Online courses soaring Number of students taking Net classes jumps by 850,000 Associated Press Roughly 1 in 6 students enrolled in higher education -- about 3.2 million people -- took at least one online course last fall, a sharp increase defying predictions that online learning growth is leveling off. A new report scheduled for release today by The Sloan Consortium, a group of colleges pursuing online programs, estimates that 850,000 more students took online courses in the fall of 2005 than the year before, an increase of nearly 40 percent. Last year, the group had reported slowing growth, prompting speculation the trend had hit a ceiling. Many universities are investing heavily in online learning, hoping the model will prove more economical than traditional classes, thus expanding their reach. A recent survey by Eduventures, a consulting and research firm, found 50 percent of consumers who expected to enroll in a higher education program said they would prefer to get at least some of their instruction online. About 80 percent of online students are undergraduates, and they are generally older and more likely to be working and have families. But only about half are pursuing online degrees, according to Eduventures. About 62 percent of chief academic officers said they felt students learned as well or better from online courses as they did in face-to-face ones. However, almost all said they aren't certain online learning will be more widely adopted. Among the obstacles: online courses take more time and effort to prepare, students need more self-discipline, and faculty often aren't convinced online learning is worthwhile.
Online learning is, in my opinion, not only here to stay, but will expand. More organisations are using it for inhouse courses, even if only to reduce the need for face to face interaction. In places where people have to travel considerable distances for traing and education, pay for accommodation at the other end, then any reduction in time away is highly beneficial. I also have recently observed publishing companies selling text books with either online learning support or CD's. The publishing companies are really extending thier business into the learning arena to a greater degree by the provision of online support. I guess the question from their perspective is whether they are in the publishing or education business. Perhaps a greater extension will have these companies issuing their own qualification or linking with a university for the qualification. The larger ones may be well suited with subsidiary companies throughout the globe. Online learning would suit their business interests. Costs could come down considerably for the students. It is a changing world and technology is not going away. The question may not be if online learning will be used, but how much and for what it will be used.
