What Should I Look for in an Online Program?

Hundreds of colleges and universities have started offering online and distance learning courses. Although this great expansion of opportunity has made education available to some who could never have attended a traditional university, some programs do not reach their full potential, whether through lack of work or difficulties translating their traditional coursework in to the digital setting.

1. Proper Use of Technology

One of the keys to finding a good online program is to look at the way the school treats the technology it is using. Some programs are overwhelmed with the novelty of the technology, and pour their efforts into using the latest tech, gadgets, and applications rather than focusing on the fundamental academic base of their courses.

A good online education program will start with the coursework and find ways to transmit that knowledge using the technology rather than looking for some knowledge to slap on to new technology. The best schools will have a strong, established curriculum to build on.

2. Clear, Focused Course Work

The explosion of online education has increased competition between educational institutions and, as a result, honed the quality of many programs, but there are still some that are not as rigorous as possible. These issues are typically institutional, so going over a sample syllabus or curriculum for a course or two can help to make a good decision between two programs.

3. A Strong, Dedicated Administration Team

A good distance learning program will have a strong administrative team, as well as a strong faculty. The administration and business end of a school has a huge impact on how well their instructors perform. A well administered institution will treat its employees, including its instructors, with respect and professionalism.

4. Accreditation, Accreditation, Accreditation

One of the most important factors in determining the quality of an educational institution is whether or not the institution is accredited. Accreditation is a process by which educational institutions prove that they are committed to high quality processes in administration, admissions, and academics. Accreditation is an involved process, and most accrediting bodies hold information on the status of schools under their supervision. Make sure to ask any distance learning program whether or not they are accredited. Lack of accreditation can prevent you from being eligible for federal financial aid programs, and future jobs.

5. Interaction Between Students and Teachers

In a well-run distance learning program, courses will be broken into sections with online discussion or chat so that students and instructors can interact and work together to get the most out of the material. This interaction with both professors and students is absolutely vital. Not only will it ensure that you can function in group settings, but it allows for various points-of-view on reading and other course materials. While you may think you have the best and only opinion, you'd be surprised by how much you can learn from your fellow classmates.

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