Who should consider taking distance learning classes?

The first step in deciding to enroll in any educational experience is to outline why it is desirable. Why should the learner make all the effort, put in all the hours, go through expenses? What is the end goal or goals that will justify those things? Those unclear about their goals should not engage in educational or training as they will lack the motivation to succeed.

The second step, assuming there is a real need and desire to acquire new knowledge and/or skills, is to analyze the options, benefits, and disadvantages of different modalities. Distance learning is often desirable to those who have set lives with schedules and responsibilities toward work and family. But there might be other reasons to engage in non-traditional forms of instruction such as gaining access to instructors or learners outside our geographical reach.

If the learner concludes that either distance learning has an unparalleled advantage over other modalities OR, if constraints are such that no other modality is available or as efficient, then the learner should make use of distance learning.

How can I identify a good online college? Most for-profit colleges seem like scams.

First, we need to separate out the seeming from the reality, and maybe to talk about why these colleges might seem this way. Then we’ll point you to how to identify good colleges.

Have you ever heard about Clayton Christiansen? Christiansen studies innovation, and he came up with the phrase “disruptive innovation” which applies here. That term refers to how new innovations enter the market at the bottom. They aren’t very good, and they tend to attract people who can’t afford the top end of the market. However, over time these new innovations improve, and change the field in the process. That’s not the only thing going on with online education, but it is part of it. When it was introduced, it was like a new tech toy: cheap and not so good.

Some online schools also consciously reject some of the traditions of higher education. Think about things like the class schedule. A summer break was so students could go home and help on the farm. Why do have it now? Some online schools start classes throughout the year. At the same time, we can admit it: some online schools lack dignity. They are openly businesses, and that makes them seem different from traditional colleges, which are often non-profits.

Now, all that said, there are strong online colleges out there, and some of the schools that seem cheesy may still offer strong programs in the areas you’re interested in. Take the suggestions in steps. First, make sure the school you’re interested in is accredited. That gives you the basics: will others accept your degree?

Second, start using general rating services such as the reviews submitted by actual students at Guide to Online Schools. Take these with a grain of salt, of course, since the students most likely to write a review are often those with particularly strong feelings.

While there, you can also find a useful, unbiased set of online college rankings, which are updated yearly.

For another set of opinions, try browsing a trusted source like U.S. News & World Report. They’ve been evaluating colleges for decades. Their annual ranking is really influential. They also break down their ranking system by category, allowing you to shift rankings according to what matters to you. Finally, they explain their methods, which lets you know how the decisions got made.

The last suggestion is to approach your search from the other end. Contact people working in the field you want to work in, and ask them for suggestions. If you don’t want to go out on a limb and ask them personally, look up rankings of specific disciplines, and look at programs offered by that discipline’s professional organization. For example, if you’re interested in HR, visit human resource organizations and see which degree programs they suggest—and which are online.

Where can I find a master’s program in business statistics?

A very specific search, and I’m going to make it more specific: does it have to be online? And does it have to be business statistics specifically?

 

Let me explain why ask that second question. If you can use a somewhat more general degree, you might consider a getting a master’s in applied statistics, and then, well, applying it to business. Penn State has a program like this, for example. It is a good school with a strong reputation, and the same faculty teach the on-ground and online classes, which helps ensure quality control.

Colorado State recently added a similar program, and you can find a number of other reputable schools that have a master’s program in applied statistics: Rochester Institute of Technology has one, Perdue has a certificate in the same area, and so on. So, if you are flexible at all, you have options.

You can also find more options if you search creatively. For example, Cleveland State offers an MBA with a specialization in operations and supply chain management (which used to be referred to as operations management & statistics). Northwestern—quite a strong school— offers a completely online Master of Science in Predictive Analytics. For any school, review the course descriptions on their website to see exactly what their focus is before making a final decision.

Southern New Hampshire offers an online MBA in quantitative analysis. North Dakota State offers an online master’s in applied statistics. Iowa State offers an online master’s in statistics you should be getting the picture by now.

It boils down to this: if your degree has to be a master’s in business statistics, with those words, you have very few options. If you can study applied statistics, or get an MBA with an emphasis on statistics, you have more options—and at good schools. Sit down and think of all the ways statistics can be referred to or what it can be grouped under, and you’ll find that you may have more options than you realized.

Can I Use Federal Financial Aid to Attend an Online School?

Absolutely. Whether a school is online or not doesn’t affect financial aid directly in any way.

Your ability to receive financial aid is determined by the school's accreditation status, whether or not you fill out the applications appropriately, and whether you are taking enough credits to qualify. Do all of those things, and you can get federal money (assuming you qualify for financial aid—most of it is need-based).

That said, there are several ways that your choice to attend an online school could affect your financial aid situation.

First, a lot of people who go to school online are working people.  They are often taking just one class at a time. Federal financial aid is really designed to support people who are full-time students, so you would get little help going to school part-time. There is also really no support for students who are trying one class at a specific school, to see if they like it.  The term the federal financial aid people like to use is “degree-seeking.” You need to choose a program and commit to it to be awarded aid.

Second, a lot of people who go to school online do it because they can’t find the classes they need locally, and they end up taking classes from more than one online school. Federal financial aid is designed to support students who are attending one school. It isn’t set up to pay for classes at more than one school. This also fits with the idea that a student must be “degree-seeking.” Only one college gives your degree, so financial aid only applies to one school.

Third, even though some online schools have left the old school schedules behind (they start classes more often than traditional schools, and at different times), federal financial aid is still anchored to the idea of the academic year. This means that if your college is one of those that offers accelerated classes, you may have to sign up for a number of classes to show that you’re committed to enough coursework.

Fourth and finally, because some schools have changed schedules, you may have more challenges getting clear answers than a student at a traditional college. For example, the financial aid department at the local state college could give students dates: “If you submitted all of your paperwork by the deadline, your financial aid will be available by Day X.” Since a lot of online students are taking classes at different paces and starting at individual times, you are more likely to get a range of dates (like “45-60 days after you submitted the last…”).

A lot of online schools provide good guidance for their students: they have checklists, videos, and advisors who are available by email and phone. You might look at some of these checklists for more detail.

Who should consider teaching online learning classes?

Teaching online poses the challenge of finding new ways to do what was previously done in the classroom. Instructors that feel frustrated at working hard to find new ways of doing things should not venture into online learning. However, for many instructors this is not only challenging but exciting. Those willing to tackle new technology and to creatively impart knowledge and skills should consider technology-based teaching.

Online learning can benefit the instructor by allowing him/her to replace the monotony of a traditional classroom with the excitement of a new medium. These instructors will find that new forms of learning develop with the new media. They will find that many of their assumptions were in fact incorrect, and those things that they perceived as disadvantages can become advantages. Perhaps this is the reason why in some universities faculty of traditional classes are requesting the use of e-learning systems to supplement their instruction.

Who should consider taking online learning classes?

The first step in deciding to enroll in any educational experience is to outline why this is desirable.

The second step, assuming there is a real need and desire to acquire new knowledge and/or skills, is to analyze the options, benefits, and disadvantages of different modalities of learning.

If the learner concludes that either online learning has an unparalleled advantage over other modalities OR, if constraints are such that no other modality is available or deemed as efficient and effective, then the learner should make user of distance learning.

What are the advantages of asynchronous learning?

Asynchronous learning has the advantage of providing the learner and instructor with a choice of location and time. While it is this flexibility which is often the focus of interest, there are a number of hidden advantages to asynchronous learning. The physical distance that is often seen by many as a disadvantage can have positive effects by making learners and instructors more objective, less fearful of comment or criticism, less prone to cultural barriers (especially as a world wide online culture develops), and more inclined to think through problems before responding. These issues will be addressed in more detail in subsequent pages of this site.