Is distance education: as effective as traditional classroom instruction?

PositionUp Front - Dialogue - Brief Article

[yes]

Darris Howe, M.P.A.

Vice President and Director, Utah Campus, The University of Phoenix

Long before "Internet" and "Web" became everyday jargon, long before our governor envisioned Western Governors' University, the University of Phoenix, America's largest private accredited university, was offering complete online degree programs via the Internet. This was in 1989!

Now, as many traditional universities develop their own electronic offerings, some educators express fear that online courses may be inferior, lacking necessary classroom interaction and focusing too much on digital content.

When it comes to our online programs, we disagree. Our courses are founded on years of research, including that of Dr. Linda Harasim, a former senior research associate at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. Dr. Harasims framework for online education is centered on the student and involves a dynamic and extensive sharing of ideas, opinions and information online, much as it occurs in the face-to-face classroom environment.

We conducted tests of our online students prior to entering their degree program and then following graduation. They performed as well if not better than campus students. We also gave standardized achievement tests to a group of our online B.S. graduates and to a group of B.S. graduates from competing on-campus programs at three public Arizona universities. Our online students scored 5 percent to 10 percent higher than those educated in the classroom.

We are not implying that online education is superior to classroom learning. We believe online education is a quality option, especially for adults who cannot abandon their jobs or stop caring for families to attend a daytime class schedule.

Online education is not for everyone. Younger students may prefer classroom learning and the social opportunities at traditional universities. The average age of a University of Phoenix student is between 32 and 35. These adults realize they must keep their skills up-to-date to ensure promotion and job security. Such students are highly motivated, some logging on to receive lectures and complete assignments long after the dinner dishes are done and the kids are in bed.

Nationwide, we currently have more than 37,600 online students in pursuit of bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees in business, management, technology, education and nursing. The University of Phoenix offers classroom programs, and blended...

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