subject: Dispelling The Myths About Online Schools [print this page] Despite the growing popularity of distance learning, many people still hesitate to enroll in an online school. Their knowledge may include misconceptions that keep them from taking online high schools and universities seriously. This is unfortunate, since distance learning has a lot of advantages for working people who wish to continue their education or people who are in situations that make attendance in traditional schools difficult.
Most people are concerned with the cost of an online education. Most online schools offer reasonable tuition fee rates. In the case of online high schools, there are state-sponsored charter schools that offer distance learning for free.
Getting credit for courses one has already taken from another school can lower expenses. This way, a student does not need to pay for all the courses in the curriculum. Some schools also give credit to knowledge gained through relevant life experiences.
There are also those who think that the quality of education in an online school is lower than in traditional schools. But then, all schools, traditional or online, are not made equal, and the quality varies from one institution to another. Some ways to gauge the quality of education being offered include checking a school's accreditation and student support, asking to attend a trial class and getting feedback from past and current students and faculty.
Myth number 3 is that the work done in online schools are easier or less challenging than in a traditional school. The truth is the workload is the same; it's just that student's schedules are more flexible. They will be scheduling their education around work, family and other obligations. This requires more discipline and motivation than is needed from a regular student.
The fact that school work is done independently, with contact with peers and teachers limited to chat or email, may lead some people to think that students are isolated and lacking in socialization. This is false, since socialization can be done not just within the classroom environment, but outside of it as well. There are some assignments that require collaboration with other distance learners.
Myth number 5 is that online schools are not respectable, compared to traditional schools. The truth is that, respectability is not an issue as long as the school has the proper accreditation. In fact, would-be students are advised not to choose institutions that are not accredited or still in the process of accreditation.
Getting a degree from a properly accredited school also ensures that the credits earned there can be transferred to another school, whether it's also an online school or a traditional school. It also makes it easier for employers to accept, especially if the degree is from an institution associated with a traditional school, such as universities that offer online degree programs.
by: Jordan McPelt
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