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For those, who are considering eLearning as a way to advance careers or continue education, you might find the world of online education as confusing as it is fascinating.
For those of you wondering how a college experience can be delivered on a computer, we've compiled answers to frequently asked questions about distance learning or eLearning.
Can I earn my degree 100 per cent online?
Yes. You can complete your degree completely online with technology surpassing all thoughts. Using whiteboard for communication, live video lectures, Power-point presentations, Share applications and student groups to do assignments and communicate in chat rooms, you can do all that you would normally do on campus and more.
What are some suggestions to find a quality online programme?
Unfortunately, it's very easy to develop a slick website that can be deceptive about a programme's quality. Cross-check the listed accreditation for the programme with the accreditation body's main website too.
Will I have to make myself accountable to get my work done?
Well, if you are a procrastinator you're going to have challenges in any learning environment. Online students require self-motivation. You would need to report the whole week and make contributions to message boards. There could be virtual seminars; if you don't show up online, you will be marked absent.
Must I be a good writer?
Written communication skills are a must for both traditional and eLearning. But even if writing is not your number one strength in the beginning, one thing is certain – you will very quickly become a better writer. Why? The answer is because what may have been spoken conversation, debate or presentation in a traditional classroom are rendered in written form online.
What is the difference between asynchronous and synchronous education?
Asynchronous is when students interact with the course material, instructor and other students at any time i.e. the interaction occurs independently of when other students are online. This is usually the most flexible one.
The synchronous approach is when everyone has to be online at exactly the same time. This is more like a real class.
Will I get just as good an education as I would in a traditional classroom?
The important thing is that if you deliver education online in a high quality way and if you've made the high quality investments that need to be made, you can get the equivalent. Check whether students have access to a library online.
What are the differences between the various web platforms?
The three most prominent ones are Web CT, Blackboard and Angel. The three are all slightly different, but shouldn't impact your choice of school. The platforms vary in terms of their implementation of the course tools. So for example, they all have quizzing abilities, but Web CT has the most advanced quizzing features. However it is also the most expensive platform, and is a little more difficult to use.
Each system is going to have the same basic features – an internal emailing system, Instant messenger, movies, Flash, multimedia, ways of reporting grades and tracking student progress and so on. Make sure your school provides a good support system for whatever platform you're working on.
How will my professors know I'm not cheating?
It is impossible to cheat in such an environment simply because teachers and other students can easily hear the "voices" of their colleagues through the various interactions. You could say the solution to this online learning issue is treating learning as a community activity quite resistant to cheating and fraud.
How can I be certain my degree will have value?
Many online programmes teach skills that employers have highlighted as areas of weaknesses in the US, and employers know it.
Is it beneficial to have a campus component to online learning?
A campus component clearly helps students bond with each other and the institution. More and more however the lives of adult students demand convenience and mobility, so institutions are going with purely online delivery. This requires much more planning and creative course design since one has to create a virtual community of learning and a bond between distance students and teachers.
It also depends on the level and nature of the educational experience. Some advanced degrees with much discussion and collaboration benefit from short residencies.
Corporations use this "blended" approach increasingly for executive education, but again more advanced learning techniques geared towards distance students are gradually making this obsolete.
– The writer has undertaken extensive research on online education. She is an academic consultant, research scholar and management lecturer
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