Online Education Comes Of Age (NAPSA)—The number of adults who use the information superhighway to get to college continues to grow. This is a result, in part, of the growing number of employers who recognize the value of online education and are willing to fundit for their employees. These employers are responding to the need for workers who possess advanced training in areas such as information technology management, global business, nursing and education. However, despite its increasing popularity, many experts believe there are still a number of myths and misconceptions that surround the practice of distance education. For example, one myth has been that students sacrifice quality when they go to school online. According to the most recent research—including the findings of the Congressional Web-based Education Commission—this is not the case. A numberof studies show that outcomes for students in distance learning programs can be equal to or better than the results achieved by students in traditionalclasses. Experts contend another popular myth is that there is a lack of interaction among students and between students and faculty. However, at many online institutions interaction in class is obligatory. For instance at University of Phoenix Online, students A growing number of employers support their employees par- ticipation in distance learning programs. must log onto the classroom discussion five out of seven days, participating in groups called Learning Teams. These teams work on projects together. “With class sizes of 8 to15 students, no one can hide in the back of the class,” said recent graduate Lisa Tompkins. Another misconception is that the majority of employers do not accept or support distance education. But, if University of Phoenix Online is any indication, just the opposite is true. There, many business leaders participate in developing programsthat anticipate workplace needs. Plus, the school employs executive and senior-level professionals as faculty. This enables students to gain from the experience and real-world insights of the instructors. For more information on University of Phoenix Online, visit http://online.uophx.edu/benefit, or call 1-800-796-3791.
