When it comes to earning a degree, you want to go to a great school for it. However, if you’re working and or have any other commitments, that can be very discouraging for those who want a degree. So, as a last resort, they may turn to online coursework. In this article, we’ll debunk seven of the common myths people have about the idea of earning an online degree.
Myth 1: Easier Coursework Online
“The truth is, you have to work just as hard in online coursework, as you would with traditional in-person coursework,” says James Maciel, a tutor at Simple grad and Study demic. “Although you may enjoy more scheduling flexibility by taking classes online, you would still have to attend discussions, study, and complete assignments on time, just like you would in a regular class. In fact, students who take classes online are shown to have high levels of self-discipline because they’re doing schoolwork while having a job or other commitments.”
Myth 2: Lower-Quality Education Online
In truth, online schools strive to offer the best quality education for their students. While academic standards for online courses vary from school to school, you can rest assured that institutions go above and beyond to make sure that all students meet the same academic standard as expected in traditional schooling. And, although this requires teachers to communicate differently online, they have to think about how to make their teaching more effective when it comes to student engagement.
Myth 3: Online Degrees Aren’t Valid Enough
As mentioned above, online schools want to give students the best education possible. In fact, most online programs (especially those from top-ranked universities) offer rigorous curriculum and personalized instruction.
Plus, accreditation (traditional and online) may vary from school to school. So, if students wanted to transfer their credits to another school, then they might be able to do so. But again, it all depends on the school. The Council of Higher Education Accreditation continually publishes a list of recognized accrediting bodies that evaluate colleges and universities.
Myth 4: Online Is for Part-Time Students Only
Obtaining online education part-time or full-time depends on individual students. Although it’s true that many students choose online degree programs because of having a job or other commitments, there are still some students that learn online full-time. But still, it depends on how long they want to commit to a school schedule, and how they want to learn and study.
Myth 5: It’s Easy To Cheat In Online Courses
The first thing that may come to mind, when thinking about doing exams at home with no test proctor, is the thought of being able to cheat. However, that’s almost never the case, since studies show that online students don’t cheat any more than traditional students.
In fact, some online classes require all their students to turn on their webcam during timed tests. Also, professors can and will use software that detects plagiarism (just like traditional professors do). With these extra precautions, schools are able to evaluate the students’ thoughts and writing, so that they can spot any deviations.
Myth 6: Online Students Can’t Use the School’s Auxiliary Services
While on-campus students already have access to their school’s auxiliary services, what about online students? Auxiliary services include:
The truth is, online students can use the same services as students who attend school in person. For example, online students can access digital books by logging on to their school’s library website. Or, they can drive to the campus and visit the library in person.
Myth 7: Employers Look Down On Online Degrees
“The acceptance of online degrees depends on the individual employer,” says John Bowers, a business writer at Boomessays and Academized. “Some employers may hold true to traditional education and won’t look at current trends and or realities. However, in recent years, other employers are being more lenient to holders of online degrees applying for their open positions. In fact, many companies are beginning to sponsor online students by offering to pay partial tuition expenses for employees that are enrolled in certain online degree programs.”
Conclusion
As online education is becoming commonplace in academia, it’s easy to get caught up in these seven myths. However, as you read about these seven myths and learn the truth about them, you’ll feel more comfortable about online education if you’re still looking to earn a degree at your own convenience.
Molly Crockett writes for Australian help and Australianreviewer.com. She also blogs for Ukservicesreviews.com. As a marketing writer, she shares marketing tips and personal development advice with readers.
Myth 1: Easier Coursework Online
“The truth is, you have to work just as hard in online coursework, as you would with traditional in-person coursework,” says James Maciel, a tutor at Simple grad and Study demic. “Although you may enjoy more scheduling flexibility by taking classes online, you would still have to attend discussions, study, and complete assignments on time, just like you would in a regular class. In fact, students who take classes online are shown to have high levels of self-discipline because they’re doing schoolwork while having a job or other commitments.”
Myth 2: Lower-Quality Education Online
In truth, online schools strive to offer the best quality education for their students. While academic standards for online courses vary from school to school, you can rest assured that institutions go above and beyond to make sure that all students meet the same academic standard as expected in traditional schooling. And, although this requires teachers to communicate differently online, they have to think about how to make their teaching more effective when it comes to student engagement.
Myth 3: Online Degrees Aren’t Valid Enough
As mentioned above, online schools want to give students the best education possible. In fact, most online programs (especially those from top-ranked universities) offer rigorous curriculum and personalized instruction.
Plus, accreditation (traditional and online) may vary from school to school. So, if students wanted to transfer their credits to another school, then they might be able to do so. But again, it all depends on the school. The Council of Higher Education Accreditation continually publishes a list of recognized accrediting bodies that evaluate colleges and universities.
Myth 4: Online Is for Part-Time Students Only
Obtaining online education part-time or full-time depends on individual students. Although it’s true that many students choose online degree programs because of having a job or other commitments, there are still some students that learn online full-time. But still, it depends on how long they want to commit to a school schedule, and how they want to learn and study.
Myth 5: It’s Easy To Cheat In Online Courses
The first thing that may come to mind, when thinking about doing exams at home with no test proctor, is the thought of being able to cheat. However, that’s almost never the case, since studies show that online students don’t cheat any more than traditional students.
In fact, some online classes require all their students to turn on their webcam during timed tests. Also, professors can and will use software that detects plagiarism (just like traditional professors do). With these extra precautions, schools are able to evaluate the students’ thoughts and writing, so that they can spot any deviations.
Myth 6: Online Students Can’t Use the School’s Auxiliary Services
While on-campus students already have access to their school’s auxiliary services, what about online students? Auxiliary services include:
- Libraries
- Career counseling offices
- Job placement center
The truth is, online students can use the same services as students who attend school in person. For example, online students can access digital books by logging on to their school’s library website. Or, they can drive to the campus and visit the library in person.
Myth 7: Employers Look Down On Online Degrees
“The acceptance of online degrees depends on the individual employer,” says John Bowers, a business writer at Boomessays and Academized. “Some employers may hold true to traditional education and won’t look at current trends and or realities. However, in recent years, other employers are being more lenient to holders of online degrees applying for their open positions. In fact, many companies are beginning to sponsor online students by offering to pay partial tuition expenses for employees that are enrolled in certain online degree programs.”
Conclusion
As online education is becoming commonplace in academia, it’s easy to get caught up in these seven myths. However, as you read about these seven myths and learn the truth about them, you’ll feel more comfortable about online education if you’re still looking to earn a degree at your own convenience.
Molly Crockett writes for Australian help and Australianreviewer.com. She also blogs for Ukservicesreviews.com. As a marketing writer, she shares marketing tips and personal development advice with readers.
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