Degree Space

© jenn_jenn

Ask just about any high school counselor and you'll be told that earning a bachelor's degree is always worth it. However, sometimes students get themselves in over their heads – spending too much time, effort, and money on a degree that won't get them as far as they imagine. A recent Chronicle opinion piece by Marty Nemko gives us a much needed reality check:

“…Even those high-school students who are fully qualified to attend college are increasingly unlikely to derive enough benefit to justify the often six-figure cost and four to six years (or more) it takes to graduate. Research suggests that more than 40 percent of freshmen at four-year institutions do not graduate in six years. Colleges trumpet the statistic that, over their lifetimes, college graduates earn more than nongraduates, but that's terribly misleading. You could lock the collegebound in a closet for four years, and they'd still go on to earn more than the pool of non-collegebound – they're brighter, more motivated, and have better family connections.

Also, the past advantage of college graduates in the job market is eroding. Ever more students attend college at the same time as ever more employers are automating and sending offshore ever more professional jobs, and hiring part-time workers. Many college graduates are forced to take some very nonprofessional positions, such as driving a truck or tending bar”

Does this mean you should skip college and go straight into the workforce? Of course not. However, I do believe that students should thoroughly consider their options before applying to college. Enrolling in the most expensive online school and earning a BA in the humanities may land you $100,000 in debt with a $29,000 a year job. Attending college can be an extremely worthwhile experience, but it's wise to fully consider the costs.

See full article.

Related Entries:

Bachelor’s degrees offered by Nebraska college – 06 June 2005

Community Colleges Offering Bachelor’s Degrees? – 14 December 2005

Bellevue University Announces Technology-Enhanced Bachelor’s Degrees – 07 April 2007

How Long Will it Take an Online Degree to Pay for Itself? – 02 September 2007

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© soldiersmediacenter

According to a recent press release, a Defense Department online course is completed every seven seconds. Their Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative has grown significantly in the past decade.

Following to the “rule of thirds” they've been able to save time and money by switching to the online class format:

“You can save money by a third, and then either improve performance by a third or reduce time by a third — either one, but not both,” Mr. Wisher said.

The Defense Acquisition University at Fort Belvoir, Va., for example, spent $500,000 to convert its traditional defense acquisition course to a self-paced course offered through ADL. Instead of spending nine days in a resident course, plus two travel days getting to and from Fort Belvoir, students take a 25-hour online course “on their time, when they can do it,” Mr. Jesukiewicz said.

The conversion offered other payoffs, too, he said. The course can now accommodate 14,000 to 15,000 students a year, not the previous 3,000. And it's cheaper for the Defense Department to maintain the course — $1.5 million a year vs. $6 million for traditional training.

Mr. Wisher doesn't predict any end to traditional resident military training, but said ADL offers a promising alternative or addition.”

It's encouraging that many institutions are able to provide online training at a reduced cost. However, saving time and money should not be the ultimate goals of educational programs. Hopefully everyone will keep this in mind as online training programs grow.

See full article.

Related Entries:

U.S. Department of Defense Accelerates Contract Awards – 20 May 2005

Department of Defense RFID Rule Goes Into Effect – 17 November 2005

Minnesota Department of Education Receives $100,000 For Online Learning Project – 11 January 2007

University of Colorado Offering Online Degrees to Military Personnel – 06 February 2008

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© hbushra

Many traditional students take online classes during the summer. Studying online can be a great way to squeeze a few extra credits in or retake failed courses, all without having to step foot on a campus. My latest About.com article shows you how to make the most of summer term online. Here's a blurb:

“Taking online classes during the summer can help you fit school into your vacation schedule. As a traditional student, your school probably has a strict policy regarding transfer credits…

Read your college's transfer policy. Your college's credit transfer policy will probably be found in the college catalog. This is a thick book that you received when you first registered for courses (not to be confused with the class schedule printed each semester). After reading the transfer policy for yourself, schedule an appointment with an academic counselor. He or she can help you understand the policy and answer any questions. Your college may require that you get course approval ahead of time or that your online courses are taken through an accredited school.”

Check out the full article for step-by-step directions for transferring online credits to a traditional college.

See full article.

Related Entries:

Many Traditional Colleges View Virtual Learning as Revenue Source – 29 September 2007

Yale Classes Now Available to Students Worldwide…For Free – 15 November 2007

Student Paper Criticizes Drexel’s Online Classes – 08 December 2007

Online Learning Surge in South Dakota – 16 December 2007

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Andrew J. Rotherham reviews Relentless Pursuit, a new book by Donna Foote that chronicles a year spent in the “trenches” with four Teach For America teachers.

This weekend marks 25 years since the publication of the U.S. Department of Education’s explosive report “A Nation at Risk.” Its powerful indictment of American education launched the largest education-reform movement in the nation’s history. But there’s still much work to be done, argues Education Sector’s Thomas Toch for Newsweek.