subject: Accredited Online Education [print this page] Online education or the virtual classroom helps you pursue additional studies even though you cannot attend an on-campus college. Taking benefits of the development of the Internet, it joins social interaction to distance education experiences. It supplies you with a flexible and affordable alternative to get quality instruction that leads to a workplace credential or an academic degree whether you reside down the street or far away. 1. The Facts - Online eduaction refers to a kind of distance education when 80% of instructional material is sent over the Web. Professional instructors teach classes. You discuss the course materials, exchange your ideas as well as share the life experiences you have with your fellow students and interact with faculty via discussion boards. Besides, you discuss individual course-related questions with instructors via email. You post takes either to submit them online or discussion boards, counting on the class format. You can take your online classes for workplace credentials, credit or personal enrichment. 2. History - According to CHEA, online education takes in "any instructional or educational activity in that students are isolated from faculty as well as other students." Online education started in the year 1728 with correspondence courses, dividing into other forms of instruction comprising television and radio as technology changed. Online learning began at the beginning of 1990s with the increase of the WWW. By December 2001, about 2,000 institutions provided distance learning. 3. Providers - Online learning is given by accredited universities and colleges as well as for-profit educational organizations. In fact, offerings vary from individual courses to complete doctorate's, master's or associate's degrees. CHEA supervises the quality of Internet programs via the accreditation process. The Council is a famous private not-for-profit organization advocating for educational quality via voluntary self-regulation. 4. Advantages - Online education removes time and distance as obstacles to accessing education. You go to classes when it is convenient by signing into the virtual classroom. Online instruction permits you to enroll in a program despite where the institution is located.
