Differences Between Online and Campus Study
Bryan Wong

Defined Tag: Campus Education.

With the advent of the Internet, it's much easier to obtain
your college degree today than it was just 10 years ago. Not
only can you research accredited institutions via the
Internet, many of those institutions will offer online
courses you can use to obtain your degree as well. Some
institutions, like the University of Phoenix Online, allow
you to earn your degree entirely from online courses.

This is extremely beneficial for working adults and adults
who have families, since neither group can take up
full-time student status with their busy lifestyles. Plus,
it's unlikely they can go to the campus 4-5 times a week
for classes like they could when they left high school, due
to work and parental commitments. 

However, before you decide to take online courses toward
your degree, realize that the learning environment will be
considerably different from a traditional classroom.

First, you will have to do most of the coursework by
yourself; there will only be limited contact with your
online classmates via message boards, instant messaging,
and email. There won't be any physical, social contact
unless you meet your online classmates in person in a study
group. Social contact isn't required to complete online
coursework.

Second, even though it's more convenient to attain your
degree online, it's not necessarily easier workwise. In
fact, due to the scrutiny and doubts of some of their peers,
some professors will expect more work from their online
students than their offline students because of the distance
learning, the medium needed to convey the material, and the
lack of "hands on" teaching. Because students don't have
to attend lectures, it is considered that they should spend
equivalent time on their online work.

Third, with no verbal communication, you have to complete
the online coursework. Some will find that difficult
because they learn better when listening to someone speak,
rather than just reading text online.

However, for those who learn better by reading text, they
should have little problem with online classes. In addition,
those who are shy at offering their opinions in front of a
class may also benefit more from online courses as they can
post their opinions on the message boards and converse with
their fellow classmates without ever revealing their
identities, which could help them be more confident and be
more forthcoming with their opinions and views.

Fourth, many online degree programs are expensive; some are
even more expensive than their campus-based counterpart
courses. Some universities subsidize their campus
operations with their online courses, probably as
compensation for the student not going to the campus, paying
for parking, eating at the cafeteria, using the vending
machines, etc.

However, one advantage in terms of costs when it comes to
online courses is that textbooks are usually not required,
as lectures, additional notes, assignments, and other
materials can usually be downloaded from the Internet.

Fifth, you have more freedom in terms of completing
assignments and taking tests and quizzes; unlike the
traditional classroom, there is no set time for completing
assignments (outside of the end of the semester.) You may
have to take tests and quizzes within a week after they are
announced, but you still have a 7-day period to work with;
in a traditional classroom, the day and hour is decided for
you. That is another reason why online classes are so
beneficial for working adults and parents - the classes can
revolve around their busy lives, not the other way around.

You can get the education you need either via the
traditional classroom on campus or via the online classroom
on the Internet to further your career or change your
career, but be aware that just because the information
provided to you is the same material, the manner in which
you will receive it and the challenges you will face in
learning it won't be the same.

If you need more information on campus or online education
we advice you to visit www.OneStopEducationSearch.com