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College presidents say online courses are just as good as in-person instruction

By Liz Goodwin | The Lookout – Mon, Aug 29, 2011

(Thinkstock)Is taking a college course over the Internet just as good as attending an in-person seminar? The nation's college presidents think so.

Slightly more than half of 1,055 presidents of public and private colleges said that an online-only course has the same educational value as an in-person class, according to the Pew Research Center and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Only 29 percent of the general public agreed, including fewer than 40 percent of students who have taken online courses.

College administrators have turned to online courses as a cost-saving measure, as a way to offer popular courses to the most students possible, and in order to accommodate part-time or distance students (many of whom earn their degrees entirely online). Half of college presidents said a majority of their students will be taking online courses within 10 years.

But the availability of online courses varies widely by the type of college. Only 60 percent of four-year private colleges offer online courses, compared to 89 percent of four-year public schools. Private college presidents are also more skeptical of their value, with only 36 percent saying they are as good as in-person courses, compared to 50 percent of public college presidents who think so. Meanwhile, two-thirds of the presidents of two-year colleges say an online course is just as good as an in-person one.

Forty six percent of people who graduated college in the last 10 years said they have taken an online course, according to the survey.

But only 39 percent of students who have taken courses over the Internet said that the course's educational value was equal to that of an in-person class, suggesting that students have experienced online education are in disagreement with college presidents on the matter.

A meta-analysis by the Department of Education of 50 studies of online courses showed that they can be "modestly" more effective than in-person classes. Courses that combined virtual elements with in-person instruction were more effective than either online-only or classroom-only classes. But providing that combination erases the cost savings of an entirely virtual class, making it less attractive to schools.

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60 comments

DJ CYBERIA • 8 mths ago
The college I used to teach for wanted the instructors to turn all materials over to a "staff/committee" and for the instructors to write the online courses for no extra pay. Then, if you complied, you were terminated. If you didn't comply, you were terminated. Only a skeleton crew of advisers and a couple of professors were left to teach classes "online" eventually.

There are many reasons why online classes might work, but there are no substitutes for real classroom interaction between the students and the instructor and/or the students themselves, especially in a lab setting.
Alvin • 8 mths ago
On-line courses = money maker. Don't waste money on useless on-line programs - doesn't come close to dynamic interaction and learning of in-class courses. I had number of students take required courses on-line and their knowledge was rudimentary at best, idiotic at worst. All they did was paid someone $500 to grade on-line questions. No understanding of the subject matter.
- EricM 8 mths ago
  I am currently attending Walden University, an online institution. Do you want to put your theory to the test with me? Learning the subject matter of a class depends on the individual more than on his learning institution, system of learning or instructor. You are given a topic of study and just go for it. In contrast to what you said, I have known people attending so-called traditional colleges demostrate the writing capacity of 9th grader (and I am being generous). In short, more than the teaching source, what counts is one's interest in learning.
Joel • 8 mths ago
There are those like myself that took courses in a classroom setting to get their bachelors and then received their masters via online universities. It just depends on how you want to further your education.
- Gmr 8 mths ago
  That online Masters and a dollar will get you a cheeseburger at McDonalds.
- brian 8 mths ago
  GMR your an idiot. Most state universities offer online programs because a lot of employers like seeing an idividual that can juggle a fulltime job and attending college. Taking classes online also shows that you are self-motivated, can easily learn new material or teach yourself new material. Plus, when completing an online program you're developing vital electronic communitcation skills, via webchat, video chats, and email. Which are used everyday in the business world.
  
  The only thing you are missing out on is the face-to-face interaction, which isn't a big deal considering you should have developed these skills in your undergraduate program and should be continuing to develope these skills in the work environments.
  
  How'd you know an online Masters and a dollar can get you a cheese burger, do your work at McDonalds??
Joel • 8 mths ago
Taking online courses takes disciple...a lot of young students may be eager to learn but might have problems when it comes to following up on information given online rather than having an instructor to answer the immediate questions.
- Joel 8 mths ago
  sorry....discipline.
Bruce • 8 mths ago
Another "educator" trying to pull the wool over your head. They are like politicians, when their lips move, they are lying.
- WhoseWho 8 mths ago
  Yeah those damed edumacators and their hidden agenda to teach.
Ryan • 8 mths ago
no they r not. period.
Steve • 9 mths ago
I'm interested in whether anyone has taken a chemistry class online (or some other experimental science). I just can't get my head around how you would translate the lab experience to online/at home. I'm not against the idea of putting classes online, but there are some things that I don't think can be taught that way. At least, I can't imagine how.
- brian 8 mths ago
  A chemistry class can be taught online because you are still learning all of the lecture material and book material in a very similar way as you would in a classroom setting. When it comes to the lab work. You do a lot of work with videos, real life pictures, taken through a microscope, and diagrams. Learning terms, chemical reactions, etc is the hard thing and that is what you are still being taught.
  
  The biggest thing you are missing out on is learning the different types of equipment, how to measure things out and how to work with the equipment. These are all things that can be taught quite easily. It's not very difficult to learn how to hook up and use a Bunsen Burner or how to measure out 3ml of one compound and mix it with 10L of H2O.
- EricM 8 mths ago
  You have a point there. There may be certain disciplines in education unsuited for online learning, and science would seem to definitely be one of those.
- EricM 8 mths ago
  And just what makes a "real" class better, test taking? That's overrated. You prepare for a test, but forget everything a week after having taken it. Is it the live interaction? Really now, a teacher to whom you might look like the young stud he caught in bed with his wife. There goes your grade. I think not. Or perhaps you prefer the money and time spend on printing pages for submission. One mistake and you habe to go back and print again. Enjoy. Or maybe you love the fact that in order to submit your final work, you have to go crazy looking for parking and making sure you get to school on time. You'd probably feel sorry for John, who is able to submit his final paper from Cancun.
  
  Get over it. Online college is the future.
WhoseWho • 9 mths ago
LOL for the bandits called college presidents I am sure they are. Why not? No infrastructure cost and you can have students anywhere in the world paying tuition. Fantastic! Oh of course they are a poorer substitute for attending a real class but so what?
Aphrodisiac • 9 mths ago
Online or on campus... it's all depend on the students' effort and will to learn.
Moe • 9 mths ago
Of course they (college presidents) would think so.
It adds up to their bottom lines.
On line courses require no class rooms, therefore, no teacher, no rooms, no furniture, no building and building insurance and no utilities, no maintenance with many other no-nos.
After all, college presidents are in education business.
They would say what ever they find good for their business.
Evil-1 • 9 mths ago
I say listen to those savvy college presidents. They should know. Make all colleges on-line only - all Universities of Phoenix. The only complaint would be the loss of college athletics.
No problem. Go to on-line athletics as well. Fantasy football, Make-believe basketball, psychedelic soccer, etc.
Mike C • 9 mths ago
Of course college presidents say that - online "education" is a major cash cow for higher education institutions since they have low overhead, and with their budgets being continually slashed by states, they have to get their precious money some how. Too bad that anyone who gets a degree "online" will be working at McDonald's for $8 an hour and have thousands of dollars of loans they won't be able to pay off. The education bubble in action.
Unk • 9 mths ago
Just another way to dupe the middle class. Let's see the stats[ where getting an
"on-campus sheep skin," gets you the same job an on-line degree does?
Marty • 9 mths ago
Professors will become increasingly aloof, irresponsible and lower quality
Abraham • 9 mths ago
I have taken several online classes that are part of my degree program and from personal experience, I can say that they are the worst, absolutely the worst way to take a class and/or learn. The instructors/professors do not answer questions that are emailed to them. They are simply not held accountable by the Colleges. The BIGGEST shame of all, is the online website that the colleges use (to keep everyone learning online) is totally outdated and does not work properly most of the time. My personal belief, having taken on campus classes and online classes is that online classes they are the BIGGEST rip off in America. The Colleges have become diploma factories.
Marty • 9 mths ago
Can you imagine integrating online grads into the real world afterwards in sales or presentations or debates ? - they will be a disaster - no idea how to talk with people
Sid Justice • 9 mths ago
send them fake checks, and tell them it's the same as the real thing-
Dugly • 9 mths ago
I completed a dual MBA, a few courses were online, most in-class. The online courses were very demanding and intensive. There was constant interaction between the students and the instructor. In my opinion, the online courses were effective.
Independant Thinker • 9 mths ago
I suppose it depends on the person whether or not online courses are effective. I know some people who loved online courses, but my brother tried to take one, and he hated it. He didn't feel as though he'd learned anything. I guess it may depend on the person.
ron r • 9 mths ago
Of course it's just as good. Look at the screwy libs they have teaching in the Colleges.

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