Week 1 Article 1

Title:

How Will an Online Degree Affect Your Chances of Getting Hired?

Bibliography:

McGolerick, Elizabeth How Will an Online Degree Affect Your Chances of Getting Hired?. Retrieved April 5, 2007, from MSN Encarta Web site: http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/departments/elearning/?article=HowWillOnlineDegree&GT

Summary:

This article looks to address how Human Resource (HR) managers perceive the value of online degrees. The author states that the same accrediting bodies evaluate both traditional and online schools determining that both are worthy of being accredited. In other words saying both can provide a quality education. The author questions whether or not HR managers give the same value to online degrees as they do traditional degrees. She quotes several HR managers, and they each interpret online degrees differently. Next the author addressed how important the educational experience is and the focus should not just be on completing the degree. According to the Sloan Consortium 40.7 percent of schools offering online courses agree that students are at least as satisfied with their online courses as their on-campus courses. As on individual that was interviewed stated, “Having a faculty member who is well trained can make online learning as social as—if not more social than—a typical on-campus experience.” The author closes the article by discussing how e-students have to work on educating hiring managers about the value of online degrees.

Reaction:
My personal educational background includes a degree from the University of Phoenix (UOP); I earned this degree by going to class one night a week and participating in study group activities each weekend. Yet UOP is known as one of the leading online schools. I wonder how many hiring managers assume my degree was completed online when it wasn’t. This speaks to the point the author makes regarding universities that award both types of degrees, and the fact that they often don’t differentiate between the two types of degrees on diplomas. Is this a good or bad thing? Next I would like to discuss the statement made by Murray Fetzer, director of operation for Cen-Clear Child Services. He is quoted, “Although pursuing an online degree is a commitment, the traditional student is committed at a different level, and I believe, gets more out of their education. Your colleagues are a critical part of the learning process.” I whole-heartedly agree with the last sentence in his statement, yet I can not agree with the first part. I don’t think online students are any more or any less dedicated than a traditional student. I would hope that you would agree with me that you get out of your education what you put into it. I still wonder why there is such a surge in online class enrollments. Are students taking online classes because they are more convenient? Are online courses perceived as being easier? What I do believe is that we as future educators must strive to develop online courses that are as rigorous as traditional courses. We must be creative in assessing our students’ learning as well as being vigilant in critiquing our own work. Are we teaching what we set out to teach? There is no doubt that online learning is challenging educational institutions to respond to the demand. Students want online degrees, and faculty have been charged with educating their students. Now, as faculty, are we also required to educate hiring officials about the value of online degrees?