Power Learning

by Jacob Young

The way American students earn a college degree in the twenty-first century is changing. For centuries, affluent families set aside money to send their children to college. Typically, this process was completed in four years with the student entering the job market upon completion. Presently, the job market demands a greater number of college graduates. Can everyone really earn a college degree? The power of the computer has impacted education and is reaching more students in more places every day.

 

The Typical College Classroom

In classrooms and lecture halls all across the country, students gather to engage in the process of education. Some classrooms are bright and sunny; others have no windows at all. Tension rises as students await the arrival of the professor. If they attend a small private or community college, their professor will arrive; if not, they will be greeted by a teaching assistant. The teacher still lectures while students take notes. Paper and pencil have been replaced with laptops and BlackBerries; however, teaching methods have not changed. At the end of the session, students file out of the classroom with assignments in hand and may not return until next week’s lecture. They move on to their next class, or visit the library, depending on their schedule. The real process of education begins when the students open their books and begin their assignments.

 

 

The Reality of American Education

Author and speaker, Jeff Baldwin, recalls his experience in America’s classrooms this way: “In high school…you jumped through all the hoops, you earned the right grades, and eventually they gave you a piece of paper.” In college, he found the game had hardly changed at all. He had this to say regarding his college calculus class:
“I had no business taking calculus – I was an English major with very little interest in English, let alone math. I should have taken the 'math for poets' class and coasted even more. Each calculus class that did not include a test allowed me to work on my serve at the beach volleyball court. Any homework assigned that day could be puzzled out late some night and then turned in the next class period by Jordan, my responsible roommate. On the day of a calculus test, I would get a panicky look in my eyes and track down Jordan and say something desperate like, ‛You’ve got to teach me chapter nine in the next twenty minutes or I’m going to fail!' Now comes the really inexplicable part: Jordan would take pity on me and teach me – so well, in fact, that I understood what I needed to know and could remember it just long enough to spit it out on the test. Following this system, as difficult as this is to believe, I earned an 'A' in college calculus! And I can say with all honesty today that I don’t even know what calculus is.” (From Iron Sharpening Iron: Why the Socratic Method Matters by Jeff Baldwin)

It is impossible to obtain reliable data on how much learning takes place in America’s college classrooms.

 

 

The Advantage of Distance Learning

There is another process of education that is not as familiar to college bound students—distance learning. The types and methods of distance learning continue to grow and evolve. Students who choose this avenue will need a computer, self-discipline, and time management skills. They can create their own individual learning space and use their time more efficiently. They are not bound to a campus or a rigid schedule. The online student follows the same syllabus, studies from the same textbook, and has the same resources available as the traditional classroom student. Distance learning can be accomplished at any time, in any place. Interaction with instructors and students takes place via the Internet although some classes may require attendance at an occasional lecture. The focus is shifting away from the traditional classroom setting, as new technology enters the picture.

Distance learning has been proven effective, and at this time there does not appear to be any significant difference in the results. Furthermore, it extends educational opportunities to students from low-income families or rural areas, who might not consider higher education. Students of all financial strata are joining the ranks of distance learners. Professor Thomas L. Russell has reviewed and published comparative performance studies that date back to 1928. In study after study, the conclusion was the same: online students performed as well as their classroom counterparts. These studies are included in Professor Russell’s book, No Significant Difference Phenomena.

The advantage to those who choose distance learning is twofold. Students can complete their coursework at their own pace, and the cost of their education will be significantly lower. One particular college, located in Virginia, offers on-campus learning for a tuition fee of $16,900 per year, and an on-line alternative for just $260 per credit per semester. Assuming the student takes 12 credits per semester, the cost of that alternative is $6,240. This represents a savings of $10,660 before housing, books, and fees in the first year. Most students can earn that much in a year while taking their college courses online.

While teaching methods have not changed in the traditional classroom, educators recognize the need to keep pace with technological changes of the twenty-first century. Learning takes place on and off campus. Distance learning is growing in popularity because it is more flexible for students and instructors. Distance learning is able to adjust to the needs of students and educators as technology continues to advance. More people can be taught over the Internet than can be crammed into a classroom or lecture hall. If the goal of attending college is to earn a degree, and it can be earned in a fraction of the time for a fraction of the cost, it appears that distance learning is the way to go. College students who choose distance learning will not only earn a degree in less time for less money, they will enter the job market sooner, ready to face the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Jacob Young's essay “Power Learning” won the 2007 CollegePlus! essay contest as well as a twelve month scholarship for CollegePlus! coaching. Jacob lives with his family in Idaho where he is majoring in communications.

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