Online Academic Programs : The trend of online learning is not new. It has its origins in remote learning and the development of digital technologies that make it possible to provide lectures, virtual classroom sessions, and other educational materials and activities via the Internet in an effective and dependable manner. Online instruction is now a thriving and competitive alternative to conventional campus-based instruction thanks to developments in online learning management systems (LMSs) and instructional platforms as well as the ongoing demand for affordable, high-quality education that is accessible to students who cannot or would prefer not to move to or commute to a college campus.
Because of this, online education, online courses, and online degree programs are becoming more prevalent. Most sizable public and private colleges and universities now provide online courses, and many of them provide entirely or partially online undergraduate and/or graduate programs. A rising number of smaller colleges and universities have also incorporated online learning choices and are creating online degree programs and courses to improve their already excellent academic offerings and expand their reach to non-traditional students.
Follow the Development of Online Courses and Degree Programs:
The number of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in online courses and degree programs has been steadily rising since 2013, when there were approximately 5.3 million students participating in some form of online learning, according to data gathered by the National Center for Education Statistics of the US Department of Education for its Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Over 7.3 million students—or 36% of all college and university students—were in that group as of 2019, an increase of over 500,000 from the previous year.
An extraordinary shift to online education was spurred on by the Covid-19 epidemic, which broke out in March 2020 and forced the shutdown of college campuses across the US. As of the autumn of 2020, over 72% of college and university students were enrolled in online courses, according to the most recent IPEDS data on this topic.
The following table provides additional evidence of the expansion of online education and the consistent rise in the number of students enrolled in online certificate and degree programs over a four-year period, from 2016 to 2019. While the overall number of students enrolled in colleges and universities has stayed relatively stable at around 20 million, an analysis of IPEDS data shows that the number of students enrolled in fully online programs and online courses increased by more than 1,095,000, from close to 31% to over 36% of all students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. (The Covid-19 epidemic was a major factor in the nearly twofold increase in students taking online courses in 2020 compared to students taking online courses in 2019.
Practically speaking, the data indicate that students who are currently enrolled in a college or university program and those who are thinking about enrolling in a bachelor’s or graduate degree program are likely to have access to online courses as well as choices for pursuing a degree through a fully or partially online program.
Similar to this, professionals with a bachelor’s or master’s degree who are thinking about returning to school to upgrade their skills, advance in their field, or change careers can typically do so from their home or office through online courses and degree programs in many, if not most, fields of study. The percentage of graduate students who completed some or all of their coursework online increased from 34% to 42% between 2015 and 2019. This trend is evidenced by the fact that figure. These data show that during that same time, the percentage of graduate students who earned their degree solely online increased from 25.8% to 32.5%. Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, 70.4% of graduate students took online classes in 2020.
Clearly a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the abrupt shift to online education in 2020. It will be interesting to see if one of the long-lasting effects of Covid-19 will be a greater acceptance of online education among more colleges and universities and by a larger percentage of students, even though the number of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in online courses may decline somewhat as the pandemic recedes.
A Degree Program of Your Choice Online:
With the knowledge necessary to make educated selections about online degree programs, OnlineEducation.com seeks to arm existing and prospective students. Making critical and significant choices that could have immediate and long-term financial, personal, and professional repercussions is required when applying to and perhaps enrolling in an undergraduate or graduate school, whether it is on campus or online. There are a lot of things to think about; some of them might be exclusive to online learning, while others might not be. One of the main objectives of this website is to address these issues in order to make it easier for those who are considering enrolling in an online degree program to make decisions.
Concerns about teaching strategies, enrollment possibilities, and program structure are among the pertinent aspects and differentiating elements that are crucial to take into account while selecting an online school. For the reasons outlined in the sections below, it can be beneficial to understand the significance of accreditation and state authorizations.
Technologies needed for and methods of online instruction:
Students must be equipped with the necessary equipment to participate in online learning and complete online coursework since online programs employ digital platforms to stream lectures and send course materials over the Internet. A secure Internet connection and a working laptop or desktop computer are often sufficient, though program-specific technology requirements may differ. Some courses might also make use of mobile apps, which is useful for students who commute to class and prefer to learn on the go.
Asynchronous and synchronous instruction are the two main ways that online courses are delivered, thus students should be aware of this. Whether or not students are required to log on to a program’s LMS for lectures and other class activities at specified times depends on the instructional approach. Because synchronous training occurs in real-time, classrooms for programs and courses that use it have set meeting hours. Students can view pre-recorded lectures and presentations whenever it is most convenient via asynchronous instruction, which does not include any real-time components.
While synchronous instruction more closely matches traditional classroom instruction, it also has less scheduling flexibility. Synchronous instruction gives more structure. On the other hand, asynchronous learning allows for more scheduling flexibility but calls for greater self-control and drive to keep up with lectures and assignments. The type of training approach that best suits the student’s specific learning preferences should be available in the program they choose.
Choices for Enrollment:
The majority of online programs are created to accommodate students who have obligations outside of the classroom, like as jobs or other responsibilities. When selecting an online school, enrollment policies for each one can be a crucial factor to take into account. For instance, some programs have set full-time and/or part-time tracks and course sequences that specify the number of courses that students must finish each term as well as the order in which all or almost all of those courses must be completed. While there are certain restrictions, other programs have open enrollment rules that provide students the opportunity to choose how many courses they want to take each term.
Taking additional classes each term is necessary for full-time enrollment, but it permits students to finish their degrees faster. Less courses can be taken each term while enrolled part-time, but the length of time it takes to complete a degree increases. Students should carefully consider their personal and professional commitments to decide whether they have the time to pursue a degree full-time or if part-time would be preferable.
