Career Tips

Are you returning to school this semester? Are you dreading the impeding routine of being at school from dawn ‘till dusk, only to return home late in the evening for further study and class assignments? Well, you could go through all that schooling--the lectures, the discussion groups, the papers and presentations, the exams and pop quizzes--without ever leaving the comfort of your home. You already knew that? So what’s holding you back? Online learning has grown significantly over the last several years. Once seen as clunky, boring and ineffective in its early days, it has ballooned into an innovative learning experience offered by universities throughout the world, including Divine Mercy University. Learn about the online master’s degrees offered through Divine Mercy University. Despite its tremendous growth, there are still myths and misconceptions surrounding online education that have current and prospective students weary and unwilling to try it. Let’s take a look at these myths and, ultimately, squash them. 1) Online classes are not as effective as in-class learning You may have been excited at the thought of sailing through the course work at home instead of actually going to class. But, after thinking it through further, maybe you wondered if the online option will really be advantageous to your learning. Rest assured: online learning is designed to be the gold standard for students everywhere. Some students may have a difficult time learning key concepts in a faster-paced classroom, while others may disconnect from the class if the pace is too slow. The online option allows each student to take the time they need to learn and understand the core lessons and progress through the course at their own pace. 2) Online classes are too easy If you think you’ll just sail through the lessons all the way to the final exam, think again. Online courses demand as much time and attention as any course in a traditional classroom, and your instructor will likely be ready to compensate for your limitless resources with extra work to measure your progress. This can be anything from extra quizzes and written coursework to video presentations. Do not underestimate the workload...or your instructor. 3) Online classes are not accredited or respected by employers A college student graduating today without ever having to take a course online at some point is very unusual. Accredited colleges around the world have incorporated online courses into their curriculum, and more and more private educators are going through the rigorous process of gaining accreditation in order to include online courses in their programs as well. The rise of online courses also shows a growing respect from both employers as well, and many businesses today even require their workers to earn certain online certifications as part of their development. 4) Online courses lack interaction with the instructor and peers In the traditional classroom, students interact with the instructor and each other during discussions and often practice skills in small groups or in pairs. It’s no different in online courses. Students are able to discuss the lessons or application of a learned skill with the whole class through online social threads, receiving one-on-one feedback and seeing how everyone else approaches the same skill. This creates even greater opportunity for students to pick up more social nuances than they would in a classroom. So, instead of experiencing just a handful of social exchanges, online learners experience dozens and dozens of interactions. 5) There’s no accountability with online courses You may not be physically in the classroom, but your instructor is with you every step of the way. Online instructors know every assignment and activity a learner has or hasn’t completed, signaling learners’ progress through the course, and they have access to analytical tools where they can pinpoint and remedy any problem areas in the course that may arise, as well using keystroke tracking and browser blocking functions to cut down on cheating during test sessions. Thanks to the online social interaction, faculty members can follow up with their students to offer encouragement, coaching and direction while holding them accountable to apply the skills outside the classroom. Again, do not underestimate you instructor or the online workload. E-learning is here to make your learning more convenient Like the internet itself, online education is still growing and developing. Instructors are always finding ways to improve their courses and create better, innovative means to educate beyond the constraints of the traditional classroom, making it more convenient for you to focus on your education. Divine Mercy University offers online master’s programs in Psychology and Counseling. Sign up today to learn more.   Further Readings: Online Master’s Degrees: What’s the Difference? Kiwi priest completes U.S. degree by studying online