In the past few years, post secondary education has experienced growth in the area of online learning, both as an extension of the traditional classroom to almost entirely an online presentation of the course.

A unique feature of primarily online schools is the flexibility of schedules, allowing a non-traditional student the chance to earn a degree while addressing career, family, etc ... This comes at the expense of the social and extra-curricular experiences available on a college campus.

I ask 2 questions:

1: Can an online college or university offer an effective course of study, preparing their student population for future careers?

2: Is there a decreased value placed on an online degree vs. a traditional degree, in the same course of study?

Interesting questions. With regard to the first question, I'd have to say offhand no, most especially on the preparation part. Certainly the nuts and bolts of the course content can be delivered online, but I think some of the necessary skills that one obtains in the classroom can't. Even something as simple as effective note-taking and organization is lost when it's all laid out for you on the computer. Most careers today require the ability to assimilate information and organize one's thoughts in a dynamic, interactive environment and I just don't think you can get that experience when everything's laid out for you.

As far as the second question is concerned, I do think there is a significantly decreased value for an online degree. Number one, it's pretty new and people don't have much experience with it and there are some "diploma factories" out there online. Also, as an employer I would question the discipline of someone who did their entire college coursework online, when they felt like it, etc. I'd be a little wary about their ability to meet deadlines. Maybe that would be unfair, but I kind of think that's the way many employers would look at it.

Quite naturally, Aquilla, you and I disagree. My disagreement comes from first-hand knowledge, however. I've attained two degrees using non-traditional means, though both schools were state and nationally accreditted.

The first was through a college that had a local cable station. Most of their class lectures were available, at specific times, for recording or watching. There was required attendance for exams, etc., but not to the classes themselves, as long as you had signed up for the cable lessons.

The second I just completed last year. Lectures and course material were online. Exams were proctored in particular locations at specified times.

The thing is, these schools are tailored more towards persons like me, already in the workforce, who can't afford to take off during the day for traditional classes. That doesn't mean that organizational skills, study skills and even note taking are not important, because they are. If anything, we need to be more organized, because we have less actual interaction with the instructors and fellow students.

The second part of your answer, I would agree with only in part. Yes, there are places out there where you can "buy" a diploma. But that's not what we are talking about here. We're talking about legitimate, accredited university study.

And I don't think that employers are going to as wary as you think. After all, we not doing college classes "when we feel like it", we are doing it over and above an already full day of work, when we have the time. We still have homework and test deadlines that have to be met. On top of work deadlines during the day. Which means that we are more likely to be valued as employees, because we are showing the initiative to gain gain further education, on top of our employment, and in many cases taking courses that will enhance our value to an employer.

If you truly gain a solid education, and "know your stuff", does it really matter how you got that education?

1: Can an online college or university offer an effective course of study, preparing their student population for future careers?

2: Is there a decreased value placed on an online degree vs. a traditional degree, in the same course of study?

As someone suffering through the degree process as we speak, where half is on-line and half is traditional, Online is clearly superior. For me that is.
I find the classroom to be a waste. To be forced to follow along at a snails' pace to accomodate slower students. I am not the only one who suffers for this, I believe a large percentage of students have their abilities stunted in college these days.The waste of financial resources to get there and back. Trying to fit a work schedule around classes. Horrible instructors who apparentally cannot do so they must teach. I have found little in college classes to be of any value in the work place. You learn what you need on the job. Truthfully where I in a position to hire I would choose the work experienced over the college educated. I wouldn't negate the college degree, but I would temper it's value. I firmly believe the goals of the education system are frightfully out of date with modern society. They provide very little information of value in relation to the real world. Online courses streamline the process and free up teachers for those who need the help.

Is there a decreased value? Yes I think there is at this time because most online classes are horribly designed and produced. Having designed some courses for IT training on the graphics side I have seen absolutely pathetic attempts at on line education.
Done correctly they have incredible power in teaching as they can hit you on many different learning levels at once forging a stronger learning experience. See it hear it read it do it. When more well designed classes become more commonplace the online version will quickly overtake traditional classes.

Some will bring up the loss of social interaction. Doubtful. In my opinion we are social creatures and the only change will be where people go to meet.