Getting a degree switches servers
Flexibility, accessibility have students looking to
Tara Pistorese
Issue date: 2/18/08 Section: News
Online education offers convenience for those with busy lifestyles.
OSU's extended campus (e-campus) is working to develop a wide variety of undergraduate degree options for men and women.
Online education is becoming increasingly popular among students with busy lifestyles at OSU and college campuses across America by offering a level of convenience that traditional site-based education does not.
The majority of students pursuing a degree through online courses are adult learners who are unable to attend traditional courses available on campus. E-campus is working to offer these students degree options and opportunities.
"Flexibility in use of time and inability to travel to physical locations are key," said Scott Reed, vice provost for outreach and engagement.
"Many distance and online courses are designed with place-bound students in mind."
Online education also offers opportunities to adult learners who were previously unable to finish their degree.
"Students who have outside responsibilities but want to continue their education or finish their degree are the primary target," said Dave King, interim associate provost for OSU's extended campus.
Traditional on-campus students are also finding themselves pressed for time and convenience and are turning to distance learning as a flexible option to earn course credit.
"We have seen a large growth in our on-campus students who are opting for online courses," said Lisa Templeton, director of marketing and communications.
In the beginning, professors were cautious of their involvement in online courses for fear of losing the dialogue achieved by face-to-face interaction with students.
"They get into an online classroom and some of them found that there was more dialogue because it's a very safe place to talk. You can think about your response before you enter it," Templeton said.
While some parts of the nation fear that the growing popularity of online courses may hinder the availability of future teaching positions, this is not an opinion shared by OSU's e-campus administrators.
OSU's extended campus (e-campus) is working to develop a wide variety of undergraduate degree options for men and women.
Online education is becoming increasingly popular among students with busy lifestyles at OSU and college campuses across America by offering a level of convenience that traditional site-based education does not.
The majority of students pursuing a degree through online courses are adult learners who are unable to attend traditional courses available on campus. E-campus is working to offer these students degree options and opportunities.
"Flexibility in use of time and inability to travel to physical locations are key," said Scott Reed, vice provost for outreach and engagement.
"Many distance and online courses are designed with place-bound students in mind."
Online education also offers opportunities to adult learners who were previously unable to finish their degree.
"Students who have outside responsibilities but want to continue their education or finish their degree are the primary target," said Dave King, interim associate provost for OSU's extended campus.
Traditional on-campus students are also finding themselves pressed for time and convenience and are turning to distance learning as a flexible option to earn course credit.
"We have seen a large growth in our on-campus students who are opting for online courses," said Lisa Templeton, director of marketing and communications.
In the beginning, professors were cautious of their involvement in online courses for fear of losing the dialogue achieved by face-to-face interaction with students.
"They get into an online classroom and some of them found that there was more dialogue because it's a very safe place to talk. You can think about your response before you enter it," Templeton said.
While some parts of the nation fear that the growing popularity of online courses may hinder the availability of future teaching positions, this is not an opinion shared by OSU's e-campus administrators.
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