Are online universities better than campus-based schools?

Are online universities better than campus-based schools?

What distinguishes online education from classroom education has little to do with the fact that one comes from a computer screen and the other does not, Barbara Means, director of the Center for Technology and Learning at SRI International, told Inside Higher Ed.

Comparing the two forms of education is challenging, since most web-based schools try to show students information in a way that is completely unique to online education.

“The point of using the online technology is to do things that you cannot do face-to-face," Means said

According to the Sloan Consortium, the appeal of online school to nontraditional students is indicated by the number of universities which cite growth in professional and continuing education courses. Working adults, parents and unemployed professionals, all qualify as nontraditional students who may benefit from an online education.

Many institutions that are involved in online education cite degree completion as a very important objective, the media outlet reports.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that individuals who hold a bachelor's degree or higher earn significantly more than individuals with a high school diploma alone. Academic leaders do not believe that there is a lack of acceptance of online degrees by potential employers, the news source concluded.

By Mark Danson