In this fast-paced, constantly evolving world we live in, adapting to change is a necessity in order to survive. There is no doubt that in today’s day and age not embracing technology is, really, not an option. We now live in a world governed by the ability to access information and have instant communication whenever we so please. Wireless Internet and the “cloud” have given us the ability to access the Internet wherever we go. There is seldom a time when you walk into a location and don’t see someone on their mobile phone, laptop, or tablet. So now two types of people exist in the world, the people who embrace technology, and the laggards who refuse to accept this new way of life.
Already we have seen several industries take the hit of the e-commerce revolution; including the music, book, movie, travel, and banking industries. So who is next? Could it be education? The Internet has provided a new way for people to learn, interact, and access education. Online learning has become a favored alternative to a traditional classroom-learning environment for many people. For me, it provides me the ability to work full-time while still being able to get a first-rate business education. Although I have to pay an additional $174 to take an online course, it is worth it for me to pay extra, for the extra convenience. Why would I rather sit in a class for 2-3 hours a day, making it nearly impossible to find a reasonable work schedule, than be able to work at my own pace, on my own time, and make money at the same time?
One study shows that “real promise of online education, experts say, is providing learning experiences that are more tailored to individual students than is possible in classrooms. That enables more ‘learning by doing,’ which many students find more engaging and useful.” [1] So will online learning completely take things out of the classroom? No, because of the fact that there a people who need face-to-face interactions, and lack the discipline of online education, but, online education has rapidly become a popular choice amongst many students.
References:
[1] "Study Finds That Online Education Beats the Classroom - NYTimes.com." Technology - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com. 19 Aug. 2009. Web. 10 Sept. 2011. <http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom/>.
