By Lindsey Wright*
With the flexibility of online coursework, it’s no wonder why so many students are choosing web-based education programs. Having the freedom to complete work on their own time allows students the opportunity to tend to their daily schedules of work and parenting. Thanks to online education, more individuals are able to get the education they need without compromising their financial or familial roles.
Moreover, there are no restrictions as to what university is chosen. This provides students with opportunity to communicate with others on a global level, allowing them to be exposed to different ideas and viewpoints. With these positive elements that go hand-in-hand with Web-based education programs, so it’s not surprising that enrollment levels are skyrocketing. This recent trend may sound promising, but will it create an atmosphere where the traditional college setting is less valued?
Better Opportunities Lead to More Productive Workers
Not only are educational courses evolving, but also are the methods in which education is obtained. Attending an online school used to be equal to the traditional classroom settings at brick-and-mortar schools, except students were given the opportunity to complete work at their own pace. However, now Web-based programs expand on the standard, teacher-centered classroom setting and welcome peer-based interactions online, as well as the exchange of information with others across the world.
Plymouth University is one of many schools that advocates for online learning. The university reports that the concrete skills acquired are not only useful in an online educational setting, but also in the professional world. For example, online courses prepare students to communicate with others through digital interaction, a necessary skill when dealing with both coworkers and clients.
Self-discipline is also a staple of online learning and relevant in modern-day work environments, as those who work from home or have Web-based jobs will know how to handle the demands of managing workloads. Due to the fact these same skills are not as well achieved from traditional classroom settings, workers fear there will be a gap between standard and online learning obtained by their employees.
Generation Gap between Workers
Fortunately, the majority of today’s classrooms are taking a virtual approach in addition to teacher-centered discussions. Students have the opportunity to interact with one another online, complete projects over the Internet and submit material using online interfaces. With these features in place, students obtaining an education today will be granted the same opportunities no matter what type of school they attend.
However, for those that have acquired their degrees in past years when Web-based programs were not yet offered, a generation gap will almost certainly manifest in professional contexts. Julie Chisholm, a lecturer at California State University, published an article on Academe Online that expressed both the pleasure and danger of online teaching and learning. Chisholm found that the viewpoints the instructors had toward online learning were based on their own career paths and where they were on the age-career spectrum.
In general, instructors who were younger and had recently completed online classes themselves were more in favor of online learning. These professors were also more likely to know how to use online programs and found many positive features in utilizing them. On the other hand, professors who were older and hadn’t completed online coursework were less in favor of online education. They lacked the skills required to operate online programs and didn’t have much personal incentive toward learning how to use these systems.
Is Online Learning Better?
A study conducted by East Carolina University looked at the difference between online education and traditional education to determine which was better. Although the study did not conclude that online learning was the better choice, students in the online programs did have improved grades and test scores. Thus while it isn’t clear whether one learning style is superior over the other, it does seem apparent that our changing educational system will impact how employees are regarded in the workplace.
Potential Problems in the Workplace
It’s expected that a generation gap will exist in the professional workplace between online and traditional education. The most common problems that employers will face are a division in the competency of their workers to be able to navigate the Internet and adjust to Web programs and protocol.
Furthermore, the confidence, speed and efficiency that students with online degrees will have under their belts, will make them much more competitive in the workplace. It is likely that these professionals will be able to develop new and innovative alternatives to managing and organizing company information. This knowledge could cause not only generation gaps within the workplace, but also increased negative competition, devalued feelings and an inequality across workers.
Most of the discussion has been in favor of an online education, but what about those that hold traditional degrees and their perspective on an online education? It’s possible that some employers will consider online degrees to be less credible than those from a standard, four-year university. Placing greater importance on this educational learning style will cause further rifts between coworkers.
For instance, workers who attended traditional schools may feel that they hold “real” degrees and went through the rigorous process of applying, being accepted and attending structured classes, making their education and experience more authentic. As such, employers must recognize the advantages to both traditional and online courses, giving each the respect they deserve. With this approach, coworkers will learn to value each other’s diverse backgrounds and be more inclined to look at the experience as a whole instead of how the education was obtained.
Bridging the Gap between Online and Traditional Education
With the potential problems that employers and employees face in the work setting, it’s crucial that online learning is not only understood and respected, but also anticipated. In his article “21st Century Schools: Bridging the Gap Between Traditional and Digital Learning Resources,” Frank B. Withrow point out that the first step toward closing the gap is to ensure that all educational programs allow for modern-day technology. This gives all students the same opportunities, no matter what type of school they chose to attend. It also ensures that all students will be qualified for the same position and acquire equal knowledge and experience.
Yet the bigger dilemma lies in the generation gap that already exists with age, and now educational learning style. Since those who have already achieved their degree from a traditional classroom setting cannot go back in time, employers should provide workers with the option to refresh their skills by taking courses online. Giving all employees the same opportunities will close the gap between these two radically different learning styles, while making all workers feel competent, valued and worthy of promotion.
The addition of the Internet in contemporary society has forced people to not only rethink, but also change the world in which they live. Educational systems have modified their operations to fit the online, global world that exists today. However, for these advancements to be effective, the business world needs to follow suit. By offering workers the same opportunities regardless of their educational backgrounds, employers will be closing the gap between education systems, allowing all of their employees to reap the same benefits.
*Lindsey Wright is fascinated with the potential of emerging educational technologies, particularly the online school, to transform the landscape of learning. She writes about web-based learning, electronic and mobile learning, and the possible future of education.
