Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Online Education – The Role of Online Education in the Future andAccreditation

One of the concerns that many experts, teachers and students included, voiced out against online education is that it may not measure up to the quality that we have used to in traditional classroom-based education. This was a legitimate concern even up to now that online education is fast becoming the type of education that many people prefer.  This fact is revealed through the increasing number of traditional public and private schools which offer online versions of the degree that they offer.  Many established institutions of higher learning have followed suit and every year, many more are starting to offer online education units to their students.  It is now quite common to find schools which offer web-based classes as part of their curriculum. There are facts and figures available that show many students are taking up some online education subjects to supplement their classroom lessons. In fact, a lot of adults who are thinking of changing careers or improving their chances of promotions at work are eyeing online education as a way to earn the degree they missed before.

Some education experts doubted that online education will prosper and they have expressed their criticisms against schools offering web-based classes.  However, we have seen that their objections are now moot and many students have successfully finished their online education and have gone on to enjoy lucrative careers.  We have also seen adults who failed to earn degrees while they were younger continuing to finish their degree through online education.  These people knew that it was the only way they could advance in their careers since the very work they do is preventing them from attending traditional classroom-based education. It is not surprising too, that some people are taking online education to learn new skills and start a new future in a different career path.

Many traditional school administrators are still reluctant to offer online education options to their students. However, the trend towards online learning continues and it is on its way to becoming accepted as an integral part of our educational system. Part of this acceptance is the fact that online education is now considered socially appropriate and even preferable by some people. Web-based classes are flexible, convenient and more affordable, which is perfect for those who want to pursue higher education without the hassles of the traditional school system.

Many students and adults are able to combine family life, careers and thanks to online education, earning a degree successfully. But even as there are many success stories about distance learning, it is important to verify if the institution where you are enrolled is accredited.  This is an essential element if you want to make sure that the subjects you take are recognized as valid and accepted.  A school offering online education must be accredited.  The school’s mission, objectives, admission requirements, quality of teachers and courses offered are assessed by an established and government recognized accrediting agency and if found to be of high standards, then the school is then granted accreditation.  The degree you obtained from a non-accredited school may not be recognized by the company where you are working or will apply for work or, if you need to transfer to another institution, the course credits you have may not be accepted in your new school. Knowing what accreditation means can help you choose the school where you will enroll and avoid those that are only interested in your money and not the education and degree you want. You can go to your country’s department of education website and inquire if the school is accredited according to the accepted standards of online education worldwide. Bear in mind however, that some reputable schools may not be accredited because they don’t need to or are not eligible for accreditation. You may want to enroll in an accredited school if you are seeking higher degrees such as bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree but you may not have to if you only want to enroll in a training course.

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