Online Colleges
The question of why online colleges are becoming more popular is still on debate. Some associate the rising number of online colleges to the rise in internet uses. Compared to the old days, most people preferred attending classes physically, due to low internet connection. The other reason could be the lack of resources needed to support an online course. Nearly half of the colleges in the US offer online classes (McClendon, Neugebauer, & King, 2017). This has prompted researchers to look for reasons behind the growing number of online classes. Some are in support of the initiative, while others see it as ways in which they reduce education integrity. Online classes are becoming popular due to technology.
According to McClendon, Neugebauer & King (2017), online classes are becoming popular because it does not have any age limit. It also favors people with a busy schedule, such as those who have to work and also study later. The authors argue that some universities are considered to be prestigious and are known for their quality education. Still, due to the high cost of living, such as accommodation, people would prefer online classes. They are cheap and can be accessed at any time of the day. Those who enroll in online classes are mainly adults since they have children to take care of, and they require special attention.
The authors state that those enrolled in online classes pose different personalities, such as patience and consistency. When a person enrolls for online classes, there are no constant checkups by the professor; it is always the self-discipline of a person to ensure that he or she is following classes (McClendon et al., 2017). The authors also suggest that colleges are coming up with ways to ensure that they retain many students as much as possible. Some give extra benefits, such as a discount on tuition fees.
Technology has advanced in the past few years. Technology has indeed impacted education. The reason why colleges prefer online is that managing students is much easy. Different management systems have been developed to track each student. Lecturers can post the jobs on the module and see whether students are working on them. It also builds the confidence of students since they do not fear to consult. They can ask about any topic without feeling discriminated against. This is different from a class setting where some may feel awkward asking questions. Forums also is another reason colleges advocate for online classes. This is because people can interact freely and be able to share any issues they have encountered.
Colleges have seen that they can be able to attract a wider market by enabling online classes. As compared to traditional ways in which colleges targeted national markets, today, colleges have gone international. The advantage of online classes is that they do not need to set up physical structures in all countries. Students can just apply to their computers and get enrolled. It also avoids any environmental issues that some students might have. Student can be having health issues, and thus traveling could also endanger his or her life
In conclusion, technology has been the center stage for online classes. Most colleges can admit that they have seen an increase in students due to online classes. They have also benefited from diversity since most online students are from different cultures. Different software has also been innovated to support online classes.
References
McClendon, C., Neugebauer, R. M., & King, A. (2017). Grit, Growth Mindset, and Deliberate Practice in Online Learning. Journal of Instructional Research, 8, 8-17.