Online schools and online school programs are all the rage in 2017. Their history is long one. Back in the 1700s up to the 1950s there were many school programs that ran correspondence courses. These schools could be anything from scams to accredited colleges, advertised by TV and radio programs. With the dawn of the internet, the first online schools emerged. Why go to college when you don't have to leave your sofa? The Simpsons and other satirical comedies made fun of these to start with, which was to be expected: look at how people with cell phones were made fun of in the early nineties.
Online college programs are not new. However, one has to question why they have recently become so much more prevalent. It makes me wonder why would such institution allow for full online degrees? Is it publicity? Money? Academic success? It seems that it is the "IT" thing to do and if you're not on board then your a has-been. I do not see the need for online degrees. Online courses for enrolled students; sure. Special cases for physical and mentally handicapped students allowing them to earn full degrees remotely, sure! I have no problem with online education as a concept. Lynda.com, HowTo, and regular college classes to earn a certificate are all acceptable. For example, I can earn a certificate for a course in digital photography, but that's not the same as a photography degree earned at an art school. The internet is doing its job by allowing easy access to education from all over the globe. That is amazing! 40 years ago, such a means did not exist!
So why am I on the fence about online degrees? I feel that they take away from the institution and students on a social and academic level. It allows the institution to gain money and more advertising, all good things in the eyes of a business. Colleges are types of businesses: you pay money, you get a paper. You can choose to learn or just get buy and waste the money. In the end you are paying for a service.
Please note I am not directing this at those enrolled or who like online schools. I am directing this towards the schools themselves. By pushing all these online classes and degrees they are perpetuating this notion of school as a big business. I see adverts for online programs all over the world all the time now. "Earn your online degree today! The best teachers are in your living room!" It just sickens me a bit. Yes, reaching students and educating by means of the internet is the future. I just don't know how I feel about offering everyone degrees when they are not there participating in the college or university. They are not attending classes. They are not doing work study. Are they even receiving the same lessons and curriculum? Are they missing out on some of the best teachers and courses? Are they actually getting an education equivalent to those attending? Are online students in some cases receiving better services for their money than those on campus? How can certain degrees that normally require labs, and specialized work places be accommodated for at home?
In truth, there are many questions that should be asked here. I do not know the answers or even know if all can be answered. Personally as a student who attends a college is that is spending large amount of money to push online education, I feel conflicted. In some cases (not all) colleges pushing online degrees and classes are diluting their name. Does an online degree carry the same weight as mine? What does it mean if more and more people have a degree from an online school? Again, I am not against online education. I'm more against colleges who are blindly adding more and more to the online business and neglecting their physical presence.
I have done my best to not name any schools or programs. That would not be fair. These are changing times ahead for sure. 40 years from now, it may not matter. 5 five years from now, it probably won't matter. People in the real work place care about your abilities. Not what grade you got on a college test, whether it was in class or online. I am not worried about online schools replacing physical colleges, I am simply weary of colleges across the nation as a whole diluting the meaning of a college degree.
