Online Education – The E-Learning Guide

E-learning College Methods

From multi-year degree programs to free massively open online courses, e-learning is bigger than ever.

The traditional college experience isn't for everyone. Why should it be? We're all different, with different learning needs. Advances in online education have been helping to address these needs. Online programs are generally viewed as legitimate, quality sources of higher education – and now cover everything from virtual degree programs that mimic the campus classroom to skill-specific classes with interactive learning environments. If you're looking for something beyond the brick-and-mortar experience, read through this guide to see what e-learning can do for you.

Types of E-Learning Providers

While the basic idea behind e-learning is to provide education to students who either cannot or choose not to be present in a traditional classroom setting, the manifestation of online programs varies so extremely that a precise image of e-learning can be hard to pinpoint. Understanding the most common online education providers (and their teaching methods) can make it easier to determine what type of e-learning is ideally suited to your needs.

• Nonprofit Universities

  It used to be that accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities were either strictly brick-and-mortar or had limited e-learning options, and those seeking fully-online education had to go to for-profit institutions. However, data released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) regarding postsecondary enrollment for fall 2012 shows that 65 percent of students studying strictly online did so through nonprofit schools.

  Nonprofit universities can be a good choice for students seeking traditional certificates and degrees. Since they are extensions of their brick-and-mortar counterparts (with the exception of nonprofit schools like Western Governors University and University of Maryland University College, which are strictly online), nonprofit university students can usually get their degrees by taking hybrid classes as well as fully-online classes.

  Online programs at nonprofit universities tend to be taught by the same instructors as their on-campus programs, and they often follow the same timeline and curricula. This means that an online degree could take up to four years to complete, depending on the credentials sought. However, some nonprofit e-learning programs do allow students to set their own start and end dates for online courses, which can affect completion time.

  E-learning programs at nonprofit universities usually cost just about as much as their on-campus counterparts. Like with on-campus programs, out-of-state students usually have higher tuition. On the plus side, most established nonprofit universities are accredited, which means students – online included – can apply for federal financial aid.

• MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses)

  As their name suggests, MOOCs are huge online classes that are open to everyone and have unlimited enrollment. A big draw is their price model, as many are free-of-charge. MOOCs are a fairly new form of e-learning – the idea exploded around 2012 with the founding of Udacity, edx and Coursera – but their wide accessibility and self-paced design has made the format increasingly popular.

  MOOCs are good for those who want to learn about a subject but don't necessarily want to commit to an entire program as well as those looking for in-depth knowledge and skills they can transfer to the workplace. The low cost and commitment of MOOCs may appeal to a broad audience, but because they are largely self-paced with minimal-to-no instructor involvement, students who are extremely self-disciplined tend to have more success in completing courses.

  MOOC students often have the option to earn a certificate upon completing a course or series of courses, but degrees are harder to come by. Institutions like Udacity offer certificates and credentials backed by industry leaders like Google and AT&T, while Coursera and edX have partnered with various universities to offer their courses online. Some of these universities grant college credit for MOOCs. For instance, Arizona State University recently partnered with edX to offer a full freshman-year program. Coursera, Udacity and edX all offer free education options. However, those seeking a verified certificate or college credit have to pay a fee. Depending on the institution, course and optional specializations, certificates can cost anywhere from $25 to $2,400 and can take three weeks to a year or more to complete.

• Community Colleges and Vocational Schools

  Community colleges are public, two-year institutions that can be a good alternative to four-year universities. Vocational schools give students hands-on experience in various trades. Both are cost-effective options for students seeking certificates or two-year degrees.

  Community colleges typically cater to local students. As such, many community colleges offer a range of online courses, but it's less common to find schools with fully-online degree programs. Students seeking a degree at a community college may have to supplement online study with hybrid or in-person courses.

  While they do present fewer fully-online options, students might find that the money they save by going to community college instead of a for-profit or nonprofit university is worth the trade. According to the College Board, the 2015-2016 national average for in-district tuition at community colleges is $3,440.

  Those interested in hands-on learning and developing practical skills are well-matched for vocational schools. Depending on the subject matter, hybrid vocational programs may be more common than fully-online ones. The practical nature of vocational schools may call for in-person meetups, training and other activities.

• Professional Development Platforms

  Professional development no longer means going to classes provided by your employer to learn about the latest bit of technology the company has decided to use. Online professional development platforms are for people who want to learn skills on their own terms, whether the motivation is to change careers or simply to learn something new. That said, some companies do use online workforce development to increase the skills and knowledge of their employees, and some colleges incorporate professional development platforms into their curricula.

  Professional development platforms like Treehouse, Codecademy, Lynda, Skillshare and Khan Academy allow students to learn and practice subject-specific skills online. They are great for students who prefer self-paced, autonomous learning and who aren't necessarily looking for a degree. Students who like hands-on learning will find many professional platforms appealing. Treehouse and Codecademy, both known for their online coding courses, are designed so that after reading a lesson or watching a series of instructional videos, students get to practice what they've learned by creating code right there in their web browser.

  Professional development platforms are, like MOOCs, very inexpensive learning tools. Programs like Khan Academy and Codecademy are completely free. Skillshare has free and paid options that peak at $10 per month. Others have monthly subscriptions that range in price and features depending on what students want from the platform. Completion time depends on the platform and the student. Some platforms offer certificates of completion while others award digital badges that can be shared on personal websites or through social media. It's a smart idea for students using professional development platforms to use their new skills to create something they can share with prospective employers as a means of proving their abilities.

• For-Profit Universities

  For-profit universities have a bit of a bad reputation for being more expensive than nonprofit universities. Yet for the right student, they come with certain benefits that aren't as commonly found at traditional universities.

  While nonprofit schools award recognized degrees, and MOOCs and professional development platforms foster connections with industry leaders, for-profit universities can often provide both. Quality for-profit schools have close ties with businesses, which can be beneficial for job-seeking students upon graduation, and students can pursue various credentials.

  While they traditionally provided vocational education, it's now common for for-profit schools to offer degrees in mainstream majors. It also used to be rare to find a bachelor's degree program at a for-profit institution. Now, however, students can earn anything from a certificate to a doctorate. In 2012, 35 percent of students enrolled in fully-online programs did so through for-profit schools.

  Retention rates at for-profit schools tend to be lower according to the National Center for Education Statistics – hovering around 50 percent at four-year institutions – so it's important that students are ready to invest enough time and money into their education before they get started.

Benefits of E-Learning

E-learning affords students a host of potential benefits over traditional campus-only programs. Read below to learn about some of advantages e-learning offers students.

Cost Savings

Looking at tuition prices for online programs at traditional schools and for-profit schools, prospective students might wonder if e-learning really does have cost benefits. Online programs often cost around as much as their on-campus equivalents. However, considerable savings can be found outside of tuition:

• Transportation

  Students don't have to pay for public transportation or the gas it takes to get to and from campus, and they don't have to worry about paying for parking.

• Food

  Student meal plans can be pricey, and swinging by a café between classes adds up. Online students save by eating at home.

• Work Time

  Whereas traditional students might have to change their work schedules or reduce their hours in order to go to school, online students can go to class without interfering with their jobs, allowing them to keep their income while getting their education.

• Childcare

  Students with children don't have to worry about babysitters or daycare programs –and the fees they come with – when they take classes from home.

Convenience

E-learning students have the advantage of being able to plan their education around their lives, not the other way around. While some e-learning formats require students to be at the computer at specific times, others offer coursework that can be done at any time of day, any day of the week and from anywhere the student chooses. A flexible learning schedule and no commute mean less interference with work, family and social life.

Connectivity

Although it seems like e-learning would be an isolated experience, online students often find that they are more connected to their peers and professors than their on-campus counterparts. Message boards, peer review and video-chat study groups facilitate communication between students and help bring them together. Professors are often available to answer questions via email, but in environments where a professor is not accessible, like in many MOOCs, students rely on one another to ask and answer questions about course materials and assignments. Further, e-learning programs attract people from an array of locations and backgrounds, so students get to connect with peers they might not meet otherwise.

Improved Access

Because all that is needed to learn online is a computer and an Internet connection, e-learning makes education more accessible to different students.

• International Students

  E-learning allows international students to get credit from U.S. schools without the hassle of moving, obtaining visas or finding an exchange program. This means international students have the opportunity to take courses that might not be available at a school in their country. Similarly, U.S. students can take online classes at universities out of the country without actually going abroad. This may be particularly enticing for students enrolled in foreign language programs.

• Students with Special Needs

  Online education is a convenient solution for students who have a difficult time getting to and from campus due to physical disability. Those with developmental disabilities, social anxieties, or conditions like attention deficit disorder may also benefit from the private, self-paced nature of many e-learning programs while still getting to ask questions and interact with peers and instructors. Since online materials might not be wholly accessible to students with special needs, it is important that students let instructors know if accommodations need to be made.

• Rural Students

  Sometimes the main barrier between a student and his or her education is that the nearest school just isn't near enough. Students living in rural areas might be dissuaded from attending traditional colleges because of a long commute. An e-learning program makes post-secondary education more readily available to those living outside of a city or college town. Online classes also afford remote students the opportunity to engage with peers who have similar interests but with whom they might not ordinarily connect.

• Students Seeking Specialized Degrees

  Like international students who lack access to specific courses or education programs, students pursuing specialized degrees might not have a suitable program their area. Online education gives students access to subject experts from all over the world, allowing them deepen their knowledge and add to their credentials.

E-Learning Delivery Methods

Not all online programs are taught the same way, and their different presentations can greatly affect a student's experience. Before jumping into an e-learning program, make sure it's compatible with your learning style.

E-Learning Financial Aid Options

Online students may need just as much help funding their educations as on-campus students. While some financial aid options work the same for on-campus and online students, less traditional funding methods exist as well, including:

• Federal Student Loans

  Online learners can qualify for federal loans if they fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA® ). However, the institution must be accredited. This rules out many MOOCs and professional development platforms.

• Scholarships

  Scholarships that are available for on-campus programs are applicable to online program, but there are also e-learning-specific scholarships that students can apply for. Tip: Many schools offer scholarships, but local and regional scholarships shouldn't be overlooked!

• Grants

  Grants are the most ideal form of student aid because they don't need to be paid back. Luckily, they are available to e-learning students. Students interested in qualifying for federal grants must fill out a FAFSA® . Grants are given based on both merit and financial need. Like with scholarships and loans, local, regional and private grants may be available as well.

• Crowdfunding

  Crowdfunding has recently become a popular way to pay for college and help keep students from going into debt. Sites like GoFundMe allow students to make a profile stating how much money they hope to raise, and people can choose to donate any amount to the fund. Students are often surprised to find that strangers (as well as friends and family) donate.

*For a comprehensive look at available options, visit our financial aid page dedicated to online students.

Technology in E-Learning

E-learning relies on technology to give students a fulfilling education experience. While a basic understanding and familiarity with online and computer technologies is usually required for success in online education, most e-learning programs provide students with instructions on how to navigate the different technologies used. Here is a brief rundown on the types of technologies students may encounter in their e-learning programs:

• Learning Management Systems

  Learning management systems are common in online education programs. They often serve as a course's home base. Systems like Desire2Learn and Blackboard report and track grades, host course content and perform other administrative functions. Some learning management systems have built-in discussion boards and virtual drop boxes. E-learning students will likely find themselves using learning management systems to access course materials, communicate with peers or turn in assignments.

• Video

  Video may be used as the basis of an e-learning program or they may be used supplementally. Synchronous online classes use live streaming video to deliver information. Pre-recorded videos can add to students' learning experience by taking them beyond the traditional classroom realm. Students can watch interviews with subject experts or see specific problems worked out rather than being limited to written instruction or explanation.

• Interactive Learning Environments

  Some online learning programs test their students' knowledge through interactive activities. These activities take place within the program themselves as part of the lesson, like with the in-browser coding done by Treehouse and Codecademy students. These interactive learning environments give students the opportunity to practice their new skills and, depending on the results, either move on to the next lesson or continue reviewing until a strong understanding of the lesson is achieved.

• Technology in Testing

  One of the challenges administrators face in online teaching is how to approach testing. Experts say that because of the private nature of online learning and the accessibility of the Internet, cheating on tests is much easier for e-learning students. However, new technologies and old techniques are used to help students fight the cheating temptation. For instance, some programs may simply have students take tests in person like they would if they were in an on-campus program. Other programs proctor exams remotely via webcam. Students show their IDs and take their exams in front of a camera. Coursera uses keystroke recognition software to verify students' identities. The student's typing speed and rhythm are recorded during typing exercises, and officials monitor these typing patterns during assignments and tests to see if they match.

• Communication Technologies

  Message boards and emails are often used in e-learning courses that involve peer-to-peer and student-instructor interactions. Online students don't have the benefit of extemporaneous in-class discussion, but with online message boards, they are still able to engage in developed discussions with their peers. Email makes communicating with professors simple and convenient and allows for expanded, in-depth explanations. International students sometimes have a harder time communicating through online message boards and emails because of the lack of social cues, intonation and body language. That said, use of message boards to convey ideas helps students, both international and native, articulate their thoughts and hone their written communication skills.

• Mobile and Tablet E-Learning

  Some e-learning programs are so flexible that students don't even need to be confined to a computer to access lessons and other course materials. The learning management system, Blackboard, has a series of apps for Apple, Android, and Windows phones and tablets that let students access their course homepage, turn in assignments and contribute to class discussions away from home. Students who are often on-the-go might want to look for e-learning programs that are compatible with their mobile devices.

Tips for New E-Learners

Embarking on a new kind of learning experience can be daunting, but there are things students can do and remember that will help them succeed in their online education pursuits.

• Test It

  Try taking a single online course before committing to a full program.

• Set Goals

  Create and stick to deadlines for completing assignments and lessons, especially in self-paced programs.

• Find Support

  Reach out to teachers or classmates and find study groups that meet online or in person. Support can also be found on forums and in online communities like Reddit.

• Check In

  Visit the course website frequently to check for updates.

• Speak Up

  Participating in class discussions deepens understanding and is a good way to connect with peers.

Reference List

• BYU Independent Study Online Courses
• Benefits of Online College
• E-Learning Expands for Special-Needs Students
• A Brief History and Future of Online Degrees
• Meet the Millennials Crowdfunding their College Tuition
• Houston Community College, 2013-14 Handbook
• What is an LMS?
• Crowdfunding College: More Students Depend on Kindness of Strangers
• Learning New Lessons
• Udacity Says It Can Teach Tech Skills to Millions
• The Year of the MOOC
• The Bane and the Boon of For-Profit Colleges
• Teaching and Learning Online
• Technical Brief: Students With Disabilities and Online Learning
• What Part of Self-Paced Don't You Understand?

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