Is the reputation of online learning improving or declining?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by SurfDoctor, Mar 26, 2012.

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  1. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I'm interested to know your opinions on the following:

    We see how the authorities have gone after some of the profit schools who are heavily into online learning, citing them for unethical enrollment practices and that has to hurt the reputation online learning. We see how many degree mills are finding a great boon in online degree offerings and that has to hurt the reputation of online learning. We see how comedians and comedy TV shows poke fun, implying that online degrees are easy and mostly fake and that has to hurt too.

    On the other hand, we see prestigious schools like Harvard and Cornell offering online programs and that has to help the reputation of online learning. We see that 2009 study indicating that students often learn more effectively online and that helps too.

    All in all, it's kind of a wash in my mind; an even balance of good and bad. Which way to you think it is going?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 26, 2012
  2. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member



    I think that we are getting to a point that does not matter if the degree or qualification was earned online or face to face. Many traditional schools have now online programs.

    The real issue is the credibility of the institution or qualification.

    Many qualifications can be considered distance learning such as PMP, CPA or CFA but they are very well regarded.

    Bottom line, if the qualification is rigorous then it will be respected no matter the delivery method.

    If the qualification is not very challenging, it won't have much credibility.

    If the institution does not have much credibility, then the qualification won't have credibility as well even if the if it is rigorous.

    In this forum, we have people that have put down credentials from NCU, UoP, etc even if they have no experience with these institutions but they feel this way because the low reputation of the institution.
     
  3. jam937

    jam937 New Member

    I think the for-profits bring competition and innovation to online/distance learning which is good in my book. Keep in mind that for-profit schools are not being subsidized by county, state and federal tax money. That's why for-profits tuition is so much higher. It's tough to compete when your competition (public college/univ) don't have to worry as much about making money and budgeting. For-profits have to use innovation (5 week courses, ProctorU, flexible schedules, non-proctored exams, mobile apps), cost cutting (more adjuncts, office parks, custom books) and other means (aggressive marketing, fast customer service) to acquire students. Just think about this, if public colleges were not subsidized, their tuition would be much higher then the for-profits.


    I do think the for-profits overly target the ignorant and those too lazy to shop around, but so do many other businesses. Let's say I go to a car dealer and they tell me $30,000 for a new car. If I shop around I might find the same car for $17,000. If I don't shop around and buy the car for $30,000 and take out a loan I can't afford, whose fault is it? Surely not the car dealer.
     
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    For profit does not equal online. It never did, but there hasn't even been significant overlap for years.
     
  5. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    I'm in agreement with Steve, for profit and online and totally unrelated. Historically for profit schools pioneered mainstreaming online education but within the past...oh 10 to 15 years that hasn't been the case so much. Online learning is definitely growing and has become a cash cow for many prestigious schools like eCornell or those involved with the University Alliance "selling" certificate programs and such but also in saving many small private, non-profit schools. A couple of years ago I sat at a dinner where a chairman of the board of a small (not to be named) private non-profit was sort of boasting about how they are the only private school in the state that is growing and hiring because of the boost their online programs gave them financially. He also pointed out their closest competition was "just now getting on the boat". So no, it's not going anywhere.

    @jam937...as for targeting the ignorant and lazy, never in my life have I seen more people that fit that description at the collegiate level than at my local community college. When I graduated high school it was either join the military, go off to college or enroll in junior college because you couldn't leave home and didn't really know what else to do (my case at the time). Most of us were there because frankly, we didn’t have any other plans. As for hard sales…Lord forbid you ever fill out an interest form for Regis University, Boston University or a few others. The calls are non-stop. I think “hard sales” were exclusively the domain of for-profit schools but that is certainly no longer the case.
     
  6. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    No it doesn't, but most of the big, profit schools are heavily invested in online programs, so they are still among the major players and what happens to them affects the reputation of online learning in general.
     
  7. Petedude

    Petedude New Member

    In some parts of the country and in some fields, yes. Not all.

    Where I live, there are still folks who believe a degree earned by distance is somehow inferior, even if they simply have never heard of the institution in question and are thus ill-informed.

    I believe we still have some distance to travel on this road before we arrive at universal acceptance.
     
  8. mbaonline

    mbaonline New Member

    Depends on who you ask...

    It is in my opinion.

    It is according to this WSJ/FINS article, with some caveats: The Downside and Upside of an Online MBA - Finance and Accounting Jobs News and Advice This article echos a lot of the advice that I give -if asked- about online MBAs.
     
  9. ebbwvale

    ebbwvale Member

    I think that online learning has penetrated the corporate world and the human psyche more generally. The ability to shop for a degree program globally will create pressure on bricks and mortar universities everywhere. The ability to learn when and where it is convenient for you allows people to live their lives and get an education. Flexibility in learning has been provided by electronic technology that gives greater access to ordinary working people. Does anybody seriously think it will go away or be allowed to?

    Some countries have embraced distance learning for generations, such as Australia, South Africa, United Kingdom. The University of London external degrees have been around since 1858 and the University of South Africa sometime early in the 20th century.

    In my opinion, "For profit universities" niche is the professional market areas such as accountancy, law, business, and other applied fields that most people require for jobs. The more theoretical and "pure science" degree programs will stay with the bricks and mortar universities because of government subsidies. We need the later to grow our understanding of the universe, and we need the former to grow our ability to apply that knowledge. One lends itself to commerciality, while the other is more a question of "public infrastructure" that does not.

    All have a part to play and, again, in my opinion, specialist providers will always out perform generalists. The market needs to sort that out which it will over time.
     
  10. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    I believe is more the institution than the format. Many executives MBAs up here in Canada are given in blended mode (half online and half face to face) and nobody is complaining about this.

    Stanford has many graduate certificates that are offered online and this school still scores very high in most academic rankings.
     
  11. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    Consider it like the civil rights movement. After the initial changes in the law, social progress was vast and progressive, but not immediate. The plight of minorities has greatly improved since then, but there still exist some discrimination.

    That process describes cognitive dissonance. Exposure and inalienability from experience makes the cognitive path of least resistance to be that of positive acceptance. It is simply too psychologically taxing to incessantly hate that which one is constantly exposed to. Something has to give.

    The same situation comes from online learning. The more that the general public is exposed to the idea, especially having neighbors, co-workers and employers with online learning experience, it is only a matter of time before the prejudice against it subsides. Also, given the immense growth of online programs, it is also only a matter of time before we have more online graduates than on-campus graduates- a situation which would tip the scales.

    The process, however, is gradual and not without some resistance. There will always be people who believe that on-campus learning is better. The true victory will not be to convince everyone that online and on-campus are equal, but to have an equal amount of people believe that online learning is better.

    --------------

    Anecdote: my policy is to not be shy about telling people how I got my AA and how I will be getting my BA and BS. Not everyone reacts entirely favorably towards the nontraditional methods themselves, but I have left absolutely everyone impressed with my excited tales of avoiding the classroom. Everyone, including my co-workers, are so astounded at my wherewithal for the way I'm piecing my degree together and my independent learning experiences that the degree itself, including the granting institution, seems to be only a secondary thought (if a thought at all). So many people have expressed to me that they are amazed at ME as a person for being able to accomplish something like this*. I believe that their genuine amazement actually gives my degree way more prestige than being another face in the crowd from a school with a fancy name. I have to say that I never expected that I would be able to show so much about myself to others by my degree, that I care too much about my education to leave it in the hands of someone who doesn't care about my education. I'm encouraged by these reactions, and will definitely remain outspoken.

    *Of course, I always let people know that if they wanted to, they can do the exact same thing, and that I am willing to show them how.
     
  12. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    We are amazed at you too...but maybe for different reasons. :smile:

    Kidding aside, you have done some impressive things worthy of a good amount of healthy pride.
     
  13. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    In a word, yesh ...
     

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