Online Education - A Life Preserver for the Middle Class

By Joseph Mondello

Online schools and programs are everywhere. Whether you major in Literature or Logistics, there is an online degree out there to fit your needs. And, contrary to some schools of thought, that can be a good thing.   

Undergraduate and graduate learning has been expanded to large segments of society that formerly were ignored. No matter what part of the world they live in, single Moms (or Dads), the disabled, the disadvantaged, the disenfranchised citizens of the world now have access to a college education. For many of the “99 Percenters”, long exploited and shut out of the great wealth generated by the world economy, online business education has become the yellow brick road on the way to upward mobility.

To keep up with this new competition, traditional universities and colleges have recognized the need to adapt to the online phenomenon. This is readily seen by the growth in these business programs at the Undergraduate, MBA, and Specialized Masters levels as reported by our accredited members worldwide:

Year	Count	Level
2001	4	UG
2006	45	UG
2010	86	UG

 

Year	Count	Level
2001	26	MBA
2006	136	MBA
2010	202	MBA

 

Year	Count	Level
2001	9	SM
2006	42	SM
2010	79	SM

                        Source: AACSB Business School Questionnaire

 

Of course, online learning does have its detractors. It is commonly stated that students relying solely on this method of delivery are missing out on the total education experience.  The physical classroom provides a nurturing environment where the passion and deep understanding of a subject by the teacher is readily apparent.

In addition, there is the concern that one can never minimize the influence of our peers, and in an environment of give-and-take discussion, we learn almost as much from our fellow students as from the instructor. This is part of developing our critical thinking and the ability to discern the shades of gray between opposing viewpoints of black and white.

In business education disciplines where standards and regulations are strictly enforced, such as Finance, Accounting, and Information Systems, these intangibles may not matter as much, but what about those programs where creativity is needed and multiple solutions may exist, as in Marketing and Management?  In these types of disciplines, case discussions and analysis will often lead to differing viewpoints and a healthy exchange of ideas. Doesn’t online education, with its inherent nature of learning at a distance, constrict such dialogue and debate among class mates?  

Back at the turn of the century, when online programs were in their infancy, these criticisms were quite valid, but they have become less so as the technology has grown more sophisticated. Video presentations now bring instructors into the home or workplace where their enthusiasm and depth of subject matter are as palpable as in an actual classroom. Chat rooms, Blackboards, conference calls, and Skype also make it possible to exchange ideas and opinions with classmates and teachers, and hybrid programs are now readily available which blend traditional and online pedagogical practices.

What it all comes down to is that there is affordable, quality education for the rest of us. You don’t need rich parents or a trust fund from grandma to pursue an MBA. And, for those less fortunate, you don’t have to mortgage your future to pay for an education now. As the tables above show, even traditionally structured universities, with prestigious accreditation, have opened themselves to online programs and this trend will grow as the technology used to create such programs becomes more sophisticated, easier to use, and more pervasive. Online education is one, small victory for the disappearing middle class, and we will take what we can get.

 

Comments

[diet]

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[Donald R. Harrell]

This is the perfect website for everyone who really wants to understand this topic. You understand so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want to…HaHa). You certainly put a brand new spin on a topic which has been written about for years. Excellent stuff, just great!

[riza]

Internet has its negative and positive aspects for all of us but It will still depend on how we use the internet.
http://www.modernlifeblogs.com/2013/04/top-20-handpicked-creative-things-you-can-really-get/

[android applications]

There is less hassle having online classes. First, it is convenient for an individual because he has to stay at home but aside from that, it's unreliable for my own opinion to have it because we cannot really tell if it's accredited or not.

[tesis]

online education is kinda scary to be honest. the accreditation is spotty and there is much confusion as to where the best courses are

[MBA Degree]

Online Education is really good way of Education. It saves our time to go at institute, schools or college.

[Executive Programs]

I also think so that with the help of online education they can do studies along with their jobs at lower rates.

[education]

online education is kinda scary to be honest. the accreditation is spotty and there is much confusion as to where the best courses are.

[Brisbane Bookkeepers]

Online class is a big help if taken seriously. There are things you will discover what you don't learned from the lecture class. I'd rather have myself doing online class than pay somebody else. I can focus more and I can get what I want to learn.

[eurobooker]

thanks nice post

[Education India]

Great update i am obliged to know that people who cant afford full time studies have an option to complete their studies through these online courses. Thanks for the update.

[Online Business]

great article ! nice. thank you so much for this valuable information

[Flip my websites]

Nice site! thank for the information sir.

[Colin]

Jonathan Blaine,

Western Governor's University is not currently a member of AACSB (see the member list at http://www.aacsb.edu/membership/MemberListings/educational.asp), which is required before undergoing the rigorous accreditation process, which can take anywhere from 3-7 years to accomplish.

AACSB does have non-accredited members that operate solely on-line, such as U21 Global in Singapore, or Walden University in the United States. You are correct when you say that there are no accredited on-line only schools (yet), but that is not to say that there never will be. And in the interim, as I pointed out in my last post, there are AACSB-accredited schools that offer exclusively on-line degree programs.

[Test Guide]

Joseph, you are absolutely right. personally i was observed the education values since 2001 to 2010 and finally reached out the same results as you mentioned. thanks

[Jonathan Blaine]

It's interesting tha AACSB would publish such an article, since it has not even one online-only school in its ranks, such as nonprofit Western Governors University, my alma mater. Even without the nod from AACSB, US News and World Reports ranks its nursing MBA as one of the best, along with its undergrad business degrees. No doubt, with AACSB accreditation, WGU's robust and extremely challenging curriculum would vault all of its MBA degrees into the mid to top echelons.

Hopefully, that omission of nonprofit online-only schools (and I'm specifically not including the for-profits in this argument) will soon change due to the utter stampede of adult learners to business graduate school online education. WGU, for example, has received awards and kudos from business, governments and academia; the only thing missing is the AACSB seal of approval.

[Colin]

It's definitely true that you can find quality business education programs that are wholly or partly online. For example, AACSB's student website maintains a list of accredited schools with such programs: http://www.bestbizschools.com/masters/onlineMBAs.asp.

[Aless Deg]

If you are about to look for for ways how to learn the English language there are several corners online that can offer you stuffs old references can't offer.