Online classes entice students and administrators

-- Sandy Sweep

Online learning, also known as “distance education,” has come a long way from the correspondence courses promoted 20 years ago on television. According to William Bradshaw, president of Metropolitan State University, “Online courses offer comprehensive instruction and affordability.” Bradshaw also sees Metropolitan as the MnSCU leader in online opportunities.

That is true. Any student can browse through the fall 2005 registration book and see there are more than 100 online course offerings. They can also see that they cost more, which brings up some questions: Why do they cost more? What is the benefit? And what is the future of Metropolitan in regard to online learning?

Presently, online learning is progressing as fast as technology will allow. Results from a study of online learning, done by Sloan-C Resources, indicate that online enrollment is rapidly accelerating, up from 19.9 percent in 2003 to 24.8 percent in fall 2004. That is a change from 1.9 million students to 2.6 million students. And, as anyone who has owned a game system can attest, it only takes a year for technology to become obsolete. Thus, keeping up with technology advances costs money.

Minnesota Online oversees all online education for the MnSCU system. Gary Langer, associate vice chancellor for Minnesota Online, said “We have been fortunate to have $4.3 million in congressional awards to help us ‘ramp up’ our programs and services.” Langer also added that leveraging monies and having MnSCU schools work together reduces costs and provides greater accessibility to a central online system with one call center, one help desk and a virtual library. As the infrastructure expands and more faculty is trained, Langer says, costs should decrease.

But, if for now, online courses cost more, what is the benefit to the student? The cost for a four-credit class on campus is about $585, a four-credit class online is about $769. But, add in the cost of $2.50 per week for parking (at St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses), and that’s an additional $37.50. Consider the rising cost of gas prices for the drive, and the price difference doesn’t seem so extreme.

There are other benefits of online classes for both the student and the university. Said one history major at Metropolitan, “I am a full-time wife, mother, employee and student, and the fact that I can come home at the end of the day, eat dinner with my family, and go to class in my p.j.’s is priceless to me.”

Barbara Keinath, director of the Center for Online Learning, explains additional benefits, saying, “Online learning may be necessary due to frequent travel, shift work or transportation problems. [Also,] students who live some distance from a place [where] they can earn a degree often see online learning as their only option.”

Metropolitan offers full degree programs, from bachelor’s to master’s degrees, all online. Bradshaw points out, Metropolitan’s online courses are 100 percent online, with no additional class or lab time required.

Moreover, in the same study by Sloan-C Resources, three-fourths of academic leaders at public universities believe that online learning is superior or equal to face- to-face instruction.

Colleges and universities are able to expand their student population by enrolling online students who would otherwise be unable to attend campus classes. Raising student enrollment figures benefits the university financially.

Thus, online learning is a major player in the future of higher education, and the university is doing its part to keep students in the game. Online learning offers “instructional variety,” says Bradshaw. And in a fast-paced world, instructional variety means success.

The Sloan-C Resources study can be found at www.aln.org/resources/survey.asp

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