I understand that they are convenient for most working people, but I can't help thinking that one is sort of getting shortchanged in receiving a thorough educational experience, which includes being in a classroom listening to the passionate speeches of the professor and a vis-a-vis talk with fellow classmates and professors. The way I see it, taking an online course or even an entire program is almost like teaching yourself. I mean I do understand that being enrolled means that the school is provioding some learning structure and providing guidance and such, but still, it's almost like you might as well just buy books and do your own studying. The only drawback to that is your learning won't be "official."

Maybe I'm a bit old-fashioned, but I still like being in a traditional classroom and having a professor physically present to lecture and answer questions. I also like talking to fellow classmates even though I hate talking in class and being put on the hot seat when the professor randomly picks someone in class to talk about whatever is being talked about.

I agree and would be VERY hesitant to hire anyone with an on-line degree.

No offense intended, but on-line coursework is training, not education.

They're for older folks who are typically employed full-time and are looking to expand the knowledge base for promotion, etc. It can be beneficial to someone who did the college thing in their 20's, and just needs to gain some skills for career advancement.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

I disagree. Although I haven't taken an officail online course, I did one class that way. Some local Colleges do online courses with web meeting and group discussion and meetings. Whats the real difference, most traditional courses, you just have to pass the test and hand in assignments. I one way it take a bit more disapline to take online courses. You can also test out of college courses. So you wouldn't hire someone who tested out of a bunch of courses from a major university? Some of the highest paid engineers don't have degrees. They got their 'knowlege' by on hands experience. Mostly english guys who raced on old airport tarmacs over in England. Also think of the likes of Robert Yates etc. in NASCAR. I know of a few people who have taken these courses. I think most had a previous degree of some sort. I would hire them.
Tom

I'm taking an online math course right now in addition to my three (not online classes) and love it. You go at your own pace (within reason of course, there's homework due dates and quizzes but tests are in person), and if you don't get something you just look at the example of how to do a problem again.

It's really much easier than going into class, sitting there for two hours, being bored stiff by a math lecture and then going home and saying, that was a waste of time, it didn't help me at all.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Oh, I perfectly understand that! I don't mean to say that having a degree makes one better or more qualified than someone who doesn't. My argument, if there is one, is that one might be missing out on some aspects of higher learning by taking online courses. I can argue that having a degree makes you no smarter or better than someone who doesn't have one. One person I admire greatly is Kenneth Burke who has no official degree yet has contributed greatly to academia. In fact, I'm leaning toward the idea of self learning over continuing my schooling (PhD).

That's true, but also take into account some of these online things require really good time management. In a live class you can slack off and not even touch the textbook as long as you listen to the prof's lectures. You have to do the work yourself and motivate yourself in the online classes.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

* The value of the education from online study, just as it was with correspondence or "distance" learning, depends a lot on the subject matter. If you're trying to do an engineering degree without the labs and hands-on workshops, it's going to have limited value. That's probably why there are fairly few online undergraduate degree programs in ME compared to, say, IT degrees.
* But I can tell you from personal experience that a distance learning program in something like mathematics will get you involved with the subject like you would never get in the classroom. I started my math degree, during my 4 yr military tour, through correspendence with the same university that I attended after the military, to finish the degree. The problem-set assignments in the correspondence course basically amounted to doing the whole book. The assignments in class were no way near as hard or as thorough. Math is one of those subjects where new ideas can take some time to "digest". And the distance/correspondence venue was perfect for that kind of maturation.
* However, in defense of campus life and the classroom format, if you have in place some ready and able (and free?) help-tutoring, you can move a lot faster through some difficult ideas. But then help is a mixed blessing. Ideas, IMO, stick a lot better and spawn more creative work if you had to work the ideas out alone.
* When I'm value shopping the after market for Mercedes parts, I start with Mercedes quality and price on a particular part and use that as a baseline. You can do the same thing with the classroom course outline from a good university in your subject, comparing to the course outline from an online alternative school, course by course. It's not the whole picture but you'll get some useful hints.

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I learned a lot more in school interacting with my fellow students than I did sitting in a classroom, usually.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I've been using alternative pedagogical techniques for many years. Whether it works or not depends on the kinds of course, students and instructors. For instance, teaching Speech or a Chemistry lab on-line is going to be very difficult. Teaching plumbing code or the history of philosophy is much easier.
You do lose interaction with other students in the classroom. This can be either good or bad. If you're 45yrs old, returning to school, do you want to spend your classroom time interacting with 18yr olds? You can also avoid those teachers who think education consists of putting 18yr old students together in a group and expecting them to develop the history of sociology sui generis. On the other hand, it's easier for me to get a student to think through a difficult philosophical problem face to face.
These kinds of classes are usually ideal for people with out of the norm schedules like firefighters.
I always offer the option of face to face meetings with the instructor in these kinds of classes.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I took online classes during high school.. (I had 7 classes one term while everyone else had 4 normal classes).. It was easy but hard at the same time since I have this thing where I get distracted and then dont do my work..

but I passed all of the classes with at least a mid B to a low A

There are different levels of learning and of mental processes. If you are learning information to regurgitate, an online course is fine, like arithmetic or vocabulary. If you get up into critical thinking, analysis, etc it is better to take a live course. Watch that grad students teach a lot of courses these days. Get the real thing, an inspired professor.

Much of education is a sales pitch these days, anyway. Learn the difference between advertising and information. Much of "science" is a marketing technique.

Completely agree...I mean how can a US corporation successfully find more over paid, self serving and complacent middle management without a full education gained on campus like;

Beer Bonging
Pongo
Keg hand standing
and fraternity hazing....

Without that kind of education, how can a person be ready for corporate America...c'mon people !

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Showing up every day isn't enough. There are a lot of guys who show up every day who shouldn't have showed up at all. - James Caan

They're cute, you like it too, admit it.

We will have to disagree on this one. On-line coursework may be useful training, but it is not an education.

You're absolutely right - the only reason to attend university is to beer bong, keg stand, and haze.