I could not agree more.
Young students will probably want to take on-line courses for General Education more frequently than those offered in a classroom setting. However, they may not end up having the same learning outcomes, since they would need to be very motivated and organized. I often see students not managing their time effectively. For older students the situation may be different.
Sarah,
Good points - I believe that there used to be a negative stigma to online degrees, but I believe it mostly, if not completely disappeared.
Best,
Jon
I would hope there would be more of a deciding factor in hiring this person other than the venue for which they received their education in. However, to go along with the question....I would hire the person who completed their degree in an online program.
It is clear that education is transforming and the traditional classroom is no longer the only way to receive an education. As we continue to become more technologically advanced, I believe online education programs will be leading the way.
Seeing the momentum online education has currently, it would be more beneficial to hire the person with the online experience.
Sarah
Kiarash,
Interesting thoughts - I might argue that online instruction has become fairly comparable to on-ground programs, but I am a little biased! :-)
Thanks,
Jon
I think the new technology of education still needs more time to be accepted equally to the traditional one. I would prefer a combination of both methods. These two method are good complementry educational tools.
I agree, the attitudes of employers are shifting, at least to greater acceptance. - Jon
I think there are too many different variables in this situation to really say what one would do. Assuming that the 2 schools - online and on campus - were equal in terms of the level of rigor they provided, I would see the 2 candidates in an equal light and hire based on how the person's personality fit within the department. However, I think many traditionalists would assume the online courses were "easier" and therefore would hire the on campus learner. But I think our society is coming to accept that online courses can provide the same level of learning as on campus courses, and coupled with the higher level of dedication required to successfully complete online courses, the online learner may become more sought after.
I think on-line curse content is improving. But overall I believe that the quality of the individual would determine long term success
Mark:
Both points you have made are well taken. Some institutions with which I have worked have begun delivering proctored exams to their students of graduate courses. The sole purpose behind this is protecting the credibility of their programs.
Quite true; effective time-management is a good sign of a disciplined employee.
Satrohan
This is a great question, because there is no right or wrong answer just our opinion on our perception of an online degree. I have been teaching online for a number of years and I would say all things being equal I would choose the traditional student. Some of the problems I have with online education are that there is no way to be sure who is doing the work, there is no way to monitor exams and online students have the advantage of using every possible resource for all assignments. The traditional student really has to know the material to do well.
There is one advantage that the typical online student has over the traditional on-ground student – time management. They tend to have more things to manage in their life. Many of them work full-time, have kids and a spouse to keep happy. There are others who still live at home and have no other responsibilities in life. These are the ones that most of the time should not be in an online course.
This all assumes that they seem equal in all other areas, including the interview.
Toni:
Yes; one has to consider the soft skills as they are very important to a new hire's success in a new culture. My assumption is that Employers will be more open to online graduates in Higher Degrees----Masters onwards; especially of the candidate ia already working in the field.
Satrohan
This is where you could look to the softer skills to find the best candidate. Hard skills (education) are important but ultimately you want an employee who shows up, has a work ethic, and is a go getter.
I plan to pursue my advanced degree via online classes and would want to be assessed on my education credentials irregardless to the method of delivery.
Andrew:
As a Graphics Designer, how important do you think is your ability to comprehend written communication?
Satrohan
Good Question, I'm in the Graphic Design and Web Design Field.. So it doesn't really matter to me. A. where possible employee received education.
or B. Whether possible employee even has an education.
I rely on portfolio and communication skills. I truly feel though that online courses really help with creating a better communication skill set in students. Not VERBAL but just phrasing yourself in a manor that is easily understandable and most importantly.. in a Timley manor.
Thomas:
You have made several strong points. I often share the same thoughts and have made some observations to support yours about "sanitization" and "correspondence course by e-mail". Having said that, Thomas, I have seen high quality correspondence courses as well as online courses. Most of the quality correspondence courses are from reputable institutions in the United Kingdom. The quality online courses I have seen took an average of 18 months to create and costed approximately 112K, and they were approved by state managed accreditation boards.
Satrohan
I agree as well. Sometimes bookkeeping is a very hands-on, down-and-dirty kind of job where you literally have to sort through shoeboxes of receipts to put together financial statements for a small business. They often have to deal with clients of less than sterling attitudes or dispositions as well as the accountants themselves. Online courses (in the past at least) have "sanitized" a lot of the subject matter by providing the simplest of case studies or examples.
Just the fact that many of the responses on this board have clarified that "as long as the online program is reputable" shows there is an inherit distrust of this kind of education. I think this harkens back to an era of disreputable "correspondence" courses people could take via postal mail (only now it is done via email and the web).
Also in response to another post, there are definitely some occupations that would not lend themselves to online education (no matter what kind of advanced multimedia simulations we may throw at the student) namely:
Doctors
Dentists
Hairdressers
Chefs
Artisans
Charlotte:
It all goes back to the precautions uou mentioned in a previous response, one must take when evaluating the suitability of a candidate for the position.
Satrohan
Yes, I would consider hiring the candidate with a degree from an online course. There are many well-known and not so well-done institutions that are accredited and have competent faculty teaching the courses.
Richard:
There lies the challenge---avoiding illegal questions. For that reason I use tests anchored on the knowledge and skills candidates are required to apply to the job-tasks.
Satrohan
