I have been fortunate while working on my PhD that most of my coworkers have been intrigued by the idea of an advanced degree online as opposed to belittling it, but I think that online learning environments still have a little bit of a bad reputation, as is evidenced by the dean’s comment above.
In reality, online learning environments can be just as challenging if not more so because of the added pressures of life. How many people attempt to work full time, raise a family, take care of daily household chores, and pursue an advanced degree? There are many students who do, and that is the life of the student of the online learning environment. Just taking out work would make going to school much easier.
So why do people have misconceptions about online learning environments? That is probably the million-dollar question. I think the answer lies in education, or lack thereof of what it means to attend an online university or even high school. I have had some people, when they ask me about my online learning environment if I can turn in my assignments whenever I want….Yeah, that would nice (not really because then I would never finish anything….kind of like that ¼ finished grandfather clock I am building in the garage). Anyway, it is important to keep in mind that as students in an online learning environment, we are the first line of getting past the “myths and preconceptions”. As long as people interact with the dedicated high caliber students that I have had the pleasure of working with, I know that online learning environments will become more and more accepted.
Reference:
Halfond, J. (2009). How to think about online learning. Retrieved from http://blogs.bu.edu/bunow/2009/03/30/how-to-think-about-online-learning/ on April 4, 2009.
Not only are online programs rigorous, they seem to be more rigorous in many instances. I did not have such a tight work schedule, as many papers and projects, or as much reading in previous program, nor do I know of other students in face-to-face programs who have the same expectations! I know when I have earned my degree, though, that I have truly earned it!