What exactly is online education

As per definition on the web, it is basically credit-granting courses or education training delivered primarily via the Internet to students at remote locations, including their homes. The Online courses may or may not be delivered synchronously. An online course may need that students and teachers meet once or periodically in a physical setting for lectures, labs, or exams, so long as the time spent in the physical setting does not exceed 25 percent of the total course time. Online education encompasses various degrees and courses. Through online education, one can opt for many

Online education Advantages

You don't have to hamper your present occupation. Getting an online degree may even assist in increasing your career prospects.
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You can study in one of the top colleges in any state of the country or abroad. You don't even have to travel and pay for your boarding. You get an accredited degree from universities recognized worldwide. For those with financial constraints studying online is a good option.

On this page, we have tried to list those institutes and universities providing online learning. We have in fact decided to have two sections- online education in India and online education abroad. Though online education in India is still on its way in gaining popularity, we have listed those few online degree courses and online universities in India that provide online education. While online education in India is still in its infancy, online education abroad is quite a hit among the people. The main attraction of online education is the flexibility through which education is imparted-through the Net. And more appealing is the fact that a person can pursue an online course within the comfort of his home or any other place that he chooses.

Online education isnt the best choice for everyone. But, many students thrive in the online education environment. Here are reasons why online education continues to grow in popularity. 1. Choice Online education allows students to choose from a wide variety of schools and programs not available in their area. 2. Flexibility Online education offers flexibility for students who have other commitments. 3. Networking Opportunities Students enrolled in online education programs network with peers from all over the nation. 4. Pacing Many online education programs allow pupils to work at their own pace.

5. Open Scheduling Online education allows professionals to continue their careers while working towards a degree. 6. Savings Online education programs often charge less than traditional schools. 7. Lack of Commute Students who choose online education save on gas and commuting time. 8. Connections Some online education programs connect students with top-notch professors and guest lecturers from around the world.

More and more students are turning to online courses for a variety of reasons, but here are some of the best reasons to pursue online educationThe Five Cs, with some caveats thrown in on potential disadvantages as well: 1. Convenience. With online courses, you can learn on your own schedule and even continue working a full-time job in the meantime. Even better, you can read and study during the times of the day when youre at your most productive and not when the registrar says you should be. Also convenient is that if you find that youre truly overwhelmed with balancing the workload and your other commitments, you may be able to stop the course and restart when youre ready. Keep in mind that for some people, though, the convenience of online courses can quickly turn into a disadvantage; if youre not good at organizing and managing your time and commitments, online courses may not be for you. 2. Control. Aside from the time management aspects, with some online courses you have more control of the learning process, i.e., you can learn at your own pace. You have the freedom to skim subjects you know well from other courses or from work experience and instead spend more time concentrating on other material youre having a hard time grasping. In order for this to be a true advantage, of course, you must be honest with yourself about what you know and what you dont know. 3. Connection. Online courses are interactive, which means you will get feedback from your instructors and peers, and possibly even more individualized attention as well. With distance learning, you are immediately connected with students from all over the world, and this can greatly enhance your learning process and experience, opening your mind to a variety of viewpoints.

And because all your materials will be in one placein your computer everything you need will be at your fingertips when its time to communicate with teachers or fellow students. Note he connectivity of online courses can turn into a disadvantage if you underestimate the time involved with reading class discussions about the course; it is easy to fall behind if youre not checking your messages daily. You may also crave in-person contact with teachers and other students, so this could be a disadvantage for some as well. 4. Cost. Online courses are usually less expensive than traditional courses, particularly if youre not financially or otherwise ready to pursue a full degree program. You will save money on travel, books, and possibly even food. Another advantage regarding cost is that you can budget when to take courses so that if you are feeling cash-strapped one semester, you can always take a break and go back for more courses when your wallet says you can. 5. Commitment. No matter what class youre taking, one of the most important lessons you will learn from taking online courses is how to commit to something and follow through. In order to successfully complete online courses, you must be responsible and manage your time and resources effectively and efficiently, even more so than if you were taking traditional courses in classrooms. Although it may not be a major reason you choose to pursue online education, the enhancement of your personal growth and commitment is a definite advantage to taking online courses.

Types of Online Education Programs

If there ever were an question of the quality of education available online, a simple Internet search could easily provide the answer. Students are quickly finding that a Nebraska online education can provide not only an undergraduate or graduate degree, but also certification in a technical subject or simply an enriching educational experience. It's likely that you'll be able to find a program that fits your goals and needs. Undergraduate programs Whether you're a first-time college student or someone looking to return to school and finish an undergraduate program, more and more colleges are creating online-specific undergraduate programs. These degrees are offered in a variety of disciplines; you can even take a biology laboratory class online! Be prepared to participate in online discussions, video chats, teleconferences and other forms of virtual learning. It's likely that your fellow students will be full-time students and full-time workers of all ages. Many online students take undergraduate classes to complete their degrees; you may be able to transfer credits from another college. Be sure to ask your prospective schools first. Graduate degrees The rapid increase in the availability of online graduate degrees is one of the easiest ways to appreciate the growth of the online education industry. Americans by the tens of thousands are returning to school to receive additional training, enhance their resumes and expand their earning power. Thanks to the development of online graduate programs in business, marketing, writing, computer engineering and design, and other disciplines. Universities have responded to the demand of college graduates who want to pursue additional degrees while remaining a fulltime worker. These programs typically are designed with working professionals in mind, so you can feel confident that your work/life balance will remain somewhat intact.

Certificates and continuing education programs Many colleges and universities are offering more continuing education programs, which are generally taught by tenured faculty but do not reward students with academic degrees. Typically, these forums and programs are specific to a particular course of study, such as history, and offer instruction comparable to those in a traditional education environment. Most students who take these classes already have degrees and take them to broaden their knowledge about a particular subject. Some highly regarded universities offer postbaccalaureate certificate programs, which are similar to masters programs without a thesis or capstone project. You can learn more about these programs on college and university Web sites. Trade schools Trade schools, which offer instruction ranging from computer technology to mechanical subjects, are beginning to offer more and more classes online. While you likely will still be required to complete some form of in-person class work to receive certification, there are many types of classes in these academic areas offered online. Think about this as you approach the program: find areas where you can maximize your time and receive certification in a much more efficient manner. Personal development classes A surprisingly large portion of online education students are taking classes not for career enhancement or for a degree, but rather for personal enrichment. Classes in literature or the sciences, or perhaps a class on a new technology such as Web design, offer adults the opportunity to expand their horizons. If your academic goals are less professional and more personal, you may have a broader group of programs to consider. You also may not need an accredited program to achieve the goal of learning for personal satisfaction.

Criticism of Online Education

A rousing debate has emerged about the effectiveness and quality of online learning, with some suggesting the Internet has the power to redefine the way we learn, teach and ultimately think. 30-Second Summary Critics have been quick to dismiss online reading and study practices as offering a less than complete educational experience, providing quickly digestible snippets of information, rather than an entire picture. Observers also suggest that faced with an abundance of information from so many different sources, Internet users, young and old, have more concentrating on one subject for any amount of time. However, proponents of Internet learning have suggested that reading online can provide a fuller experience thanks to the variety of different resources they can find on the same subject. Further, they argue that the quick pace of life online has the potential to redefine not only what we learn, but also how we learn and think. Such changes in style and strategies, they argue, would mean a dramatic shift away from what they see as outdated educational models as well as the tools necessary for assessing the performance of students. Existing approaches to testing have revealed positive statistics for both sides of the argument, finding that although some students reading levels have suffered with increased Internet use, others thrived. Still others have been seen to improve research and analytical skills, which many not are as readily measurable thanks to traditional testing methods.

Headline Links: Literacy Debate The debate surrounding the effectiveness of reading online has led some to suggest national testing guidelines are in order. While some traditionalists insist that digital reading cannot compare to the written word, others have argued that reading online does not hinder a child from learning as much as redefine what learning is. Source: The New York Times The Atlantics Nicholas Carr took the assumption that the Internet is changing the way we learn by suggesting that the rapid-fire pace of learning online, especially in the case of Google, was actually making people stupid. Carrs main source of annoyanceone he was admittedly guilty of himwas that the speed at which we research and read online makes concentrating on a book or any long text, nearly impossible. Source: The Atlantic Bill Thompson responds to Nicolas Carr with the suggestion that technology changing the way we think is not as detrimental as the practice of only seeking out the information we agree or feel comfortable with. Thompson cites earlier arguments that since reading is a learned, not inherent, skill, there is no reason why new ways of learning should not replace older approaches as new technologies emerge. Source: The BBC Reactions: Online Education: Moving Past the Debate Laura Halsch blogged earlier this year that the debate should no longer be about whether or not to use online resources in schoolsa forgone conclusion in her opinionbut how everyone can work together to create constructive tools to better serve students needs in an increasingly digital, connected age. Source: 360 Digital Influence One demographic that has firmly accepted and adopted the idea of online learning has been homeschoolers. Always on the lookout for accessible and reliable resources for the home classroom, home school parents have increasingly turned to online services and simple Web search to supply resources and curriculum guidance. Source: North American Council for Online Learning

Opinion & Analysis: Demise of the scientific method? Chris Anderson of Wired magazine suggests that given the enormous amount of information available to any individual, the scientific method of problem solving has now been ruled obsolete for many subjects. Instead, Anderson argues that scholars should take a hint from the likes of Google, which offers little when it comes to telling you why a Web page is popular, except that the statistics say it is. Source: Wired Related Topic: Challenges of online learning Students turning to Internet courses are finding that any reputation online learning has for being easier is unfounded. Indeed, theyre finding that taking classes online, a practice now offered by almost 70 percent of colleges nationwide, requires additional motivation and self-discipline. Source: The Pitt News go to site Hardly a new debate, the focus of the discussion surrounding the effects of learning online has usually been on the social and entertainment uses of the Internet. The PBS series Frontline took a broader look at the effects of learning and life online with a program titled, Growing Up Online. Source: Frontline PBS go to site Background: Milennials Educators are increasingly finding that the evolution of online learning is more a matter of necessity when it comes to retaining the attention of a generation of students who spend more and more time online. Dubbed the Milennials, these students raised to be comfortable with a variety of technologies seem to be the driving force behind the changing landscape of education. Source: findingDulcinea

Online Education Scope in India

he scope of online education in India is actually much wider. Apart from proper course works, some E-learning portals in India are also conducting mock tests for various competitive examinations like engineering, medical, management etc. For example, the India times group has introduced the Mindscape test center where one can appear for mock IIT-JEE exams online for making self-assessment. The Gurukul online Solutions, apart from providing various courses, set up a Jobs and Careers Centre (JCC), which, not only provides job-oriented vocational education in a variety of domains, but also provides career enriching courses via eLearning. They also offer Live Virtual Classroom connectivity to over 175 cities across India. Some E-learning portals in India are also providing tutorials for school students. Thus the reach of E-learning in India has expanded from adults to teenagers. The future of E-learning industry seems to be very bright in India as number of Internet users is growing in the country at quite a satisfactory pace and more and more reputed players are showing their interest in the e-learning business. In fact, if prices of computers become affordable and Internet speed becomes tolerable, e- learning can work wonders for the country. Therefore, on this page, we would be providing information about all the online courses in India and the key players that are providing e-learning solutions in India.

Online MBA Advantages: The main advantage of the online MBA courses is that candidates can get all the study materials without going to an institute. Moreover, most of the organizations providing online MBA courses in India make it a point to provide regular classes, which the students can attend from the comfort of their home. Thus, regular interaction with the faculty members through various mediums of communication is made possible for the students who want to pursue online MBA education in India. And even if you miss the class, the study material would always be available. However online MBA courses are not relatively cheaper than the regular courses. The cost of the course can be as high as the regular course or even more in some cases. As face-to-face interaction is not always possible in online education programmers, it is very important to attend the orientation programmed to understand the course content and the method of teaching. Online MBA Institutes: Although it is possible to pursue online MBA courses from any where in the world, the introduction of online courses by some of the premier Management institutes has made online MBA education very popular in India. Reputed institutes like Indian Institute of Management - Ahmadabad, Indian Institute of Technology , Indian Institute of Foreign Trade are today offering online MBA courses in India. On this page, we have tried to provide you the details of all the online MBA courses that are available in India. However if you come across any flaw in the information about the online MBA course in India, do write to us. We would appreciate any such move that would improve the quality of the site.
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