| The debate about the quality of online learning is | | | | steadily expanded and will have a revamped, |
| over. Every major college and university in the | | | | simplified home page shortly. The school is always |
| country has an online program or is developing | | | | working on the mechanics. You won't be alone in |
| one. You'll get a good education at a good online | | | | your quest either; the school maintains a library |
| school; now the challenge is selecting one. It starts | | | | staff who know the library's catalogue and can |
| with your career interests and with cost. But in | | | | assist with research projects. There is also a |
| terms of the learning experience it makes sense | | | | collection of over 200 tutorials for both the |
| that those schools for which online education has | | | | business and technology programs - the Element |
| been a mainstay are going to be the schools that | | | | K Tutorials. |
| are best at working in the online environment | | | | 3. University of Phoenix Online has established |
| It's important to look at distance learning as a | | | | schools for both ends of the academic spectrum. |
| relatively new academic option. The key to a | | | | One of the divisions is Axia College, a school that |
| quality online education is the technology used for | | | | is devoted entirely to online associate's degree |
| teaching and for supporting active students, and | | | | programs. The academic options are just about |
| accreditation. The school that has probably | | | | as broad as with their baccalaureate and master's |
| succeeded in developing quality academic offerings | | | | programs, but Axia's entire orientation is distance |
| in both the campus and online environments more | | | | learning at the associate's level. |
| than any other seems to be the University of | | | | 4. The same is true of their School for Advanced |
| Phoenix. | | | | Studies, which is dedicated to providing the |
| The University of Phoenix Online won the | | | | academic material and personal support for |
| accreditation battle some time ago and has had | | | | students pursuing online doctoral degrees, available |
| their teaching technology in place for quite a while. | | | | in education, business, nursing psychology or |
| It improves as they grow in attendance and | | | | technology. They have chosen to provide a more |
| expand in their academic offerings, but it has | | | | focused learning experience for students at these |
| been proven and standardized through upgrade | | | | levels by developing special programs, unique |
| after upgrade. Their eight colleges and academic | | | | teaching methods and by providing dedicated |
| divisions offer a comprehensive set of degree | | | | staff. |
| options that are designed to meet today's career | | | | 5. There is a range of services that many online |
| needs. But what really sets UOP Online apart, in | | | | institutions offer such as financial advisors and |
| my opinion, are the student services that are | | | | credit transfers. However at UOP you can begin |
| provided to distance learners. | | | | either process through the use of tutorials on |
| 1. Their tutorial center is comprehensive and well | | | | their website and then proceed to personal |
| thought out. The Center for Mathematics | | | | contact with their staff. Their efforts to go the |
| Excellence provides online tutorials for algebra, | | | | extra step are exemplified in their willingness to |
| statistics or any other area where you're in need | | | | evaluate corporate training as transferable college |
| of a little renewal. The same is true for their | | | | credit. |
| Center for Writing Excellence which offers | | | | 6. The use of their website to make things |
| tutorials in writing and language, and a program | | | | orderly for students and manageable for the staff |
| that will proofread student papers for grammar | | | | is impressive and if it's working properly, relatively |
| and proper usage. There is also live help available | | | | seamless. Their technology continues to evolve: |
| from instructors or other personnel as necessary. | | | | they are using the social networks for student |
| 2. The University Library is a serious attempt to | | | | communications and this year, you'll be able to link |
| provide e-books and copies of relevant | | | | in to your student learning group via iPhone. All the |
| professional journals to students who are seeking | | | | little things at this school add up to a real plus in |
| reference materials for their work. It has been | | | | the online academic world. |