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What’s the Deal with Online Education? posted on Wednesday, 30 July 2008

Online classes take the travel out of school, but do they also take the quality out of education? In an interview with bizSanDiego, Dr. Cynthia Larson-Daugherty, President of Spectrum Pacific Learning Company at National University discusses the ins and outs of the new approach to school.

Dr. Cynthia Larson-Daugherty, President of Spectrum Pacific Learning Company at National University

bizSanDiego: How has National University’s approach to education shifted in the last few years?

Dr. Cynthia Larson-Daugherty: National University’s approach has consistently been to offer quality education that is accessible and relevant to a diverse student population. National’s format – one-course-per-month – has also remained a market differentiator for the University. There has been an increase in the different modalities available to students, consisting of a combination of onsite, online and hybrid courses. The increase is a direct result of the needs of students. As students have become more tech-savvy, their acceptance of online and hybrid courses (online and onsite) has increased.

bizSanDiego: Is there any concern that the level of education will suffer as a result of taking classes online?

There is no concern that education will suffer. Actually because online forces content developers to think outside of one learning style (just lecture or just reading – and create multi-modal experiences), it can be richer in some cases than the traditional onsite classroom. That being said, some people are more successful online than others.

bizSanDiego: What type of student has been the most receptive to online courses?

Dr. Cynthia Larson-Daugherty: All ages are starting to embrace online learning more and more. It’s not just convenience but also building a level of comfort with the online environment. The most receptive have been the self-directed student, the student motivated to learn and the student with at least some basic level of computer savvy.

bizSanDiego: Many people have never taken an online course. What is an online course like and how is it different from a regular class?

Dr. Cynthia Larson-Daugherty: There are several types of courses people can take in this day and age. Traditional onsite is an onsite course with web enhanced materials. We also offer hybrid courses. In these roughly 50% of the course is conducted online and 50% in the traditional classroom. There are also courses offered fully online.

A typical online course will have navigation instructions - readings, lectures, activities, assignments, tests, etc. Not so different than an onsite course. The better courses have more interaction with the professor and classmates through email, discussion threads, and synchronous meetings.

bizSanDiego: Do you need to be computer savvy to take an online course or is this something anyone can do?

Dr. Cynthia Larson-Daugherty: A baseline of experience with a computer shortens the learning curve. For some folks it’s hard enough to think of taking a math course online – compound that with not having basic computer skills and it’s going to be more difficult. That said, it’s easy to learn the basics but liking to interact with computers and access information with the internet and computers will make the learning delivery easier.

National University recently expanded. What new locations do you have and how will this benefit you and the San Diego community?

Dr. Cynthia Larson-Daugherty: National University recently opened the National University Technology and Health Sciences Center in Kearny Mesa. The facility will host National University’s schools of Engineering and Technology; Media and Communication; and Health and Human Services. It will also host the San Diego offices of National Polytechnic College of Science, an affiliate of the National University System. The presence of the National University Technology and Health Sciences Center will serve to add a state of the art campus that is easily accessible to students throughout San Diego County. Moreover, its program offerings are in fields that are predicted to be in high demand, including engineering and information technology, media and communication, and the healthcare industry, including nursing programs.

bizSanDiego: What do you see for the future of education? Will there ever be a time when a can get a degree without ever taking a step into a class room?

Dr. Cynthia Larson-Daugherty: The future of education will two-fold for delivery methods: hybrid and online.

The days of 100% fully onsite learning will slowly become a dinosaur but this is also dependent on technology continuing to advance like it has and making use and interaction with computers and learning easier. For now, a physical therapist, nurse, doctor, or medical technician still needs clinical which requires onsite. This is where a hybrid program is particularly compelling. Part of the class may be taught onsite in a workplace where practitioners and students interact and the rest online.

The most common degree 100% online is the MBA. Now should they step foot on campus, maybe for commencement - but soon that may be virtual too.

Posted by bizSanDiego: San Diego Business News