The Best Online Education Options for You

By Elizabeth Wasserman

Leo Bottary always wanted to earn a master's degree, but with a full-time job in public relations in Tampa, Fla., two children, and frequent business trips, he didn't have the time. Last year, however, he enrolled in an online distance learning degree program at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Now, Bottary is earning a master's in strategic communication and leadership via online courses.

"Between my travel schedule and not being able to commit to being in a classroom two or three nights a week, it was easier for me to participate in a program in this fashion," Bottary says. "I put 20 to 25 hours a week into the program, but I do it when I have the time."

Busy adults like Bottary are realizing that "e-learning" is a viable alternative to campus-based courses. With e-learning, courses are available online and often around the clock. E-learning courses can cost less than traditional tuition and enable people to connect with the best programs out there, versus being limited by their local offerings. For example, many long-established colleges and universities -- from George Washington University to DePaul University to the University of Texas -- now offer online degree programs or classes. In addition, many professional certification programs, such as financial planning and technology certifications increasingly offer online courses, and there are e-learning courses for hobbyists and just for fun.

If you're feeling the itch to develop a new skill or expertise, but you don't have time or access to a school, here are answers to questions you may have about e-learning.

E-learning courses in all shapes and sizes
With e-learning, you don't have to live near the university, professional group or program to pursue your chosen course of study. Therefore, your options are plentiful. When it comes to college or university programs, you want to verify whether the school is accredited before you enroll. Accreditation is important if you want your credits to be accepted at another university, or in case you want to get a more advanced degree. And while college-created e-learning courses tend to stick to the academic calendar, hobby or professional programs can often be started at any time.

Karl Soehnlein, assistant academic director for the master's program at Seton Hall (which Bottary attends), recalls an application from a non-traditional student who had taken her final 30 credits from an unaccredited e-learning program. "We had to turn her down," he says. Sites like College Board and Online Degree Reviews can help verify accreditation and list types of courses and degree programs.

There are also a variety of courses for a wide range of professional and personal enrichment, from Microsoft Learning's Microsoft Learning $39.99 course on how to use Microsoft Word to Media Bistro's 3-hour $65 class, "Managing Motherhood and a Writing Career." Universalclass offers fun hobbyist classes starting from $45, such as the "Art of Digital Photography," "How to Make Chinese Dumplings" and "Guitar: Learn to Play."

Tech-savvy requirements
After finding an e-learning program or course, you'll need to figure out how to "attend" the course. Rather than sitting in a lecture hall for class, you'll be attending this online class via a computer with Internet access.

Depending on the type of course you select, you also might need to have a basic knowledge of some important computer skills. For example, the online classroom might offer some of its material via video conferencing. Or you may need to download audio podcasts, or text versions of lectures. You may also want to participate in discussion groups with the instructor and your fellow classmates. Discussion groups tend to appear in two different formats: 1. A live chat in which all students are in attendance at one time, in one place, and typing messages to each other simultaneously, or 2. A bulletin board environment where students post and respond to comments at any time of the day or night.

Most courses provide an overview of the skills needed to make the most of the e-learning platform. That said, the level of support ranges from an introductory e-mail with instructions to live technical support, according to Lisa Neal, editor-in-chief of eLearn magazine. "The best programs actually provide some basic training," she says.

Interactions with the instructor and classmates
The amount of contact you'll have with the instructor and other students depends on the structure of the course you select. Neal says that there are a few basic types of courses:

• Synchronous courses require all students to be online at the same time as the professor or tutor. This platform might lend itself to video conferencing.
• Asynchronous courses allow students to access the online classroom and course materials when it's convenient for them. These courses come in two types: instructor-led and instructorless.

If you want more interaction with instructors or students, consider some of the degree programs that require students to visit the campus a few times during the session -- usually at the beginning of the program, the middle and the end. Seton Hall, which has this requirement, finds that it helps students connect with one another and with professors.

What you get for the money
Online courses tend to be less expensive than in-person classes because the institution doesn't have as many overhead costs. The cost for e-learning courses ranges dramatically, depending upon the type of program. There are free online tutorials from companies (such as technology companies). Craft and hobby courses might be in the $99 range, while e-learning for a professional certificate could cost upwards of $1,000 or more.

Many colleges and universities with both online and campus programs charge similar fees -- since you're earning essentially the same degree. So, a four-year program can run $20,000 or more. A great resource for pricing online degree programs is Distance Education, a web site where you can search by type of degree, major and price.

In the world of e-learning, adult students can be more selective and that includes comparing the bottom line. You may want to start with smaller, less expensive e-learning courses to master a computer program or learn Indian cooking before jumping into a Master's degree program. Experts say that it's important to see first if your learning style matches the e-learning format.