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Good afternoon,
My opinion is that they can provide the same level of education that a traditional program can but it depends on the student. If that person is willing to put in the time, then they will get as much out of it as a person in a traditional setting. My undergrad was traditional and my grad is accelerated/online. Working on my degree online is more demanding and time consuming because there are certain deadlines and you have to show a presence or you will get left behind.
Here is where I feel that it is lacking however, the personal interaction. If I have a question, I have to email it to the instructor. Now I wait. Then the instructor will reply. If their response leads to more questions, then we can go back and forth. More waiting. This process is very time consuming. Also, if I wanted to study with classmates or if we’re working on a project together, then we have to post on a forum. Sometimes it can be hard to coordinate meeting times with others due to different time zones, obligations, etc. That takes more time. I have found ways around this however. With the instructor, I call them if the question leads to more questions and I’ve been fortunate enough to get time with them. About working the project with classmates, we can set up a time to call each other or we can all jump into a chat room or use an instant messaging program. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Another place I find it lacking is in the college lifestyle portion. I went to a City University of NY school so I didn’t have the campus life but I know several people who have and they’ve found this to be invaluable. They found a support system and friends that they still have years later. This also falls under personal interaction. I’ve had them tell me that making contacts in college is a very important part of the collegiate experience.
I think a person can get just as much out of online as they do traditional. It will depend on how much work they put into it.
Henry
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