RJA #15b: Reflection

    I wrote my paper on whether online classes are providing the same value of education as in the traditional classroom. I learned a lot from writing this paper. According to my research, online classes do provide a quality education on par with the traditional schools. There are still some things that need to be addressed but the advancement technology is starting to provide solutions to these problems. I think that eventually the virtual classroom will outpace the traditional one but I doubt it will ever replace it. I think that in this day and age, where time is the most valuable commodity we embrace, that online education is not only convenient, it’s necessary. Only time will tell what becomes of online education but I personally think that it has a very promising future.

    The writing and research parts of this paper really helped me with not only my basic writing skills but also with my ability to do research on the internet and in the library. I have not had a lot of experience writing papers but this class really showed me the proper styles and the insight into what is necessary and what is not. It also helped with my research, now I can narrow down what exactly I am looking for from all the confusion of the Web. My library research has increased and the ability to find exactly what I’m looking for will be a valuable asset.

RJA #15a: Word Cloud

My paper after being entered into Wordle.

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/4552708/Online_Education_vs_The_Traditional_Classroom

RJA #14: Field Research Report

These are the results of the survey I conducted on fellow Metro State students concerning their online classes and how they feel about their online educational experience. Overall the grades were above C’s in every category with most students being satisfied with the educational value of online classes. There are still some issues to address with distance learning but it seems that the experiences are getting better and people are satisfied.

What year of school are you in?

The large majority of survey responders were in their sophomore year and two were in their junior year. This is in part to the majority of online classes being either entry level or second year classes.

How many online courses have you taken?

Fifty six percent of the people surveyed have taken under 5 online courses while 33% have taken between 6 and 10 courses and 11% have taken between 11 and 20 online courses. I myself fall into the 11 to 20 category and again, I feel that this is because most of the classes offered at Metro State are either entry or mid-level classes.

Have the majority of your online courses been for?

One hundred percent of respondents said that online courses were for required classes, no one takes electives online (probably because those are the classes you actually want to be in) and no one said they were taking any of their certificate classes online.

Will you take online courses in the future?

An overwhelming majority of people surveyed (78%) said that they would take another online class, one was unsure and one was definitely not.

Would you recommend online courses to other students?

Sixty eight percent of students said that they would recommend online courses to their fellow students, there was also a 22% maybe answer and one no answer. It seems to me that more people are not only taking online courses but they are comfortable enough with them that they would recommend them to other students. Obviously some students have a bad experience with online education and most of the complaints have related to online math classes because they provide less teacher interaction when you have a question.

Overall grade of online education

Everyone polled rated the overall of online education with at least a B but most ( 6 of 8) gave it an A. I think that student satisfaction with online education is important as we are the driving factor in the expansion of distance education. If students aren’t happy with online courses then they won’t take them and enrollment numbers would indicate that online education is not yet up to par with our traditional education system.

Overall quality of evaluations and grading

Most students rated the grading with a B or better but this time there were a few C’s in the mix with indications of teachers not really giving enough feedback or students not really being sure why points were deducted.

Overall quality of materials

A rating of all B’s and higher, most people said that the materials were the same for online as in the traditional classroom. The same books are required along with the reading so most feel that they are getting the same type of education.

Overall quality of faculty commitment

Most respondents are satisfied ( B or better) with the commitment of the staff to our education, yet there are still some who believe that there should be more interaction and feedback from the staff. This used to be one of the Achilles heels of online learning yet it seems that the majority (about 80%) believe that their needs are being met by the instructors.

Overall grade of student support

Student support got a little bit lower than average grade but most was above a B. It seems the main complaint was about student responses on the discussion boards and people not checking into blackboard often enough. We all know it sucks to wait on a peer review till the last minute when you have a paper due.

Responsiveness and timeless of teachers

Ninety percent were A’s and one B in the teachers timeliness of responses. This has always been one of the major detractors of online education because when you need a response, you want it now! Although all the respondents are obviously very pleased with the response times from the faculty and with the advent of IM coming into play in the future, things can only get better!

Student to faculty ratio

With one exception, everyone else rated the student to faculty ratio as being just fine, all A’s and above. Most people believe that the ratios are the same as in the traditional classroom.

Overall experience

Six out of nine people rated an A for an overall online experience; there were also a B and two C’s. It seems that even people who had a somewhat troublesome time still rated a C or higher. I find it interesting that even people without a lot of computer experience were still happy with their online classes, it shows that the user friendliness is good and still improving.

Did distance learning fit your needs?

All answered A except for two C’s and the most common complaint was that online classes seem to take more time than the traditional one’s. Ironically most people take online classes because of their tight schedules and I agree that online classes take a bit more time due to the fact that most of it is writing either discussions or journals which are a bit time consuming.

Are the grades in your online courses____ than your traditional classes?

Fifty six percent of students polled said that their grades online were the same as their grades in the traditional classroom. Some were better and some were worse but the majority seem to get the same grades in online courses as they do in the traditional classroom. To me this signifies that the myth of online classes being easier has been broken and online evaluations ( at least in this case) seem to be just as hard as the tests that we take in the classroom.

Do you think you received the same quality of education online as in your traditional classes?

Most students polled said that they feel they are getting the same quality of education as in the traditional classes but only for certain courses, math and science classes such as chemistry seem to be the stopping point for online classes. Like most students, I too feel that online courses are better suited to core courses and that math and science, courses where you need more teacher and peer interaction, should be pursued in the traditional classroom where interaction takes less time.

Pros and cons

Many of the pros relate to scheduling and the fact that we don’t have to pay to park or ride the light rail, some point out that with working full-time and raising a family there just isn’t enough time to drive to campus to attend lectures and online classes let you schedule around life’s events because you can do your work whenever you get a spare minute.

 The cons listed include the time needed to learn new software and programs, the fact that most classes online require quite a bit more writing which equals more time, and the sometimes necessary face to face communication between student and teacher.

How many hours per week do you work?

Except for one full time student, everyone else works 40 or more hours a week, including myself. I believe that the online classes fit work/school schedules better. Most respondents say that the online classes allow them more freedom with their schedules and that sometimes it is impossible to do a traditional class, especially if you are a full-time student, because of their work schedules.

RJA #13b: Presentation Plan

Argumentative Paper Outline

Online Classes Provide More Educational Value than the Traditional Classroom

          I.      Introduction

                  A.  The new technology of online classes has allowed for a substantial increase in the value of distance education and is starting to challenge the value of the traditional classroom.

                  B.  A technological wave is sweeping our education system. Online classes have seen a huge increase in not only the number of students enrolled online but also in the amount of colleges offering their classes online.  Time constraints in people’s lives today created a need for distance education and our education system is scrambling to fill that need.

                  C.  Advances in technology have made the educational value of online degrees just as valuable as or better than the traditional classroom experience. Recent surveys and statistics show that online students get better scores and have better memory retention, most employers consider an online degree the same as a traditional one, and technological advancements such as IM and video bring online degrees on par with the traditional classroom.

        II.      Reasons

                  A.  Most employers consider an online degree the same as a traditional degree and in some IT jobs online degrees are preferred.

                        1.   Online article from U.S. News details how some employers, especially in the IT field, prefer online degrees. (Burnsted)           

                              a. Student views on technology and the classroom show preferences for the newer technologies over the traditional classrooms. (Meuter)

                        2.   Online degrees gained a wider acceptance as the majority of college grads, as well as employers, have taken some of their courses online. (Burnsted)

                              a. Article in Money Talks News showing five reasons that technology is helping K-12 students score better on tests and get better grades overall. (Ballenger)         

                        3.   A recent survey by Morgan Hunter a corporate headhunting company showed that 83% of employers thought an online degree was sufficient for an entry level job and over half thought an online degree was acceptable for a mid-career position. (Hunter)

                              a.    A blog by a distance educator states ten reasons why online classes either match or surpass the traditional classroom. (Kassop)

                        4.   Article on MSNBC details the changing way that employers look at online degrees. (Tahmincioglu)

                  B.  Instant Messaging, video and other technologies have helped bring better value to online education. (I. Elain Allen, Class Differences: Online Education in the United States, 2010)

                        1. Studies show that recent technologies and visual aids enhance the learning experience of online students more than the traditional face to face method.

                  C.  Recent surveys and statistics show that online students get better scores and have better memory retention. (I. Elain Allen, Staying theCcourse, Online Education in the United States)

                         1. Recent studies show that online students statistically receive higher scores and have longer memory retention than students in traditional classrooms.

       III.      Objections and Refutations

                  A.  1.  Some reports and surveys say that online education is still lacking in vital areas.

                              a.   Some online reports suggest that there are some hurdles left to overcome in online education. (Kim Parker)

                              b.   Some audits show a higher dropout rate among online students. (Weber)

                  B.  Social issues are starting to arise including social atrophy by online and distance education students. (Eitzen)

                  C.  Large increase and shady practices of for-profit online colleges leads to less acceptance of distance education by both employers and students. (Schoetz)

       VI.      Conclusion

While there are still some problems with online education, the majority of students, professors and educators feel that it is comparable to, if not better than, traditional education systems. Statistics show that with new advancements in technology, online students score higher and retain more knowledge than students in the traditional classroom. There are still problems to be overcome but society is showing a growing need for distance learning and educators are stepping up to provide it.

Works Cited

Ballenger, Brandon. "Going to School Online: Better Education, Lower Cost?" Money Talks News 7 Sept 2011. Online Article. 1 Nov 2011. <http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2011/09/07/going-to-school-online-better-education-lower-cost/>.

Burnsted, Brian. "Online degrees don't impede job searches." U.S. News 29 March 2010: 2. Online article. 1 Nov 2011. <http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2010/03/29/online-degrees-dont-impede-job-searches>.

Eitzen, Stanley. "THE ATROPHY OF SOCIAL LIFE." 2008. http://www.cabrillo.edu/~lroberts/TheAtrophyofSocialLife.pdf. Colorado State University. 30 Oct 2011. <http://www.cabrillo.edu/~lroberts/TheAtrophyofSocialLife.pdf>.

Helland, Jillian A. Peat/Katherine R. "The Competitive Advantage of Online versus Traditional Education." Paper. University of Tennessee, 2004. Online Submission, Paper presented at the Academy of Human Resource Development International Conference. 1 Nov 2011. <http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED492477.pdf>.

Hunter, Morgan. "Should You Hire A Cantidate With an Online Degree?" Morgan Hunter Corporate Search (2011). Blog from Corporate Headhunting Company. 1 Nov 2011. <http://blog.morganhunter.com/2011/06/hire-candidate-with-online-degree/>.

I. Elain Allen, Jeff Seaman. Class Differences: Online Education in the United States, 2010. The Sloan Consortium, 2010. Report. 23 Oct 2011. <http://sloanconsortium.org/publications/survey/pdf/staying_the_course.pdf>.

—. "Staying theCcourse, Online Education in the United States." Ongoing Study. The Sloan Consortium, 2008. 30 Oct 2011. <http://sloanconsortium.org/publications/survey/staying_course>.

Jeffries, Michael. Research in Distance Education. N/A, n.d. online article. 23 Oct 2011. <http://www.digitalschool.net/edu/DL_history_mJeffries.html>.

Kassop, Mark. "Ten Ways Online Education Matches or Surpasses Face to Face Education." 4 Nov 2005. Online Blog. 1 Nov 2011. <http://interwise.blogspot.com/2005/11/online-education-vs-traditional.html>.

Kim Parker, Amanda Lenhart and Kathleen Moore. "The Digital Revolution and Higher Education." Pew Reserach Center, 2011. Online report. 1 Nov 2011. <http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/08/28/the-digital-revolution-and-higher-education/>.

Meuter, Deborah Brown McCabe/Matthew L. "A Student View of Technology in the Classroom: Does It Enhance the Seven Principles of Good Practice in Undergraduate Education?" Journal of Marketing Education Aug 2011. Article in Journal of Marketing Education. 1 Nov 2011. <http://jmd.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/02/28/0273475311410847.abstract>.

Schoetz, David. "For-Profit Colleges Under Investigation." ABC News 19 Aug 2010. Online Article. 1 Nov 2011. <http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2010/08/forprofit-colleges-receive-f-in-ethics/>.

Tahmincioglu, Eve. "Online Colleges Earing Respect, to a Degree." 7 Sept 2008. Online Article. 1 Nov 2011. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26458424/ns/business-personal_finance/t/online-colleges-earning-respect-degree#.TsGiH3I7zkY>.

Weber, Tom. "State audit finds lower completion rates, more dropouts among full-time online students." MPR News 19 Sept 2011. Online news report. 1 Nov 2011. <http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/19/state-auditor-online-classes-report>.

RJA #13a: APA-Style Annotated Bibliography, Part 2

Bibliography

Ballenger, B. (2011, Sept 7). Going to School Online: Better Education, Lower Cost? Money Talks News. Retrieved Nov 1, 2011, from http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2011/09/07/going-to-school-online-better-education-lower-cost/

Burnsted, B. (2010, March 29). Online degrees don't impede job searches. U.S. News, p. 2. Retrieved Nov 1, 2011, from http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2010/03/29/online-degrees-dont-impede-job-searches

Helland, J. A. (2004). The Competitive Advantage of Online versus Traditional Education. University of Tennessee. N/A. Retrieved Nov 1, 2011, from http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED492477.pdf

Hunter, M. (2011, July 7). Should You Hire A Cantidate With an Online Degree? Morgan Hunter Corporate Search. Retrieved Nov 1, 2011, from http://blog.morganhunter.com/2011/06/hire-candidate-with-online-degree/

Kassop, M. (2005, Nov 4). Ten Ways Online Education Matches or Surpasses Face to Face Education. Retrieved Nov 1, 2011, from http://interwise.blogspot.com/2005/11/online-education-vs-traditional.html

Kim Parker, A. L. (2011). The Digital Revolution and Higher Education. Pew Reserach Center. Pew Research Center. Retrieved Nov 1, 2011, from http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/08/28/the-digital-revolution-and-higher-education/

Meuter, D. B. (2011, Aug). A Student View of Technology in the Classroom: Does It Enhance the Seven Principles of Good Practice in Undergraduate Education? Journal of Marketing Education. Retrieved Nov 1, 2011, from http://jmd.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/02/28/0273475311410847.abstract

Tahmincioglu, E. (2008, Sept 7). Online Colleges Earing Respect, to a Degree. Retrieved Nov 1, 2011, from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26458424/ns/business-personal_finance/t/online-colleges-earning-respect-degree#.TsGiH3I7zkY