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The
question that is often asked is whether a degree earned through an online
institution is worth as much as a degree obtained from a traditional
university. Recent studies, including one carried out by the University of Phoenix, have indicated that there is no
significant difference between distance learning and classroom learning.
However,
an online degree has its share of pros and cons. The obvious advantage of an
online degree program is that the student can be located anywhere in the world,
and yet enroll and pursue a degree course at a leading educational institution,
such as the University of Phoenix Online. There are no fixed classroom
timings, and it is up to the student to decide and pace his or her degree
program. The student accesses all study material online, and interacts with the
faculty through simple email messages.
It is
sometimes argued that in an online degree program, the classroom environment is
missing, and the student either depends on material that is supplied by the
University, or needs to reach out to the online resources such as online
libraries.
The
success or failure of an online degree program also depends on the student’s
self-discipline. While a traditional classroom situation ensures that the
student adheres to the timetable, an online program often leaves it to the
student to define the timetable—if the student is unable to exert
self-discipline, there is a possibility that the course might overrun the
acceptable timeline.
There are
also some doubts expressed about the value of an online degree as compared to a
traditional degree. However, if the institution imparting online courses is
trusted in the academic world and accredited, an online degree is held in high
esteem. The University of Phoenix is both trusted and accredited,
and has an experienced faculty that is able to communicate effectively with
students online.
The study
conducted by the University of Phoenix compared its own campus-based
students to distance learners and came to the conclusion that the current
online format is the most effective vehicle for distance education. But while this study revealed that on campus
learning at the University of Phoenix provides no significant advantage
over distance learning with that same University, it would be presumptuous to
assume that the analogy also extends to other online universities.
Hal McIver is a proponent of higher education, especially at online universities. See http://www.universityreviewsonline.com/2005/10/choosing_an_onl_1.html for more information on getting an online university degree.
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