Postgraduate degree programs offer students an opportunity to explore
a subject to attain the highest levels of proficiency in that area of
study. Courses can be based upon a curriculum or independent study and
research. A recent study released by both Penn State University
Outreach Marketing and Communications and University Continuing
Education Association revealed that distance learning is anticipated to
grow ten times quicker than on-campus education over the next ten years.
Further, about 45 percent of college enrollment are adult students who
frequently prefer distance learning opportunities to classes on campus.
Sun Chairman Scott McNealy states, "Technology has to play a huge role
in education. (It's) changed commerce...publishing...banking. It's
got to change education big time."
Distance learning postgraduate
online education degrees afford busy students the opportunity to earn
doctorate degrees at their convenience, without having travel to and
attend traditional classes. By the time students intend to pursue
distance learning postgraduate online education degrees, they are
usually computer literate, self-motivated and able to manage their time
properly. These are all essential elements to success in virtual
classrooms. The two basic types of postgraduate degrees students may
earn are professional doctorates or research doctorates.
Professional
doctorates. The United States requires terminal professional
doctorate degrees to perform in certain fields, such as dentistry,
medicine, law, chiropractics, occupational therapy and psychology.
Prior to entering these professional doctorate programs, students are
required to complete a bachelors degree, preferably in a related field.
Professional doctorate degrees, such as J.D. and M.D., usually do not
require students to complete a thesis, although some do require an
original research paper to be submitted. Doctorate degrees usually take
three years to complete after postsecondary education, although
distance learning postgraduate online education degrees may be earned
more quickly. Because online education courses are often geared for the
busy adult learner, students can progress at their own pace.
Research
doctorates. The research doctorate that is most commonly earned is a
Ph.D. The time is takes to complete research doctorate degree programs
can vary quite a bit, depending on course pursued. It is common for
students to take two to three years to complete coursework and three or
more years to conduct pertinent research. The benefit of a Ph.D. is
that a holder is qualified to pursue an academic career as an expert in
their field. Distance learning research doctorate degrees are
conveniently pursued online and can be easily worked around professional
schedules.
Honorary doctorates. These degrees may be awarded for substantial contributions to a field and are not necessarily academic.
Financial
Aid. Federal financial aid and loan programs may be applied to
distance learning postgraduate online education degrees. Employers may
offer tuition reimbursement for coursework. Private loans may also be
secured to pay for higher education. Students have several options
available that can help them finance their doctorates.
Thesis.
Some postgraduate doctorate degrees require students to write a thesis.
The learner defines their own area of research and takes years to write
a detailed paper, which may be made available as pertinent information
to other students in the field.
Coursework. Distance learning
postgraduate online education degree programs offer students ongoing
guidance through coursework, email, virtual lectures and online
discussions. Students are, however, expected to work independently and
use a variety of research resources to complete their course
requirements.
Online Students. A recent national study entitled
Degrees of Opportunity revealed some interesting facts about online
students. Eighty-nine percent of those surveyed felt that the benefits
derived from higher education are equal to or even greater than the
money, time and effort involved. Lyungai Mbilinyi, Ph.D and author of
this report, stated, "Eighty-one percent associated higher education
with a sense of personal accomplishment and seventy-eight percent
believed education would better develop their talents or pursue their
interests. Despite the assortment of obstacles many adults face when
considering a return to school, the overwhelming majority believe the
resulting benefits have made it worthwhile." Finally, eighty-four
percent of enrollments in higher education programs are non-traditional
students such as distance learners and adults with jobs. Students who
participate in distance learning postgraduate online degree programs are
not only seeking better positions, but the increased knowledge and
self-esteem that comes with an advanced education.
The study
"Growing by Degrees: Online Education in the United States, 2005" found
that full distance learning postgraduate online education degree
programs were offered by 38 percent of schools. The popularity of
postgraduate online degree programs makes it clear they are a viable way
to earn higher education and improve career options.
Online Education
online education,online education courses, online education training, online education degrees, distance learning, degree programs, college courses, high school courses, college accreditation, continuing education, job training
A Booming Sector That Bring You To A Brighter Future
Are you kind of person who likes to work with children? Are you
loves to giving training and teaching to young people? Are you a good
communicator especially with children? If you answered yes to the
questions above, then online education degree will help you to gain the
skills and enhanced you knowledge in education field. Hence, help you to
advance your career working in education fields.
The booming
education and health sector offers many jobs that involve working with
children and youths. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the
education and health sector is going to grow by 30.6 percent between now
and 2014-faster than any other industries. Seeing the encouraging
growth in education section, earn an online education degree will bring
you to a brighter future.
In order start or advance your career in
education related fields, you need to look for a related online
degrees; there are many prestigious online colleges and universities
offer degree in education and teaching. Among the featured online
universities which offer various online education degree programs
include:
- Capella University Master of Science in Education focus on area in elementary classroom teaching, secondary classroom teaching, advanced instruction in mathematics, advanced instruction in science, teacher leadership, and virtual school teaching. Master of Science in Education with concentration in Curriculum and Instruction is a specialized master degree offers to those licensed K12 teachers who looking to gain key competencies through theoretical study and collaboration with seasoned practitioners. You will acquire tools and techniques to help your district design instructional models and assessments that focus on increasing student achievement. Master of Science in Education with concentration in Leadership in Educational Administration, offer to those K12 teachers who are looking for education career advancement in school administration.
- Walden University Online master education degrees offered by Walden University include area in education leadership, Grades K-6 Elementary Reading & Mathematics, Grades 6-8 and K-5 mathematics which provide you with the key skills and knowledge to success in educational field.
- University of Phoenix University of Phoenix's education master degrees are mainly focus on education leadership and administration, education technology specialized in computer education.
If you are interested in early childhood education, then you
should look for online education programs offer by Lehigh Valley
College, Sullivan University, Rasmussen College, Hesser College. Since
the introduction of concept "Education Start from Age 0"; the childhood
education and child care management related careers are in a booming
trend. Students who graduate with a childhood education degree usually
go to work immediately after graduation due to high demand in this
field.
If you are gaga for education, opportunities for
meaningful and well-paid work abound. Some other career possibilities
include: Child Psychiatrist, Children Youth and Family Counselor, Doula,
Pediatric Rehabilitation Counselor, and Play Therapist.
In short,
the statistics show that the education section is in the booming trend
and educational experts are always in demand. Online education degrees
will prepare you with the necessary skills and get you success in this
highly demand job marketplace.
Difference Between On-Campus Education and Online Education
On-campus education vs. online education! Is one better than the
other? Can one completely replace the other? Indeed it seems that online
education is the way of the future. Educational institutions,
corporations and government organizations alike already offer various
forms of electronic teaching. However, can a computer truly replace a
teacher and a blackboard?
How people learn
Each individual
has a form of learning that suits them best. Some individuals achieve
fantastic results in courses taught online, however most people drop out
of 100% computer-led courses. Educational institutions, as well as
companies in carrying out staff training, must recognize that there is
no ideal way to carry out the teaching of a large group of individuals,
and so must design programs that best suits the needs of the group as a
whole.
People learn using multiple senses. This involves learning
through both theoretical components of a course, as well as social
interaction with both instructors and other students. Students learn
from each other's mistakes and successes, not just from what they are
told by instructors.
Each individual student has an ideal learning
pace. Instructors are therefore faced with the challenge of designing
courses that move forward such that those students with a slower
learning pace do not get left behind, while not moving so slowly that
students with faster learning paces get bored.
Online education
In
the age of high-speed information transfer, online education is
becoming a popular and cheap means for delivering teaching to
individuals outside the classroom, and in some cases all over the world.
Teaching can be via CD, websites, or through real-time online
facilities such as webcasts, webinars and virtual classrooms. However,
different methods of online education each have their own advantages and
disadvantages.
Online education is still a relatively new
concept, and in many respects still in the teething stages. As such,
various problems arrive across different online education environments.
For example:
1. Lack of immediate feedback in asynchronous
learning environments: While some online education environments such as
webcasts, webinars and virtual classrooms operate live with the addition
of an instructor, most do not. Teaching that is delivered through a CD
or website, although having the advantage of being self-paced, provides
no immediate feedback from a live instructor.
2. More preparation
required on the part of the instructor: In an online education
environment, an instructor can not simply stand in front of a whiteboard
and deliver a class. Lessons in online education environments must be
prepared ahead of time, along with any notes and instructions that may
accompany the teaching.
In many cases it would also be necessary
that the instructor not only understands the concepts being taught, but
the technology used to deliver that teaching. This therefore increases
the skill-levels needed of online education instructors, placing greater
demand on educational institutions.
Staffing levels may also be higher for courses run in an online education environment, requiring for example:
The Instructor - able to teach both course content and be skilled in the use of technologies involved
The Facilitator - to assist the instructor in delivering content, but may do so remotely
Help
Desk - to offer assistance to instructors, facilitators and students in
the use of both software and hardware used to deliver the course.
3.
Not all people are comfortable with online education: Education is no
longer only sought by the world's youth. With an increased trend towards
adult and continuing education, there is a need to design courses
suitable for students over a larger age-range, as well as students from
different and varied backgrounds. It is difficult, however, to design
online education environments suitable for everyone.
4. Increased
potential for frustration, anxiety and confusion: In an online education
environment, there are a greater number of parts making up the system
that can fail. Server failures may prevent online courses from
operating. Software based teaching applications may require other
specific components to operate. Computer viruses may infect software
necessary to run online education environments. If these systems are
complex, students may choose the ease of On-campus education rather than
taking the additional time and effort necessary to master the use of
online education systems.
5. The Digital Divide: Many people who
live in remote areas and developing countries do not have access to
computers, making any form of online education virtually impossible. For
this reason, online education is only able to be targeted at the people
lucky enough to be able to take advantage of the technology involved.
Similarly, offering live teaching across the world means that different
time zones and nationalities increase the demand for multi-skilled
instructors.
In addition to these, there are also several legal
issues associated with maintaining an online education environment. For
example, intellectual property laws, particularly those relating to
copyright, may or may not fully cover electronically created
intellectual property. For example, information on a website is not
necessarily considered to be public domain, despite being available to
everyone. However, the Australian Copyright Act was amended in 2001 to
ensure that copyright owners of electronic materials, including online
education environments, could continue to provide their works
commercially.
On-Campus Education
Still the most common form
of instruction is traditional classroom-style learning. These
instructor-led environments are more personal than online education
environments, and also have the advantage of allowing for immediate
feedback both to and from student and teachers alike. However, the
classroom allows for less flexibility than courses run in online
education environments.
Instructors in modern classroom
environments are still able to take advantage of several forms of
electronic teaching tools while still maintaining the atmosphere
associated with the traditional classroom environment. For example,
PowerPoint slides can be utilized instead of a whiteboard or blackboard.
Handouts can be distributed via course websites prior to the event.
However, on the day, students are still able to actively participate in
the lesson.
Like online education environments, On-campus
education comes with certain drawbacks, the most common of which is the
classroom itself. This requires a group of people which, in a university
for example, could reach a few hundred people in size, to gather in the
same place at the same time. This requires enormous time and financial
commitment on behalf of both the students and the educational
institution.
However, it is this sort of environment that is most
familiar to students across the world. People of all ages can access a
classroom environment feeling comfortable with the way that a
classroom-run course is carried out. Older students who may not be
comfortable with the use of information technology are not required to
navigate their way through possibly complex online education
environments, making On-campus education the most accessible form of
teaching.
On-campus education has one advantage that 100%
electronically delivered courses can not offer - social interaction.
Learning comes from observing, not only what is written on a page or
presented in a slideshow, but what is observed in others. Most students
are naturally curious, and so will want to ask questions of their
instructors. The classroom environment allows students to clarify what
is being taught not only with their instructors, but with other
students.
So, Which is Better?
There is no style of
instruction that will best suit every student. Studies have shown (Can
online education replace On-campus education) that courses where online
education is used to complement On-campus education have proved more
effective than courses delivered entirely using only one method. These
courses take advantage of both online education materials and a live
instructor, and have produced results higher than those of students in
either 100% online education or classroom environment courses. Students
have the advantage of the immediate feedback and social interaction that
comes with the classroom environment, as well as the convenience of
self-paced online education modules that can be undertaken when it best
suits the student.
It would seem that online education
environments will never completely replace On-campus education. There is
no "one size fits all" method of teaching. Teaching styles will
continue to adapt to find the method that best fits the learning group.
Using a mix of online education environments and classroom sessions,
educational institutions, corporations and government organizations can
ensure that training is delivered that is convenient and effective for
both instructors and students alike.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)