Importance of an Online Degree in Improving the Skills of the Learner

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Online learning is gaining popularity day by day. The Babson Survey Research Group presented a report in 2012 which made the fact quite clear that more than 6.7 million high school pass outs were enrolled in one online course in the year 2011. As compared to 2002 when the number was only 1.6 million, the online education system has proved itself efficient. (Source)

The higher education colleges and universities are constantly striving to refine and modernise their online core curriculum. In 2002, only 72% of educational institutions offered their courses online and now it has risen up to 87% by the year 2012. The colleges also now emphasise on the formation of online degree courses and almost 63% of the schools are now surveyed to have interest in awarding their degrees exclusively through the distance mode. (Source)

Online learning is known for its global reach

When MOOCs were first started by Coursera, then EdX, they did not know that their courses will be available for the students living abroad as well. However, with time, online learning has proved its global reach to all. Almost all the topmost UK Universities now offer their courses online following trend of US based MOOC Coursera. Also, not only a few of the courses but they now have a host of online courses to choose from. And the best part of it is that anyone, from any part of the globe.

The most reputed UK Universities that provide online courses now have learners from the various parts of the country. Africa, where there are no good educational institutions and students are in lack of gaining knowledge, there online courses are coming for their rescue. Now all they need is a laptop or a computer with an internet connection, and they can get hold of the most updated knowledge.

Online courses will now have invigilated examinations

There are people who believe that online learning is easy and also one can simply pass the examinations by cheating on the online examinations. However, this doesn’t hold any good these days. One of the major MOOC suppliers, EdX, now provides their examinations fully invigilated by educators. The students can be at any part of the world but when they will sign in for the exams, if they want to cheat, it will be marked by the course providers with the help of software.

Online courses are accredited

A few years back, it was believed that the distance degrees are for those who are not good enough in their studies. Also, whenever there appeared a student who takes his/her courses online, he/she was soon declared as someone who is a school or college dropout. However, times have now changed. Not only the fresh graduates but now even the various working professionals are applying for the online courses. For them, the only thing which matters is the fact that online learning is flexible and they will not have to compromise with their current responsibilities.

No matter which course you are interested in and which degree you want to get hold of, the universities will offer you with the same. Also, these degrees are accredited by the university grants and as soon as you complete your course, you will go ahead with your career plans. Getting hold of an accredited online university is what is needed for you to move ahead with your future goals.

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All the MOOCs, in UK, US or in other part of the world is the example of universities going online. They now truly believes in the fact that learning is no more subjected to time, place or money and now anybody can get a degree of their choice from the most reputed universities.

Debate over Online Learning Is Mere Noise with No Logic

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Online education is not just a phrase to linger without significance, it is here to stay and rule. So, do many students and working professionals believe it to be so. But what can possibly cease the ongoing debate between online education and traditional learning? Possibly, it is a never-ending controversy that clouds the minds, but is there a conclusion to be derived? Let’s have a look. 

Traditional v/s Online Learning 

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If you are asked to sit in a classroom, jot down notes from the blackboard at hours stretch and wrap off school assignments within strict deadlines, would you still believe that you are receiving quality education? In a short while, you are bound to get bored and lose interest. Traditional brick and motor institutions prefer to use these strategies for enlightening students and so it is one of the reasons why a deluge of new age learners are more inclined towards online learning. Survey reveals that about 72% of students from across the world prefer to study through administering blogging sites and social networking sites. Besides, a lot of educational blogs get published on a daily basis with the intention to keep career professionals and students updated on an array of subjects. (Source)

To enhance your knowledge more on online learning, we list down a few advantages why you should opt for this particular mode of learning and how it will benefit you.

·        You can study from anywhere. No matter, which part of the world you belong from, you can pursue a course from start till end at your own flexibility without attending classrooms. You enjoy the advantage of learning right from home.

·        You bring significant potential to your career by studying a validated course, the skills and expertise of which you can implement in various fields.

·        You enjoy flexibility of pursuing courses that can be adjusted between family life and work as you feel.

·        Besides, you can interact with other students on the same online radar through social networking sites.

Thus, you gain accredited qualification from a State University, which is globally recognised and is validated. You save time and energy for other commitments, apart from enhancing academic credence. Hence, so far you have been informed about how online education is effectively impacting students and working professionals at large, then why there is so much controversy over online education. Let’s have a look. 

Debate over Online Education- Is it worth it?

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The debate goes on, is online education worth it? There are apprehensions about online education since it is a virtual learning mode where students cannot have face to face interactions with teachers or will not have to attend on-campus training. But online supports features like enabling students have access to online tutorials and have interactions with other students through networking sites and have access to course materials. Read on to know how validated reports show inclination of students towards traditional learning, which is already and is yet to redirect towards online learning in the nearest future. So, the time has set in where online learning is emerging with prominence. 

The University of Nottingham held the Open Education Resource conference on the 26th of March revealing how students are defending the need of traditional learning. Students will only delve deep into world of online education only if they are instructed so by teachers. “Students are actually quite conservative in their use of open education resources (OERs). The students in our samples were clear while many made use of them in their own learning, they were much more likely to do so when it was part of their course and it has been suggested to them by their lecturer.” 

Nonetheless, there was a recent finding as unveiled by the Institute of Public Policy Research report, which stated in ‘An Avalanche is Coming: higher education and the revolution ahead’ that established Universities might counter menace if it fails to react to the progress of online education. (Source)

Thus, the same report as above states how students are still inclined towards traditional learning but they cannot deny the importance of online education. 

1.      It is believed that UK Universities will cease to run in the coming 10 years, unless they adapt initiatives driven by technology, globalisation, and competition for funding and rising students’ expectations. There needs to be urgent and radical transformation in higher education and so institutions have to adapt to those changes. Universities are supposedly to face an avalanche of risks from more specialised institutions, privately funded research centres and online learning providers. (Source)

Thus, the above is clearly evident of the fact that traditional Universities need to adapt new techniques of learning and new modules that could keep pace with this technically advanced world. Traditional learning is effective, but it time consuming and non flexible. Hence students are reluctant to sit in classes for hours and block two to three years of their lives into a course. Have a look at this videoto know how education is being redirected from conventional to online mode.       

So, in this regard it can be said that online providers collaborated with State Universities are working towards a bright future for professionals and students. Today, the trend is to access long distance study from UK, since UK Universities have major associations with many distance providers. They are focused towards catering online tutorial support to help you achieve goals. Besides, most of these providers offer 60% less of course fees than what is directly offered by UK Universities. 

Therefore, it is concluded that the debate over online education is not worth it. It is just a noise created with no logic. Though, there are reports (as mentioned above) where students are still inclined to traditional learning that have vented debate over online learning, this mode of education can never fade. In fact, it will loom large to prominence where a time will come when all educational institutions will use online education as a strong force for enlightening the globe.

Online Courses, the Oncoming Threat and Opportunity for UK Universities

There has been an unprecedented growth in online courses. In order to keep up to the pace of the global competition and survive the change, UK universities must adapt this popular alternative to the conventional learning system. This form of innovative learning is flexible and has a wide range of funding options. According to the chief education adviser at Pearson, Sir Michael Barber, online courses are posed to be a threat as well as an opportunity for the universities in UK.

Online Learning - A Threat to UK Universities

The option of online learning is gaining immense popularity among students in a large scale. The flexibility of these courses in terms of location and schedule is an attractive feature for them.

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Sir Michael Barber explains in his report for the Institute for Public Policy Research, that the large universities "Mark themselves out of the crowd" so that they are not swept away by the "avalanche of change", he said.

might struggle to survive this change but the mediocre might face extinction. They have to,

He considers “standing still” as the most dangerous option. According to him, the complacent universities will be most at risk. He says it would not surprise him if such an interruption would result in the closing down of some universities within a decade.

A number of large US universities are offering a host of online courses to students irrespective of their location. Already two US conglomerates have signed up about two million students for their online courses. They have partnered with numerous universities from Europe, Asia and US to provide these courses.

Opportunity in disguise

This threat could also be considered as an opportunity in disguise for the UK universities. The unstoppable rise in demand for online courses has given the UK universities an opportunity for expansion and growth in the field of online learning.

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Universities minister, David Willetts, while addressing the Guardian Higher Education Summit, stressed on the immediate need to invest in online courses by the UK universities. He termed it as a "historic opportunity" for the UK universities.

The escalating demand for university courses, especially in countries like India and Indonesia are expected to be an important market for UK universities. According to the minister this demand has to be met not only by campus universities but also by online courses.

MOOCs - massive open online courses provide the students an access to online lectures, courses, videos and interactive forums from eminent universities around the globe. It is expected to bring a revolution in the education scenario of the world.

He welcomed the announcement of the launch of an initiative where 12 UK universities have come together to provide a host of free online courses with an idea to make higher education much more easily accessible to students around the globe. "Massive open online courses (MOOCs) present an opportunity for us to widen access to, and meet the global demand for higher education. This is growing rapidly in emerging economies like Brazil, India and China, the minister said.

This partnership among the UK universities is expected to provide a challenge to the US universities that have been commanded the growing market.

Online learning impacting the market

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It will be easier for students to study under a UK university and receive a UK degree sitting in any part of the world. This could revolutionise conventional models of formal education, says Universities Minister David Willetts.

A number of online courses in UK universities are being offered by numerous learning communities. The courses are affordable and flexible. The levels include diploma as well as doctorate. This has had a significant influence on the market thus attracting several undergraduates as well as working professionals who wish to enhance their qualifications.

While addressing the Guardian Higher Education Summit, Mr. Willetts said that online universities are going to play a significant role in expanding global student numbers.

UK universities must evolve and diversify in order to tap the opportunities in the field of online learning. By doing so they will be able to overcome the threat of extinction and dominate the market.