There’s an old joke about the value of a liberal arts degree. It goes, ‘A science student asks, ‘Why does that work?’ An engineering student asks, ‘How does that work?’ A business student asks, ‘How much does that cost?’ And a liberal arts student asks, ‘Do you want fries with that?’ ’ As we progress deeper into the digital age, traditional higher education as we know it is becoming more and more of a punchline. As InsideHigherEd.com has noted the number of colleges dedicated primarily to liberal arts has dwindled from 212 in 1999 to just 137. The transition in higher education is clearly shifting toward the practical, vocational end of the spectrum. That trend won’t be reversing anytime soon.
In fact, we’re willing to go out on a limb and say that the traditional, on-site university model will give way in popularity to the growing online education format by 2020, and here are 10 reasons why.
1. The economy is awful, and online education can be fairly inexpensive.
CNN posted this article showing that many people are turning to online education to begin or improve their careers. Online universities have experienced a major bump during the recession, and that trend could easily continue no matter what happens to the economy.
2. Many schools already offer courses online . . . for free!
MIT shocked the world when it launched its Open Courseware program, which now includes 1,900 of the courses offered at the capital of the brainiac world.The theory is that availability to the coursework will generate interest in the full on-site programs. But the other side of the coin is that they’re simply catering to the preferences of really smart people who prefer to learn, interact, (and sometimes even party) on their computers. Many schools offer public versions of their private educations, which is part great publicity and part delaying the inevitable.
3. College-age students in 2020 will have grown up online.
Computers have been in classrooms as early as kindergarten for quite some time, but the prevalence of high-speed Internet access in schools and in the lives of preschoolers is more recent. A study by the National School Boards Foundation showed that the number one reason why parents buy computers and high-speed Internet service is for education. From a younger age than ever before, kids are learning to learn online. As it becomes an accepted part of the education process, online learning will become the default option for many.
4. Everyone will have broadband.
Universal, nationwide broadband is a major focus of the FCC, as evidence by the $7.2 billion in funding it’s already received from the stimulus package. There’s much debate as to how long it will take to plan and implement the massive infrastructure required to make broadband available to all, but when it is, you can be sure that online education will become much more popular.
5. VOIP can erase the ‘detached’ nature of online education.
VOIP video conferencing can bring many of the benefits of on-site universities into the online realm. Students who want to engage with their professors and fellow students will easily be able to do so by 2020 without paying a dime for room and board.
6. Much of the traditional academic world detracts from the learning process.
Very few students complain about having too much fun in college, but the reality is that $30,000 a year is an awful lot to spend for a better opportunity to party. Social networking affords online students the chance to interact in a meaningful way without the late nights and liver damage. And the administrative hassles and unwanted drama of campus life are deleted in the online world.
7. Online education is growing and it’s just getting started.
Distance education has been around forever, but the online university model is still relatively new—and it’s growing. Innovations continue to mount with each passing year as technology opens more doors for greater progress. Before long, the novelty of online learning will give way to a mainstream standard that will make online secondary and graduate education just as popular as their brick-and-mortar counterparts.
8. Online is unrestricted.
Traditional university education is essentially an all-or-nothing pursuit. It is next to impossible to maintain a full-time job (or a hefty part-time position or a gig as a stay-at-home mom or dad) as well as be enrolled at a major university. But online education is easily customizable to almost any living and working situation. Students who graduate high-school and think ‘what now?’ will always have a place in the university dorms. But many people with a focused plan for their lives and who want to hit the ground running will choose online education for its convenience and flexibility.
9. More and more people will live online.
Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and all the social networks are not exclusively for techies, narcissists, and people just looking to kill time. People are spending increasing amounts of time connected to their online societies through desktops, laptops,and smart phones. It’s a 2.0 world, and by 2020, it will probably be a 3.0 or 5.0 world (whatever that will mean). It’s just a given fact that technology is becoming increasingly woven into our lifestyles, so education entering into that is part of the natural progression.
10. Online degrees are gaining in respect.
It used to be that an online degree was something you would hide on your resume—and for some people, it still may be that way. But the truth is, unless your degree is from an elite school, the name of your university pulls very little weight. It’s your degree and your experience that count. Online students have the flexibility to get experience many undergrads just don’t have. By 2020, don’t be surprised if having an online degree is a point of pride that shows a serious dedication to learning practical skills.
If you are looking into pursuing higher education online, please use the form below to browse online universities, online degrees and different courses offered.
What do you think? Will the online education outdraw traditional universities by 2020? We think so.
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