When I decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in Instructional
Technology, I started out like many students do. I sat down at my laptop, went
to Google and started searching. Eventually I landed on a program at an
in-state university that was one of the first of its kind. Everything was
virtual. Not once in the 18 months I was in the program would I set foot on
campus. I completed everything from the comfort of my home or the road.
Just a few years ago, programs like the one I completed were
very few and far between. There have been correspondence courses for a number
of years but these normally led to certificates and rarely led to actual
degrees. Today, students of all ages have virtually an unlimited number of
options to not only obtain degrees in any number of subjects, but to learn from
some of the leading thinkers and doers around.
Take online degrees like the one I got. More and more
traditional colleges and universities are providing these as an option for both
traditional and nontraditional, working students. Many students can now obtain
full degrees, from bachelor’s to PhD, all from a laptop in their living room,
rather than a stuffy classroom in a building named for someone few remember.
This idea of anytime learning extends far beyond K-12 and has far-reaching
effects in higher education as well.
Traditional colleges and universities are also facing a new
generation of learning options through MOOCs. Massively Open Online Courses are
just that - virtual classes on many topics where you might be in a class with
your neighbor or someone from Sub-Saharan Africa. These courses touch all
continents, and in many cases are taught by the same professors and educators who
are teaching them in prestigious colleges and universities around the world.
And, in the case of courses offered by colleges and universities, they are free
to take. Who wouldn’t want to learn about Economics or Physics from leaders in
the field, for free?
Where can you discover some of these innovative courses?
Lifehacker U-This
is the first site I visit when I want to see what’s new in the world of virtual
learning. The folks over at Lifehacker put together some pretty comprehensive
lists of free courses on a wide variety of topics, including Computer Science,
Astrophysics, Dinosaur Paleobiology or The Importance of Play In Everyday Life.
There’s course for almost anyone!
Keep in mind there are a few things to consider before enrolling in online courses, so do your
homework. You might want to consider what the course outcome will be, if the
courses lead to degree or certification, or if there is additional course work
you’ll need that isn’t offered online.
It’s not easy to convert a face-to-face course into a virtual
experience. So make sure you also research whether the professors and educators
leading the course are certified to teach online. It doesn't hurt to ask if you
can sample the course to ensure it will meet your needs, too.
Online and virtual courses are certainly a convenient way to
engage in learning, whether it’s to further your education or just to learn
something new. Just be sure to find the one that’s right for your needs.
Happy learning!
Disclosure: This post was written as part of the University of Phoenix Versus Program. I’m a compensated contributor, but the thoughts and ideas are my own.