Online Education 6 Jane Doe Traditional Paper

ONLINE EDUCATION 6 Online Education Jane Doe Traditional Paper Grantham University

Online education has made vast improvements since the Internet was created. Before the Internet, schools were using various forms of technology to teach classes from a distance. Distance learning ranged from using the United States Post Office to mail assignments to using radio, television, and telephone. In this paper I will discuss how online education is advancing and becoming more competitive with traditional “brick and mortar” schools. Distance education has evolved tremendously over the past 100 years.

Correspondence schools were developed in the late 1800s to allow students to go to school from far distances. The 1900s were full of improvements that allowed schools to offer classes through radio, television, and telephone. One of the most monumental advances in online education was the creation of the Internet. Schools started to use the Internet to their advantage in 1981 (Miller, 2014). From this time period, schools have quickly adopted this form of education to teach their students.

Online education has given some students the opportunity to earn an education who may not have previously been able to do so. Many universities now offer full online degree programs. Students can continue their daily lives and still earn a degree at any age. Online classes offer flexibility, which is a significant benefit to students with full-time jobs, children, or those in the military. Often, online universities have more affordable tuition compared to traditional schools.

In a society where education is vital and yearly tuition increases, affordability can be a decisive factor for students choosing their educational future. Many online programs offer “hybrid” or “blended” courses, which combine in-class and online learning (Hiltz and Turoff, 2005). These blended courses enable instructors to utilize effective teaching methods to provide comparable educational experiences for both sets of students. The use of technology has enabled instructors to interact with online students in very helpful ways.

Management systems like BlackBoard allow instructors to post videos, announcements, discussions, and detailed feedback to enhance student learning. Hiltz and Turoff (2005) state: “There is no need for the instructor or student in a blended course to be concerned with which students attend the face-to-face class and which students participate online. All learning experiences are also available in a digital form that is at least equally effective.” This illustrates that online courses are just as effective as traditional face-to-face courses, highlighting the growth of online education as a competitive alternative to conventional schooling.

Online education has become a rapidly growing trend, intensifying competition among higher education institutions. In 2014, the University of Florida became the first public university to offer fully online degree programs (Miller, 2014). Many other institutions are expected to follow suit, likely as a strategic move to remain competitive in a changing educational landscape. Sara Burnett (2001), in her article “Going the Distance,” discusses how online education is likely to expand significantly in coming years, fueled by the digital-native generation of students accustomed to Internet-based learning environments.

Research indicates that online education is gaining popularity, with the National Center for Education Statistics (2012) reporting that one in four students enrolled in at least one online course that fall, totaling 5.4 million students (Haynie, 20114). Although this number was somewhat lower than earlier predictions, the trend underscores an increasing reliance on online education. Notably, graduate students are more inclined to pursue degrees online than undergraduates, reflecting its acceptance at higher levels of academia (Allen & Seaman, 2013).

Despite its relatively recent emergence in the 1980s, online education has transformed the landscape of higher education, making it more accessible and flexible. As society continues to evolve, online learning is set to grow further. Universities that adopt and innovate with online learning strategies position themselves for future success. Darwin’s quote, “It’s not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change” (Darwin, 1859), aptly underscores the importance for educational institutions to adapt to technological advancements and shifting student expectations to remain competitive and relevant.

References

• Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2013). Changing Course: Ten Years of Tracking Online Education in the United States. Babson Survey Research Group.
• Burnett, S. (2001). Going the Distance. Community College Week, 13(21), 6.
• Haynie, D. (2014, June 12). New government data sheds light on online learners. Retrieved December 14, 2014, from https://www.exampleurl.com
• Hiltz, S. R., & Turoff, M. (2005). Education Goes Digital: The Evolution of Online Learning and the Revolution in Higher Education. Communications of the ACM, 48(10), 59-64.
• Miller, G. (2014). History of Distance Learning. Retrieved November 10, 2014, from https://www.exampleurl.com