5 Education Articles to Start Your Week: The Rise of Online Education

Our universities were once the safe houses of the most progressive teachers and minds in the world. As we covered a couple of weeks ago in our top 5 education articles of the week, private educational resources in universities are simply dwarfed by Internet resources which are free or affordable for students. In an article entitled “Is Stand and Deliver on its Last Legs” Jim Barber of The Australian pointed to the Encyclopedia Britannica, now antiquated by online resource Wikipedia, as an example of what could happen if schools didn’t start incorporating online learning and progressive thinking into their programs.

This week we’ll take a look at how online learning and online education is keeping learning processes relevant in universities and libraries.

21 Signs you’re a 21st Century Teacher

by Lisa, Simple12K

Modern technologies have the power to add relevancy to already-excellent teaching skills. If you’re wondering if you’re up to date on the latest teaching tools, check yourself against this excellent list of traits, skills and methods that any 21st Century Teacher should possess.

by Associated Press, NPR

While the Sloan Consortium for online education estimates about one-third of the country”s 4,500 universities offer online degrees, only 10 percent of historically black colleges offer some form of online learning. Experts attribute this low adoption rate to the fact that, due to funding, many historically black schools lack the technical infrastructures to make online learning feasible for their students. There’s also the question of whether online learning would undercut the African American student experience, which many feel can’t be replicated in an online environment.

Meanwhile, some community leaders continue to support these progressive online learning environments despite these set-backs. Tom Joyner Jr, a syndicated radio host has invested $7 million into HBCUsOnline.com which targets adult learners looking to pursue their education.

Learning in the Dorm, Because Class is on the Web

by Trip Gabriel, New York Times

Online learning isn’t just popular among working adults who need flexible class schedules and archived coursework to achieve their degree. Many students enjoy pursuing their online degree from the comforts of their dorm room.

In this article, Trip Gabriel takes us on a journey to the University of casino online Florida where Anish Patel wakes up early to watch his Microeconomics professor Mark Rush stream his lectures live from a building only 5 minutes away. The article also explores the sudden popularity of online education which is up 17 percent nationwide since 2008.

by Staff Reporter, MyCentralJersey.com

The public libraries of central New Jersey are offering anyone who holds a library card free access to Tutor.com, a subscription based program which connects students with tutors via the internet. While the service would hold a high price tag for the average learner ($35-$100), several libraries are hoping to inspire students and parents to enjoy these services by offering them for free.

by Encarnacion Pyle, The Columbia Dispatch

According to a new report coming from Ohio public colleges, online class adoption jumped 29 percent in the last school year.

Though Ohio”s online programs have been successful with students 25 and older, it resonated especially with working adults who overall preferred the flexibility and low-cost of online classes to a traditional university experience. According to the report, the working adults group experienced the most annual growth at 53 percent.

featured photo by Andres G. Farfan for The New York Times

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