Online Education

The Web allows forward-thinking entities to thrive while wiping out others unwilling to adapt. Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, described how a company like Google has so successfully adapted itself to the changing nature of the Web.

Business and labor leaders recognize the importance of retraining workers with skills that meet 21st century employment needs. And online learning is an increasingly acceptable, some say even better, way to become retrained.

Traditionally, most North American universities target graduating high school students as their prime market for recruitment.

But people who earned their degrees or began earning them in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s are now changing careers, seeking more training and education to sustain and excel in their chosen fields, and making plans to work beyond the once-mandatory retirement age of 65.

To do this, they are looking for accessible degree completion programs and new career education opportunities.

Distance learning, online education, cyberschool—what do these terms mean? Some common words and phrases related to education, defined.

An educational course is defined in four ways by the nonprofit Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C):

If you’re thinking about enrolling in a distance education program, here are eight important questions to ask:

1. How technologically savvy do I need to be to take electronically delivered courses?

Some computer literacy is necessary. Usually, a cyberschool will give you a list of the technologies that must be accessible to you when you apply for admission. Just in case a list isn’t offered, ask about hardware, software, computer, and peripherals requirements. Also, broadband access is usually preferred.