Online Education - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Online education is opening global doors to learning. Many people who may not have had the time to commit to school or the ability to move close to a college campus are now able to have access to education through their personal internet connection. Online education has evolved significantly and changed to suit a greater volume of students with more demands in the workforce for higher education. The following article will explain how online education got its start, where it is currently and some thoughts for the future of online education.

History of Online Education

Decades ago people were able to take some forms of education through correspondence by mail. This type of program usually consisted of a student receiving reading material and then being marked on their knowledge via quizzes or papers which were then sent via mail.

This process evolved in the 1980?s as businesses began to use computer technology and programs to train employees through special software. Finally around the late 1990?s online programs were beginning to be offered to take the occasional online course or small program, though in many cases students were required to send in their testing materials and papers by mail to be marked. In the early 2000?s web technology and speeds changed drastically, allowing professors to record their lessons via webcams and send large files electronically to all of their students. This was the start of what online education is today.

Distance Learning Today

In its current state, online education comes in many forms.

There are public school learning aids which can be found online to help students in elementary school study. Research can be done online and programs can be accessed by high school students to help them achieve better results in their classes. Finally comes actual classes, offered by many online colleges and universities worldwide. A student now can take just about any college program from the comfort of their own home. Mailing in papers and being tested can all be done online, and there are many interactive tools to have students communicate with each other, and become actively engaged in learning in a similar way that they would in a classroom. Online education has become quite commonplace and degrees which are earned through online colleges are accredited on par with degrees which are earned through traditional institutions.

The Future of Online Education

For the future of online education, there is a good chance that it may become even more wide spread. Current employment demands require a higher level of education. Many working professionals are required to hold at least a bachelor?s degree now. In order to accommodate this increase in students, the most cost effective way to do so is through online college programs. Building the proper facilities on a campus to match the demand is nearly impossible. Education costs are rising and one of the most affordable ways to get a degree is to take it through an online college. With changing technology the format for classes and online education in online colleges is sure to become more interactive and potentially more engaging than the traditional classroom environment.

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