I was asked for a few comments by the local paper on how likely it was that we would see online universities expand and how might learning occur in such environments. The story was not very detailed but it did introduce me to a new start-up with a difference, the University of the People, where faculty teach for free (insert sarcastic comment now!). While it’s easy to be cynical about many online universities, with their carefully selected curricula and limited provision of labs and libraries, there is something romantic about a university for the people, provided on the ‘net and populated with carefully harvested and quality controlled information that is freely available. Not saying UofTP is that model, but one lives in hope that the online world can make such offerings real.
V.M Daniel Regents Professor of Information
“Not saying UofTP is that model, but one lives in hope that the online world can make such offerings real.”
Having taken both online and traditional classes I must input that there is no substitute for sitting in a class. Although doing an online chatroom has value I believe receiving a degree from an online school would be a poor choice unless you plan on working exclusively online.
Yeah I would like to see a study done of online degree holders and regular university degree holders of the same major and see the differences. I don’t know how you would test this but that’s something a professor could surely create.