Know What You Are Getting Into Before Signing Up for Online Classes
Too many students sign up for online classes without realizing what they are getting into. They may be enrolling in a program where they will not have easy access to their instructors; struggle with the technology involved in online class delivery; have prior learning credits that they fail to have recognized and run into all kinds of difficulties that they never once anticipated when signing on the dotted line.
Class size, instructor credentials, support, cost, program accreditation and future job prospects are just a few of the questions students need to ask about before committing themselves to online classes, no matter what the reputation . Often when looking into enrollment, students are faced with frustration, as they are often routed into a call center pushing sign ups, instead of getting to speak with someone without a vested interest in enrolling as many students as possible.
Key Points to Consider Before Enrolling in Online Classes
Here are some other key points Laura Pappano of the New York Times says prospective online students need to look out for:
- COURSE QUALITY An instructor’s relevant work experience may be of more value than scholarship. Check bios online for content-area expertise, and ask about how faculty is trained in online instruction (a 40-hour course is typical).
- EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT You’ll want an adviser who can walk you through your degree program, planning coursework and helping when problems arise.
- TECH SUPPORT Do you have to navigate online tutorials to get started or does a live person guide you through registration and courseware?
- CREDIT TRANSFER Online learners tend to skip around to finish degrees (plus take years to do it), making credit transfer crucial.
- ACCREDITATION This matters — a lot. The essential seal of approval comes from one of six regional accrediting authorities. But that may not be enough. In certain fields, including nursing and engineering, the particular program must be approved by an industry accrediting body.
- COST, JOBS AND OTHER INDICATORS New federal regulations require that institutions post consumer facts about any program that prepares students for work, including completion rate, total cost, median loan debt and job placement. Of those, cost and debt may be the most meaningful for comparison.
Enrolling in online classes to further your career or improve your credentials is a great idea in theory, but enrolling in classes without performing due diligence can lead to vast disappointment and financial loss. You do not want to invest considerable time and funds into a program that charges exorbitant fees, only to find out that the the program is not properly accredited. Another risk of not doing your homework before enrolling is to be continually frustrated because of a lack of support and access to instructors, so it essential to ask about the above points at a very minimum.
Read Pappano’s entire article here, and know exactly what to look for before you sign up for online classes–your future may depend on it.