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The Popularity of Getting an Online Education

Distance Learning Degrees Part of Virtual Revolution

Online classes and distance learning degrees are shifting the sites where people get a university education from campuses to more virtual spaces. That’s what I will write my paper about.

Going to university takes on different meaning now as higher education students take to the virtual world for online learning and to complete a degree completely through distance education.

This expansion is reflected in the fifth annual report by the Sloan Foundation on the state of online learning in the United States called “Online Nation: Five Years of Growth in Online Learning.” The report’s highlights include:

• At 9.7% annual growth, online enrollment easily outpaces the overall 1.5% growth rate across all higher education
• Almost 20% of students in higher education programs study online

Online University Classes, Courses Increase Options for Students

As the number of students seeking these virtual experiences grows, so too do the options and directories about online university classes and distance learning degrees. On eLearners.com, arguably the largest website collection of online higher education listings, more than 2,000 online degrees, online colleges and online universities are listed on the expanding directory.

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, found at chea.org, provides a searchable database of schools and programs that have accreditation through agencies recognized by the council or the U.S. Department of Education.

Why are online university studies so popular? The primary reason is the convenience of easy access to lectures, online readings and communicating with fellow students and instructors online. Also, the quality of online instruction is high and becoming more common with leading, research-oriented universities.

Getting an Online Education Rated Highly by Academic Leaders

Online learning is also gaining in reputation at universities. In a 2006 survey by the Sloan Consortium, 62% of Chief Academic Officers rate online instruction as equal, and in many cases superior, to traditional learning in a classroom.

Employers share similar praise for people earning online degrees. For example, a white paper commissioned by Western Governors University indicates that people who complete online degrees have a strong work ethic and are self-motivated.

This type of work ethic is demonstrated by online learners in a number of ways including:

• Solid time management skills that keep the focus on course objectives and assignments
• Skills that best take advantage of the electronic learning environment such as improved computer knowledge and a higher comfort with participating in chat rooms, video conferencing and discussion boards to communicate with instructors and classmates
• The arrangement of good study space at home where documents, books and the computer are easily accessible and in a comfortable location

Virtual spaces are now places of higher education. More people are rushing to take online classes and earning distance degrees and as a result, this growing market appears to show no signs of slowing down.

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