| It used to be that education by way of online | | | | not qualified to do so. Some are not |
| learning or what is called distance learning | | | | accredited. That is, if you are looking to |
| or distance education was implemented as a | | | | use the online learning experience as |
| supplement to the brick-and-mortar classroom | | | | credited coursework (to transfer, to get a |
| (or conference room) teaching and learning | | | | job, to get a degree), be sure that the |
| methods and materials. But technology as it | | | | online college is one which meets the |
| is progressive and multi-beneficial--online | | | | standards set by the states, provinces, or |
| high school and online college courses have | | | | countries accreditation body, agency, or |
| become sometimes viable sources of learning, | | | | board. In the U.S., for instance, the |
| without the student having to ever step foot | | | | Department of Education (the DOE) oversees |
| in a classroom. | | | | and regulates American universities, though |
| | | | each state is responsible for its own higher |
| Contemporary learners taking online college | | | | learning authorization standards. |
| courses can benefit in a number of ways that | | | | |
| they otherwise could not, having no way to | | | | This can be an arduous task by itself: |
| get to school, for example, or having no | | | | unscrupulous and greedy money mongers can be |
| desire to attend an institution of higher | | | | "licensed" to run a business (in this case, |
| learning. They might have children, a home, | | | | the business of running a degree mill, a fake |
| and one or more jobs that keep them from | | | | college)--because every state has different |
| physically enrolling in or attending classes | | | | ways of regulating standards, and because con |
| at a campus that might be too far away. | | | | artists and scammers claiming to be |
| | | | legitimate e-universities will link their |
| These individuals can make use of online | | | | pages to the real sites of DOE or of the |
| college courses that feature lectures, video, | | | | Council of Higher Education Accreditation |
| audio, email, IMs, instant messages, bulletin | | | | (CHEA), so when you are looking for an online |
| boards and chat rooms, and online study and | | | | degree you might be tricked. |
| research sources that all comprise the online | | | | |
| college courses rather than serve as | | | | You might read the website's claim of being |
| supplements to them. | | | | accredited or will infer from the official |
| | | | links or the way the text is worded, in lies, |
| For the home-schooled, the advanced placement | | | | or implications, that the institution is |
| high school student, for instance, who is now | | | | accredited when it is not will pay |
| into levels that reach online college courses | | | | unreasonably high fees, will sign the |
| levels, the benefits of choice, segregation, | | | | necessary and official-looking documents, but |
| or integration are available to those who | | | | then will be required to do very little work |
| prefer a particular curriculum that is | | | | and will graduate online with a bogus degree. |
| religiously oriented or carefully monitored. | | | | |
| | | | So if you are looking into online college |
| And for anyone, online college courses are | | | | courses, the best way to go is through a |
| equal opportunity for anyone of any race, | | | | legitimate college. And even then, if you |
| creed, color, religion, location, learning | | | | are unsure, look for the distance learning |
| ability or disability, or mindset can find | | | | college accreditation info. Or ask directly |
| the materials, sources, and lessons he or she | | | | about it. When the said distance learning |
| needs or wants, many times accredited and | | | | institution names an accreditation agency |
| transferable. | | | | whether it is DOE or CHEA in the U.S., The |
| | | | British Quality Assurance Agency for Higher |
| In the same respect, before applying, signing | | | | Education in England, a named Private |
| up, and paying, the learner who seeks | | | | Colleges Accreditation Board in Canada, or |
| legitimate online college courses should do a | | | | any other Authoritative body's contact that |
| little background checking to protect him or | | | | named agency and check to see that the |
| herself from the beguiling and conniving that | | | | college is in fact accredited, NOT just |
| does sometimes happen. Some offering online | | | | licensed to do business. |
| college courses and other online courses are | | | | |