An open call for reevaluation of discourse.

I followed this board for some time prior to becomeing a member just to get a sesne of what was covered. Since joining I have watched in amazement as post after post appeared all asking the same thing and receiving the same trite answers from the small group that is brave enough to post. We have a very good group assembled here, with the exception of a few, who could really share personal stories and help build interest in distance learning. Am I the only one that gets tired of hearing about people wanting to receive advanced degrees based on life expereince and then ask if the degree would be widely accepted?
This mentality speads throughout these discussion forums like wildfire in a drought stricken forrest during a wind storm. If these boards were designed for the sole purpose of debating which is better a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an international college that sends you a Ph.D. in a cereal box then so be it, put a disclaimer on the site so people looking to make life altering decisions won't waste their time.

Originally,I was interested in knowing the value or people perceptions of a Ph.D. "earned" via distance learning was. I found out what I thought, they are not well received as a whole because there are so many inconsistencies and unknowns in the world of distance education. Nothing I have heard on this site has, in any way, been aimed at impacting this problem. The majority of people here seem more content with putting letters behind there name than they are with advancing the notion of high quality distance learning. Kudos to those who really are trying to help people and make a difference. I know that you will be amoung the first to read and respond to this message. To the rest of you, I challenge you to refocus and become more positive.

Jeff Whetzel
BA Indiana University Bloomington
MA Ball State University


My parting thought on degree mills and those that consider them as a viable alternative to anything that resembles true education:




If it sounds to good to be true it probably is.

 

Hi Jeff - I started a thread with a similar concern some time ago in the "Off-Topic" area although mine was a bit less polite than yours (it was entitled, "Just a tad pissed off"). The general response I got was along the lines of, "You need to be patient with newbies..." There also followed an interesting discussion that meandered quite a bit over topics that were interesting if not always serious. The advice, of course, was sound and I have tried to heed it. While I'd suggest you do the same, I'm interested in knowing if you have any ideas on "...impacting this problem."
Jack

 

IMO, this perception is not supported by fact, Jeff. Yes, there are "some" who only want the letters, but the majority--especially the long term posters--have an invested interest in promoting/advancing high quality DL. If my only concern was "letters," I wouldn't waste my time with DegreeInfo.

 

Since when is a distance learning degree not "earned"? Perhaps I misunderstand the term "earned" degree. Definition/description please someone?

Thanks --
Leslie

 

I put the word earned in quotes in my orginal thread because I felt that it was impotant for people to know what I meant. I did not want an honorary doctorate, a "As seen on TV doctorate program", or a Ph.D. that was bestowed on me for life experiences. I was referring to a real honest to goodness, fully accredited distance learning program. I hope that my explanation helps.

Also thank you Mr. Tracey and Mr. Morris. Mr. Tracey I do not have a plan for improveing distance learning and I don't really think that such a list could even be assembled by one individual. In higher education, as you know, the research is often generated after a group of interested researchers/scholars get together and trade ideas. That is what I had hoped this group might serve as, a launching pad for something bigger and better in the area of DL. And I still hope that this can happen, I must admit the daily postings about "My un-accredited school, run out of a guys basement in Berlin is better than your un-accredited school" talk gets really old fast. I have no sympathy for people who feel that they are owed a degree and that we should simply accept that they are entilted to a credential. That is not the case and hopefully never will be.

There are expectations of a college educated person and part of that is the self discipline required to complete a degree program. No, a degree does not necessarily, a better employee make. And I hear that mentality often. On the other hand what good does it do to take an expert in his or her feild by granting them a degree? If you don't like the higher educational system in this country, it is a big world find some where else to go. Just don't cry when you return to the greatest nation in the world and find out that your degree is less than well received. Do "traditional" colleges and universities have a monopoly on the market? Yes. Does that offend some people? Yes. Is it a reality with which we are faced and must deal with? Yes. Will starting degree programs that "give" degrees away help anyone involved? No. It will simply weaken the market for everyone. When in doubt about a school or program trust your instincts, because you are probably right. If you are considering a degree advertised on TV late at night from an info-mercial featureing a small man with a bow tie and a British accent then you deserve what you get. A real education does not come with a set of knives or a juicer.

 

As my post slowly descends down the list of new threads into obscurity, I felt the need to reflect on what I have witnessed during my time here.

People are constanlt weighting the "value" of degrees that they know are utterly useless. Then they ask others (IE you an I) what we think of their useless program. This is a very productive endeavor for all involved, I would encourage this type of discussion.

Those who have useless degrees are the one who yell the loudest. I know that it stings when you get burnt but life goes on. If you have to spend more time deffending your degree/school than you do using what you learned while you were there you might want to rethink the value of your program.

Does accreditation matter? No way! Why do we accredit any thing? In fact I think that we should always look for the best deal. Is your degree cheap, easy to obtain and take less than month to complete? That sounds like the one I want. You cn't beat a bargain. Those academics have always set in their ivory towers and tossed stones at the little guy, trying to make an honest buck. Whose to say a degre earned from a 2 week old university with no Ph.D.'s on the staff that offer a one month Master's program, to people with no prior college background, isn't just as good as on from and Ivy League school?

Just some fodder to feed the discussion about distance learning and higher education in general.