Sample
I figured I would post a sample for people to see: (this was not used on a real site):
Online Education Pros and Cons: Look Before You Leap
Technological advances of the 21st Century, in conjunction with the potential and the integration of the Internet in our daily lives, have changed how we live several decades ago. A few basic problems still remain, such as limited employment opportunities, increasing expenses, the rate of inflation, and so on. However, the faith and belief in the power of knowledge and education, the core reason how we have come so far from the stone age, is as firm as it ever was. The need of the hour in the field of education has given rise to an online education system. This enables people to study what they wish, from the comfort of home, while upgrading their career, or giving it that needed boost. They also will not have to compromise on that hike in salary, which is always visible but never reachable.
Most of the traditionally offline schools and universities now offer online opportunities as well, in which to cater to students who prefer an alternative method of education and want to have more freedom and flexibility. There are also many independent online schools, which are equally reputed, accredited and rewarding. However, due to traditional teaching methods holding strong during this transitional phase among several organizations, many students are wary of pursuing online education.
There is no doubt that due to the advanced technology used today, online schools have instituted the best techniques possible to ensure that a student who is choosing online courses is offered the same curriculum a student visiting the school physically is offered. However, some things cannot be changed with technology, and there are unavoidable limitations imposed by the law of nature. Here we will discuss a few pros and cons of online education and leave it to you to choose what best fits your needs, according to your preferences and suitability.
Pros –
Convenience & Flexibility - These are easily the two most important benefits you will derive from online education. The idea of furthering your education from the comfort of your own home and on your own time schedule may be very appealing. You have the ability to take your quota of online courses anytime and anywhere with the Internet and PC. The semester and quarter system too generally doesn’t prevail in an online education system, no matter what course you have chosen.
Cost – Due to less overhead expenses, online education is significantly more cost effective than its “brick and mortar” counterpart. However, attaining your desired degree may be reward enough to not make this a concern.
Control – Managing time becomes your responsibility when you are taking online courses. You control when you want to have classes or even when you want to schedule tests. You can easily create your own routine and prepare for your exams more effectively. Taking online courses can save time, helping you prepare more efficiently for exams, which improves your results.
Reputation – Most of the online schools are accredited with the necessary licenses and authorization to conduct education courses. The degree you earn is recognized widely and thus, you need not worry about its authenticity.
Cons-
Physical Interaction – In most cases, you will not meet your professor, though there is an option of speaking with your professor over Skype or another messenger system. However, there is usually a limit on the time you get and it might not always be enough.
Perception – This is the single biggest disadvantage of online education and why many students fear beginning online courses. Many organizations have the perception that online education cannot be as good as its physical counterpart. Even though the curriculum is the same, the level of dedication and knowledge the student has in the subject, as well as the quality of the education given, is in question by these organizations. Thus, students having an online degree can often be discounted as a job applicant versus a candidate having a degree from a “brick and mortar” institution and this scares away many prospective students. However, it is good to note that this perception of online education is changing.
Tech Requirements – Due to the constant use of computers with online education, there is the need for some basic computer knowledge. You will need to understand how to work with PDF, Microsoft Word and Excel files, as well as how to type and access the Internet. You must also have continuous access to a working computer and Internet service to join education courses online.
Socialization – Though online institutions encourage interacting with other online students, there most likely will not be any social interaction with other classmates. You will miss out on meeting people and making friends, which can possibly hurt your networking potential.
Campus – Your home or workplace is your campus. To younger students looking for a more social atmosphere this may sound discouraging. However, full-time working professionals, who are looking to boost their career, do not find this to be a problem.
