Debunking 3 Online Degree Myths
Have you ever thought about completing a degree online? If so, I am sure there have been hundreds of questions running through your mind, thousands of doubts and concerns, and what may seem like only a handful of good reasons to do so. At a quick glance, it does not look good for the online learning modality.
I completed most of my graduate coursework online and may have a thing or two to say regarding the student experience. As Director of Online & Graduate Student Success, my goal is to support students in their online academic journeys. With these two insights in mind, I’d like to debunk three myths that describe online degrees as easy, lonely, and not engaging.
Myth #1: Online Degrees Are Easy
Most people confuse easy with convenient. While it is true that online degrees are very convenient (I was able to work full-time and take on full-time courseload), I can attest first hand to the academic rigor online degrees offer. I often thought it might have been easier to be in a classroom setting. The rigor of online degrees comes from the following facts:
– Online degrees rely heavily on the course materials (books, articles, and lectures) for the learning outcomes. To be a successful online student one could not rely solely on lectures.
– The learning outcome depended on personal efforts rather than instructor’s efforts alone.
– The coursework requires consistent critical engagement with the course assignments, lectures, readings, and discussion forums.
– Student’s work contributes directly to everyone’s learning experience. (No pressure here!)
Myth #2: Online Degrees Are Lonely
Please don’t think I am naive to think online students get the same attention and experience as those in the classroom setting. This is not what I am trying to debunk in this particular point. What I am saying, however, is that online students do have a community they can get plugged into. Here is how some institutions, academic programs, and faculty members have bridged the gap for online students:
– Online forums are created to connect online students with an online community.
– Often times online degrees bring a diverse group of people together (geographically, ethnically, and age). There is a uniqueness to this experience that builds a special sense of community and belonging.
– Faculty members include synchronous meeting as part of required assignments and/or projects. Hearing voices from diverse cultural and geographical backgorunds has been a highlight.
Myth #3: Online Degrees Are Not Engaging
If there is one aspect of online learning that marked my experience, it was the engagement I had with my professors and peers. I was not invisible. The myth that online degrees are not engaging comes from those who had a bad experience via a novice online program or no experience at all. We live in a digital age where technology is able to do great things, marvelous things, and … well, you get my point. Here is how I experienced engagement in an online degree:
– Students participate extensively with the course materials on a weekly basis. (No more sitting in the back and not participate in class discussions).
– The professors commented and provided feedback on every assignment, forum, and project that was assigned.
– Courses included forum discussions requiring students to critically engage one another’s contributions multiple times a week. The professors also regularly engaged in the dialogue.
A quick browse through any university’s online offerings will affirm where higher education is going – online. This reality along with the need to provide such offerings for working professionals makes the field of online a very demanding and fast-changing field. The industry is always coming up with new ways and methods that improve the online students experience in the virtual classroom. Hence, it is not difficult to see how online degrees have the academic rigor, community, and engagement that will prepare any student in their respective fields.