Homes Turned Campuses: Earning Credentials Online

The virtual environment has become accepted practice in the corporate American workplace. By extension, technology has made it possible for university classrooms to enter the home as e-campuses. The number of colleges and universities offering online learning is predicted to increase from 1,500 in 1999 to over 3,300 in 2004 (International Data Corporation, 2000).

Downsizing, reengineering and mergers have shown that no one can count on a job forever, and now earning new skills and credentials are more important than in the past. Yet today, adults often have to deal with varied work schedules, family obligations and travel responsibilities, as well as time constraints that make earning additional credentials difficult in a traditional classroom. Taking accredited courses online allows individuals to continue their education, earning new credentials and skills with some flexibility and fewer disruptions to their everyday lives.

Management guru, Peter Drucker, (1992) stated, “it is a safe prediction that in the next fifty years schools and universities will change more drastically than since they assumed their present form 300 years ago.” Online learning is one such significant change. In the online-learning environment, faculty/student relationships are built on trust, respect and confidence. Corporate e-learning is also growing in popularity since it allows for training of employees in world wide geographical locations. The main difference between online and on-ground classrooms involves a paradigm shift in thinking as well as learning. Online learning eliminates barriers to location and time and personalizes the learner’s experience (Cummings, 2001).

Lega Strain is currently an online student working in a doctorate program in Education at University of Phoenix. She describes her experience as follows: “I can think of a dozen reasons I adore attending college online — a couple of them are at the top of the list: flexibility and open communication. As a single mother, educator, communications consultant and student, my life is challenging. With the challenges of juggling day-to-day activities, the inevitable struggles that occur because of unforeseen events can be overwhelming. However, being an online student, I am not confined in a classroom at a specific hour, so I can study around my work schedule and the activities of my seventeen-year-old. Whether its 7am, 11am, 1pm or 3am, in my robe and slippers, or in my suit, class is there for me.

The online forum has also proven to be primed for openly sharing ideas and experiences, as well as content. Traditional settings, although attractive because of the face-to-face interaction, seem to stifle interaction for that same reason. Because the environment is asynchronous, I am able to put more thought into given topics — allowing me to express my own thoughts and ideas in relation to the course material thoroughly and freely.”

The Online Classroom Versus the Traditional Classroom
Both the traditional classroom and the online classroom have been successful in producing trained employees for the community. The online classroom has a faculty member that posts a syllabus, lectures, course assignments and discussion questions to an area called the classroom or newsgroups. This material is stored on a central server, which students and faculty have the ability to access any time. Communication takes the form of written correspondence through responses, feedback on assignments and the classroom discussion process. Student interaction is through e-mail, and the virtual learning process can take place in Outlook Express (OE), Web CT, Blackboard or a similar software package provided by the collegiate institution.

The traditional classroom includes a faculty member that lectures to students and is able to see the learners and verbally interact with them. The attendance of the faculty and the learners occur at a specified time. Online learning presents a shift in thinking of how one can learn. Essentially, the materials, textbooks and curriculum are most often the same for the traditional and online classroom.

Beverly Edwards, an online Doctor of Management student is currently finishing up her required course work and is now starting dissertation research at University of Phoenix. She offers this about her 2.5 years experience in an online learning environment: “Online learning is a different experience for a student that is used to a face-to-face classroom environment. Yet, the University of Phoenix has combined the advantages of face-to-face interaction, through well-organized residences, and the individuality of online classes that allow a student to study, work, write and interact with other online students when most appropriate for that individual student. I travel extensively for my job, and I can log into the electronic library, conduct my research and prepare for my classes in any location that offers internet services. Additionally, in the online environment the student’s work speaks louder and more accurately than the personality or the ability to use body language. The student’s output is the main factor that is judged based on the criteria set forth in the syllabus.

The online classroom discussion adds spice to the student’s life because it offers the occasion for dispute without the eye-to-eye contact, and the viewpoints come from world-wide locations, producing a richer learning environment. The facts, figures, illustrations and observations are placed in an open online environment, and the opportunity to agree, challenge, spar and regroup is there. Respect and appreciation are there also because each student knows and understands what other students are going through. There is a respect for individual’s schedules, home life, businesses, careers and academic well-being. I love it and can’t ever see myself being a traditional student again!”

Dr. Brent Muirhead, an online instructor for the University of London (London, England), suggests that prospective learners select their online program carefully. He offers, “Ultimately, students will have to rely upon information that they gather from course catalogs, reading notes on school websites, discussions with admission personnel and perhaps an email note exchanged with the school’s alumni or a current student when going through the decision making process of selecting the best program for their needs” (Muirhead, 2002). Dr. Murihead also suggests programs that offer learning team projects. “Learning teams provide valuable educational opportunities to interact with individuals from a diversity of cultural backgrounds. Students have numerous opportunities to strengthen their problem-solving skills while developing new professional relationships. Online learning can be a very dynamic and enjoyable experience for those willing to invest the time and effort into their online classes.”

Role of Online Faculty Member
The online instructor takes on various duties to meet the needs of learners, including understanding student apprehension, formulating strategies to motivate students, keeping learning active, overseeing time management and organizational issues and remaining self-disciplined (White & Weight, 2000). (S)he can encourage students; build an atmosphere that promotes trust, respect and learning; and invoke self-confidence.

Jacksonville University Online Coordinator, Leigh Hart, RN/Ph.D., offers, “Online education has been very helpful for nursing (RN-BSN) students because of its flexibility. Many of the health care students work rotating shifts and/or rotating days of the week. This makes attending traditional classes very difficult. Online courses have the flexibility to accommodate work schedules while allowing these students to return to school.”

David Jaffee, Associate Professor of Sociology at University of North Florida, has studied web-based technology and virtual classroom transformation a great deal. He says, “There is growing literature linking the environment and the learning process with student learning and development. I’ve found that student discussion and participation in my online courses has far exceeded — in quantity and quality — anything I have experienced in a conventional classroom. Web-based distance learning courses provide an environment that allows highly valued pedagogical principles — interactivity, active learning and collaboration.”

Dr. Rod Cruz, an administrator with NOVA University program offers the following: “Question ... how many students graduate these days from accredited colleges and universities and can barely put cohesive thoughts on paper with standard English, properly formatted? I can tell you from having worked in industry and higher education that the numbers are becoming fewer and fewer. In industry we used to have to do some comprehensive re-educating in order to get young working adults (even with college degrees) to meet some basic level of proficiency before they would be put to work. Online learning requires a lot of written work and thus written skills are honed.

The obvious advantages of online education are numerous, with of course, the best advantage of both the student and the instructor not having to be present in a bricks and mortar environment. Most online education can be done in an asynchronous mode. This means that all can participate in any 24-hour period without the instructor and student having to be online at a specific time. This is wonderful for a person who has a very busy work life and family obligations.

An obvious disadvantage is the misconception that online education is easier. Thus there are many who have tried the online route to get a degree, and quickly found out that online education is not only different in delivery and format, but is very demanding ... and requires true commitment.”

Gary Farrar, Director of Development Information Systems at Jacksonville University adds to the thought relating to student commitment: “Online learning requires a high degree of dedication and self discipline from the student. I do not believe online courses speed up the process of obtaining a degree, as they still require many hours of work. There are many courses well suited for delivery via an online media. The important thing is students must keep up with assignments.”

Take Control of Your Career Via Online Learning Opportunities.
Below are some tips when selecting an online program and how to make earning new credentials online a successful adventure:
1. Ensure the online program is regionally accredited and the school is well established and provides access to an electronic library.
2. Own top-notch technology, high-speed internet connectivity and computer software.
3. Make certain the school provides 24/7 technology support to students and has academic support to resolve any academic issues that may emerge.
4. Be self-motivated and a good time manager.
5. Allot the same time frame each day for your studies — soon it becomes a habit and you will give it no more thought than the ritual you have when you get up each morning — you will just do it.
6. Evaluate the economic cost for the entire program.
7. Ask about the experience of the faculty.
8. Find out if course titles are easily recognized by the business community?
9. Find out if opportunities are available for interaction between classes to promote learning opportunities?
10. Ask to talk or exchange emails with an alumni or current student in the program to get the student’s perspective on the learning opportunities and the amount of time needed to devote to the studies.

Most all colleges and universities offer accredited, online programs. This is the knowledge age and your home can be a campus that will allow you to earn additional credentials.

Dr. Freda Turner
University of Phoenix

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