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Online Education

ONLINE EDUCATION • may prefer to attend traditional classes with an
instructor who teaches and guides them through the
Online education is a flexible instructional delivery sys-
tem that encompasses any kind of learning that takes course
place via the Internet. Online learning gives educators an • find access to the necessary technology challenging
opportunity to reach students who may not be able to and the availability of technical support limited
enroll in a traditional classroom course and supports stu- In addition, some administrators and instructors who do
dents who need to work on their own schedule and at
not understand the workload may display a negative atti-
their own pace.
tude toward online education.
The quantity of distance learning and online degrees
in most disciplines is large and increasing rapidly. Schools
FUTURE OF ONLINE EDUCATION
and institutions that offer online learning are also increas-
ing in number. Students pursuing degrees via the online Online teaching is here to stay. Many students prefer the
approach must be selective to ensure that their coursework online classroom since it offers flexibility in their busy
is done through a respected and credentialed institution. schedules. With the proliferation of information and
knowledge, students must become lifelong learners in
today’s world, and online education plays an important
RATIONALE FOR CONSIDERING
role in helping individuals access the learner-centered and
ONLINE EDUCATION
self-directed instruction.
Online education has become a viable and exciting With enhanced software, hardware, and Internet
method for instructional delivery in the global business access, more options for online education will become
society that runs on a 24/7 schedule (24 hours a day/7
available. With student enrollments increasing faster than
days a week) because it provides students with great flexi- classrooms can be built, students becoming more profi-
bility. cient with technology, and students pursuing an educa-
With the increased availability of the Internet and tion that meets their needs, the future of online education
computer technology, students are able to access informa- will continue to grow. Online degree programs will
tion anytime and anyplace that would normally be avail- become more widely accepted as they become a more
able only through a traditional classroom. Studies have common practice.
shown that students learn just as effectively in an online
SEE ALSO Professional Education; Training and Develop-
classroom as they do in the traditional classroom.
ment
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
OF LEARNING ONLINE
Center for Online Educators. http://educatoronline.org
Online education offers many positive benefits since stu- NewsweekDistanceLearning.com. http://www.newsweekdistance
dents: learning.com
Penn State Online E-Learning Guide.
• have flexibility in taking classes and working at their
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/elearning/elhome.htm
own pace and time
• face no commuting or parking hassles
Carol Larson Jones
• learn to become responsible for their own education
with information available at their fingertips
• find the submission of assignments easy and conven-
ient OPERATIONAL
STRATEGIES
• are more apt to voice their own opinions and share
and debate issues with other students, as well as SEE Strategic Management
learn from other students during the group discus-
sions
Possible negative effects of learning online are that some OPERATIONS
students:
MANAGEMENT
• may miss the face-to-face interaction with the An important element of any business system is manage-
instructor and among students ment, whether an individual or a team performs it. In

560 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE, SECOND EDITION