Even if you do much of your work online and socialize online, there may be challenges when it comes to online learning. If it’s your first online class, you’re not only facing a learning curve about the subject matter, but what it takes to do your best in an online classroom.

Dr. Diane Hamilton, author of “The Online Student’s User Manual” who teaches online courses for six universities, shares some of her tips for being a successful online college student.

Q: What technology skills should students gain before starting an online course?

A: They have to know how to upload files and how to understand the classroom and how it’s laid out (online). They’re not just opening the door and walking in. Sometimes there’s four of five different areas where they have to look for information (such as homework assignments).

Q: What can older learners who may not be as tech-savvy do to prepare?

A: I have a lot of sympathy for the older learner. There are a lot of tutorials online that are free. I have links that I always put in my classrooms, such as how to set up papers, how to set up a PowerPoint. They don’t have a good idea of how to set up documents.

Q: What are the biggest mistakes online students should avoid?

A: There’s a lot of buzz terminology that they need to know about so they don’t get into class and become overwhelmed by the terminology (words like “search engine” or “rubric”). Use basic “netiquette,” with the proper way of speaking to one another and being respectful. You can’t type in all caps because that means you’re yelling. Also, texting has been the way people communicate, but this is a formal environment and you need to write in complete sentences. Students are sometimes not using capitalization and they’re doing other things like they’re texting (instead of) being in the formal classroom.

Q: What’s an online tool for communicating with professors and peers that students should use?

A: Some of the schools set up a chat room (for the course), which is a really good thing. I also set up my own if the school doesn’t set up one. It’s like standing in the hallway talking. The bachelor students want to talk in the chat rooms, but tend to be more shy in terms of talking to the professor. I will post kind of funny YouTube things to lighten the mood to get people posting and talking to each other and to make me more approachable and make them realize I’m not a scary person. I have a Facebook page for my online students. I also have a blog. I have Twitter. I tell all my students, this is how you reach me on all those different areas.

Q: How does online learning appeal to different personalities?

A: I think that a lot of introverts really find online learning appealing for the fact that an introvert tends to think internally before speaking. They can take time to process their information and backspace and retype. With an extrovert, it’s appealing in another way. Sometimes they say, “I wish I hadn’t said that.” They have a chance to delete before posting it.

-Lori Johnston

Online education has gotten a lot of media attention recently, but for all of the wrong reasons. False promises, astronomical student loans, and other unethical activity have been the focus of these articles. If you are considering an online degree program, don’t let this bad press put a damper on your education dreams. Here’s much better news: While a small number of online colleges have indeed exhibited some allegedly shady behavior at the expense of students, it is very important to know that the majority of online programs do hold themselves to much higher standards.

It’s an unfortunate situation when the minority causes problems for the majority—and that is exactly why the Education Marketing Council (EMC), an affiliate of the Direct Marketing Association, was formed in May of this year. Since much of the trouble with online education stems from how the programs themselves are marketed to students, EMC seeks to recognize and promote ethical marketing practices so that both students and the institutions can benefit.

The purpose of EMC is to provide education and information in order to encourage ethical marketing practices online programs, including effective guidelines, research, a website forum, and a resource directory. EMC is divided into five committees: Best Practices, Education, Marketing, Membership, and Organizing. The founding members of EMC include some of the top names in the education marketing world: EducationDynamics, ClassesUSA, Datamark, PlattForm Advertising, The CollegeBound Network, CUNet, All Star Directories, Avenue 100, Greenwood & Hall, QuinStreet, and XL Education.

This is certainly a big step in the right direction for online education. While some schools have a lot more to do in repairing the marred reputation of online for-profit education, other schools that have been ethical in their actions and have always worked for the best interests of students can still benefit from the examples set by EMC. After all, education is a business, and for businesses to prosper, clients—in this case, students—must be happy.

–Barbara Bellesi

When he proposed to spend $500 million toward expanding student access to online education, President Obama put a definitive stamp of approval on eLearning. The administration plans to fund open courses online, which would be available – for free – through one or more community colleges and the Department of Defense’s distributed-learning network.

With the prez speaking loud and clear about the importance of access to education through online learning, we decided to find out what some other great thinkers have been saying about eLearning since its inception. Here’s a roundup of our favorite online education quotes:

“Online learning is not the next big thing; it is the now big thing.”
- Donna J. Abernathy, past editor of Training + Development Magazine (1999)

If online learning was the “now big thing” in 1999, why are we still questioning its merits?

“Online learning will rapidly become one of the most cost-effective ways to educate the world’s expanding workforce.”
- Mark Bonner, PricewaterhouseCoopers (1999)

Eleven years later, it’s obvious that Mr. Bonner’s prediction was spot-on and is echoed in the president’s goal for the U.S. to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.

“Education is the only business still debating the usefulness of technology.”
- Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary of Education (2002)

Love it. Isn’t it ridiculous for education to lag behind in an innovation that has revolutionized communication, workflow, and information dissemination? That doesn’t sound very “educated” to us.

“There are two fundamental equalizers in life – the Internet and education.”
- John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems (1999)

Once upon a time, higher education was reserved for high society. No more – with a country driven more and more toward equal opportunity than elitism, the Internet offers an unparalleled opportunity to bring education to everyone.

“Five years from now on the Web for free you’ll be able to find the best lectures in the world. It will be better than any single university.”
- Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft (2010)

In his speech at the Techonomy conference, Gates predicted that technology could soon make place-based learning five times less important for college and university students. How much do you think a billionaire’s opinion is worth?

“College, except for the parties, needs to be less place-based.”
-Ibid.

‘Nuff said.

What are your favorite eLearning quotes?

-Robyn Tellefsen

Online learning keeps getting better and better. Not only are the numbers of online degree programs increasing, but in the spirit of the flexibility that comes with virtual learning, some schools are allowing students to “customize” the degrees they earn online, too.

Customizing degrees is something schools have been offering in the traditional classroom format, and it’s crossover into the realm of online education is a natural fit.

The accredited degrees, often called a Bachelor of General Studies and requiring 120 credit hours, foster flexibility by letting you work at their own pace and tailoring your degree to the areas of study that are interesting to you and directly related to your career dreams.

In fact, in today’s job market, having a degree that incorporates a variety of disciplines may be the best move for you, as employers, human resource professionals, and post-graduate programs are seeking versatile job candidates with a well-rounded educational background.

Texas Tech University’s Bachelor of General Studies online helps students treat their education individually. At Texas Tech, students don’t have to chose a major and a minor (we know it’s sometimes hard to narrow your interests down in that way), but can study a variety of fields in depth that fit their interests, career goals, and needs.

Here’s how it could work. If you want to be a teacher, the Bachelor of General Studies at Texas Tech would let you concentrate on math, physics, and our teaching certification in secondary education. If you want to be a lawyer, you could focus on economics, communication students, and general business. Those with an entrepreneurial spirit who imagine owning a global business in the future could focus on Japan, Asian studies, and general business.

Columbia College, based in Columbia, Mo., recognizes that all of its majors not be appropriate for everyone, so it also offers the ability to design your own online degree. Students work with an advisor to integrate coursework from a liberal arts and sciences curriculum, essentially building the Bachelor of General Studies degree around a variety of minors.

The University of North Dakota’s Bachelor of General Studies emphasizes the independent study nature of these degrees. The Bachelor of General Studies focuses on helping students improve their critical thinking abilities and communications skills by studying liberal arts areas such as the fine arts, social studies, humanities, and natural sciences and mathematics.

University of Missouri’s Bachelor of General Studies is an online program that meets the needs of folks who have an associate degree or taken 60 credit hours before dropping out, and now are seeking to return to college. In this degree completion program, the “major” is actually comprised of courses from three component areas. You can craft your own program by completing 15 credit hours in three subject areas, picking from English, business, education studies, social sciences, and humanities. The remaining hours are comprised of electives and general education courses. The schools notes that it’s not a good choice for those who already have a bachelor’s degree, but those with an associate degree or trying to re-enter the academic world could realize this is just for them.

These customized degrees allow you to focus on exactly the education you need for career success (and maybe keep some students from switching majors several times, too). Smart schools are offering not just an online setting that appeals to students, but are seeking to provide a quality education that’s a perfect match for each individual student.

-Lori Johnston

Online education through traditional college and universities is nothing new – in fact, the University of Massachusetts and Penn State University have been doing it quite well for some time. Now, the University of California (UC) system is testing the waters and considering its own commitment to online education. UC is currently reviewing a proposal to expand the system’s online offerings to eventually include fully online bachelor’s degree programs.

Building a Cyber Campus
A pilot program, which has been approved to begin as early as this fall, will consist of 25 to 40 low-level courses. Only current UC students will be eligible to enroll in the online courses, which will make use of the latest online teaching tools, including live chats and videoconferencing. Courses may include calculus, economics, chemistry, and physics, as well as freshman composition, sociology, and world history.

UC professors will develop the syllabi and deliver the lessons but, as is already the case in many large universities, graduate assistants may lead discussion groups and grade assignments under the professors’ supervision. According to the online expansion proposal, graduate student-instructors are to be the “frontline of contact” with online students. This model will certainly decrease costs, but will it decrease quality as well? That’s a question that will hopefully be answered by the conclusion of the pilot program.

The Million-Dollar Question
Another – and perhaps greater – source of contention is one that has dogged online education since its inception: Will the online format deliver the same quality education as traditional, face-to-face instruction? A stated goal of the pilot program is to assess the “effectiveness, cost, and sustainability of online education.” The university system needs to affirm the quality of online courses before going further in its expansion efforts.

The Berkeley Faculty Association in particular has referenced “the academic-intellectual benefits of university culture,” implying that online students may not receive the complete university experience, which would then weaken the overall reputation of a UC degree.

But proponents of the plan emphasize the role of online education in enriching the on-campus experience, not replacing it. The online classroom cannot – and should not – replicate the traditional classroom. Each delivery model carries its own unique benefits and drawbacks.

And doesn’t it seem that, in this digital age, we should have moved past the online degree quality question already? Hasn’t research continued to prove its value as well as its acceptance by employers? Of course, just like traditional education programs, not all online programs were created equal. So let’s judge each online course/program/degree/university on its own merit or lack thereof.

Comment away: What do you think about UC’s forthcoming online pilot program? Do you perceive online degrees as valuable?

-Robyn Tellefsen

Everybody knows online education means you can learn anytime, anywhere – a major motivation for students on the go. But flexibility is not the only reason to pursue an eDegree. Consider nine more:

1. Famous people are doing it.
Just look at the NBA – Shaq earned a degree online, as did Jalen Rose. Lisa Leslie of WNBA fame scored an online degree as well. Celebs aren’t always famous for making good choices, but in the case of online education, their decisions are right on the money.

2. You can study crazy cool stuff.
Traditional colleges don’t have the corner on wacky electives. When you study online, a whole new realm of wild classes emerges, like mushroom growing, theme park engineering, and hip hop. Why be content with your local school’s offerings when you could sample fun courses from around the world?

3. Distance education has been around for, like, ever.
Students started taking correspondence courses in the 1840s, radio courses in the 1920s, TV courses in the 1970s, and online courses in the 1990s. So when you complete a course from the comfort of your living room, you can say you’re following in the footsteps of your forefathers.

4. You can get career education for any field.
Even if your collar skews more blue than white, online education’s got something to offer. The first accredited degree-granting online institution devoted to educating union members is opening this fall, with courses designed to meet the training needs of the nation’s labor force. No matter where you work, online ed’s got your back.

5. Earning a degree online is a major accomplishment.
It’s one thing to get a project done when your professor is breathing down your neck; it’s quite another to finish your work at 3 a.m. when your house is sleeping and the only one keeping you awake is you. If you can complete an online degree, you’re showing the world that self-discipline, time management, and perseverance are skills you’ve got in spades.

6. There are eDegrees you never knew existed.
You would expect to find online degree programs in computer science or Web design. But did you know you can also earn degrees in subjects like agricultural sciences, counseling, and veterinary technology? Even if your program requires clinical experience, you can still take your theoretical courses online.

7. You can save your change.
Sure, online degrees don’t come cheap (or easy). But distance education does yield some major cost savings, like transportation, parking, tolls, eating out, and other expenses you might incur on the go. And let’s not forget about the high price of room and board, nonexistent for online learners.

8. Your program might naturally lend itself to online learning.
For programs like business, technology, health care management, and criminal justice technology, online degrees can be just as good as – if not better than – traditional degrees. What better way to learn about international business and computer programming than through the World Wide Web?

9. It doesn’t matter how old (or young) you are.
Lest you think online education is just for Generation X, Y, and Z, researchers at the University of Kansas report that adults over age 50 are increasingly pursuing higher ed online – and loving it! Looks like online learning is for the young and the young at heart.

Photo: Mayskyphoto

-Robyn Tellefsen

Online education has certainly lived up to its mission of providing students with a wide range of learning opportunities. The convenience of an online classroom is undeniable, and schools are more than happy to reach out to students — wherever they are.

It’s clear that the mainstream has accepted online learning, but Marco Masoni believes that we haven’t fully embraced it as we should. As co-founder of Einztein.com, a website that helps students find free online classes, Masoni is all about learning on the Web. And while online learning has certainly revolutionized the education world, Masoni says that we still have our work cut out for us.

In the effort to keep up with the rising demand for online coursework, Masoni says that schools have responded by “simply throwing courses up on the web and seeing what sticks, without catering to student needs.” In theory, online education should be much more cutting edge, but in fact, many of the courses currently online are not reflecting the web’s ability to teach us in real time. In fact, Masoni suggests that students, particularly younger ones, are not as impressed with the current online curricula as they are in keeping up with what’s trending on their favorite social media sites.

Masoni’s solution? Make online education more social and use the web as a real-time classroom. He uses the BP oil spill in the Gulf as an example, and it’s a good one — there are certainly lessons to be learned from that environmental disaster. Masoni does mention that there are some excellent educational and interactive websites run by some public and non-profit institutions, but as far as colleges and universities, their course offerings basically keep their curricula analog in a digital universe.

Of course, colleges and universities have already gotten into social media in a big way for marketing purposes – just check out some of the crazy YouTube videos and other fun Web 2.0 tools that schools have embraced. And many schools do offer web tools even as part of traditional classes, so there’s no telling what’s possible once these schools combine technology with real-time coursework.

In short, online education has nowhere to go but up. The sooner colleges and universities use cutting-edge social media to place their classes in real-time, the better off everyone will be. Students will benefit, of course, but so will the schools, which will be able to attract and retain more students for offering things that can only be found on the web.

–Barbara Bellesi

The list of perks related to online learning often focus on the flexibility of schedules, the ability to work at your own pace, and the freedom of not being physically required on campus. But one aspect of online learning not often touted as a perk is whether you learn better in an virtual format.

That’s because it’s difficult to compare online learning to classroom, or face-to-face learning, as seen in the reactions to a 2009 analysis by the Department of Education that gave some weight to the mindset that students who learn online perform better than those in traditional classroom settings.

A new paper by the Community College Research Center is poking holes into the Department of Education findings, saying the analysis was flawed because it compared not just online courses and face-to-face courses but hybrid courses, too.

John Bourne, executive director of the Sloan Consortium, a non-profit organization supporting online education, told Inside Higher Ed the jury is still out on comparing online learning to classroom learning. He said:

“I am exceptionally dubious of studies that tend to compare online education and on-the-ground education without even an attempt to understand the differences in the mechanisms of teaching.”

Online programs are inherently different because teachers can’t just take what the same tools and strategies they were using in the classroom to teach online. And anecdotes go back and forth. Some professors and students say the online classes are harder to teach and learn; others say face-to-face instruction is more difficult.

By now, the perception of online degrees have changed in that students are as proud to complete an online program as those who are going the more traditional college route.

The question shouldn’t be whether online learning can be compared to classroom learning. But as you’re considering online programs, look past the benefits such as flexibility, and determine if the format and setup are going to help you learn best.

You’ll want to determine what type of interaction you will be having with your professor and peers and what teaching techniques are used. And realize that online courses may vary, just like the experiences in the classroom. In either situation, the results – no matter how the learning takes place – ultimately lie in your hands.

-Lori Johnston