Although online education is rapidly gaining acceptance, many people still struggle with misconceptions about attending an online school. Distance learning has many advantages, especially for working people who want to get additional certifications or online degrees or people who have difficulty in attending a traditional school. It is not easy to convince them of the advantages without first dealing with negative ideas that prevent them from
taking distance learning seriously.Myth number 1 is that an online education is expensive. Fact is, tuition costs vary from one school to another, and this is applies not just to traditional Universities, but online Universities as well. Many offer reasonable rates, and in the case of online Universities, there are state-sponsored charter Universities that offer distance learning for free.
One of the good things about online college degrees is that they allow students to get credit for courses they have taken in another school, so that they do not need to pay tuition for all the courses in the curriculum. This has the added advantage of lessening the amount of course work needed to earn a degree. Credit can also be obtained for relevant life experiences.
Myth number 2 is that it is impossible to get good quality education from online institutions. Again, as in traditional Universities, online Universities are not made equal. It is always a good idea to make sure that the school has the proper accreditation.
It is also not true that distance learning is easier or less challenging that the work done in traditional Universities. It is true that students have more flexibility in terms of schedule, since they are allowed to work at their own pace. But this also means that, for the same workload, they have to be more motivated and disciplined to be able to complete the course work on time and to get their degree within a reasonable period.
Myth number 4 is that distance learners are isolated and lacking in socialization. While it is true that communication with other students and teachers are limited to chat or email, there is nothing to stop distance learners from interacting with people in their neighborhood or meeting other people outside their studies through community organizations.
Distance learning may be an unconventional way to earn a diploma, but it does not mean that online Universities are not respectable. It is important, though, to choose Universities with the proper accreditation. To be on the safe side, it is better not to risk your education with institutions that are not accredited or still in the process of getting an accreditation.
Getting a online degree from a properly accredited school also ensures that the credits earned there can be transferred to another school, whether it’s also an online school or a traditional school. It also makes it easier for employers to accept, especially if the degree is from an institution associated with a traditional school, such as universities that offer online degree programs.
There are many reasons why people might enroll in an online academy to complete their schooling. Courses are available for online high school down to elementary school.
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