Online education is expanding in leaps and bounds. U.S. News
& World Report recently wrote that 25% of all students are taking at
least one course online in 2008. This was a 17% increase from 2007.
Students have discovered online classes from high school through
post-graduate school. The evidence is even stacking up that students
learn their lessons just as well through online teaching as face-to-face
class work, if not better. There's no reason to believe the number of
students getting a degree on line will do anything but grow.
Also among the growing e-learning student body are working professionals. Business and government leaders are now going online as a convenient and time efficient method to train their personnel. Employees of all stripes have to constantly stay on top of the latest changes and innovations in their profession, and not only can they do it quickly through going online, but more cost effectively. They are talking about brushing up on changing rules and regulations (such as Obama's new health care policies) or the latest changes in federal income tax law or some sort of time management innovation. It provides the employer a higher skilled level of personnel, while it helps the employee climb the corporate ladder.
The private sector isn't the only one capitalizing on this trend. Online education has proven to be so effective the U.S. Air Force announced all its personnel orientation and supervisor training through e-learning through online colleges. The approach allows military students and workers to get online educations without interrupting their careers, both when they are stationed overseas and when awaiting assignment at a domestic base.
The Air Force has developed a special program to handle its new recruits, as well as its outside contractors. New civilian employees and contractors can take courses on how to conduct Air Force business through a series of seven online modules. It's becoming an incredible success with nearly 8,000 people using the system already. Likewise, the service requires the 4,000 new supervisors every year to complete a minimum of three virtual classes.
One reason the online approach works so well for employers is their personnel can work on their classes literally any time they are free, thus not having to take time off of work to go to a brick-and-mortar school. Some classes also allow webcams so they can communicate over live video links with their instructors and fellow classmates.
So how rapidly is this form of education growing? It's become so popular some schools have to turn students away from its projects, particularly when it comes to a masters degree. The Air Force accepted just 150 of the 600 applicants for its free classes in military operational art and science.
Other government agencies should be following the Air Force's example. The country's Health and Human Services Department is already offering e-learning for its employees. Many soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan are taking virtual classes when they aren't on patrol, all on the Army's tab.
Also among the growing e-learning student body are working professionals. Business and government leaders are now going online as a convenient and time efficient method to train their personnel. Employees of all stripes have to constantly stay on top of the latest changes and innovations in their profession, and not only can they do it quickly through going online, but more cost effectively. They are talking about brushing up on changing rules and regulations (such as Obama's new health care policies) or the latest changes in federal income tax law or some sort of time management innovation. It provides the employer a higher skilled level of personnel, while it helps the employee climb the corporate ladder.
The private sector isn't the only one capitalizing on this trend. Online education has proven to be so effective the U.S. Air Force announced all its personnel orientation and supervisor training through e-learning through online colleges. The approach allows military students and workers to get online educations without interrupting their careers, both when they are stationed overseas and when awaiting assignment at a domestic base.
The Air Force has developed a special program to handle its new recruits, as well as its outside contractors. New civilian employees and contractors can take courses on how to conduct Air Force business through a series of seven online modules. It's becoming an incredible success with nearly 8,000 people using the system already. Likewise, the service requires the 4,000 new supervisors every year to complete a minimum of three virtual classes.
One reason the online approach works so well for employers is their personnel can work on their classes literally any time they are free, thus not having to take time off of work to go to a brick-and-mortar school. Some classes also allow webcams so they can communicate over live video links with their instructors and fellow classmates.
So how rapidly is this form of education growing? It's become so popular some schools have to turn students away from its projects, particularly when it comes to a masters degree. The Air Force accepted just 150 of the 600 applicants for its free classes in military operational art and science.
Other government agencies should be following the Air Force's example. The country's Health and Human Services Department is already offering e-learning for its employees. Many soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan are taking virtual classes when they aren't on patrol, all on the Army's tab.
