Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
The University of Phoenix Online (2002) is the largest private provider of online
instruction in the country, with over 38,000 students enrolled in bachelor's, master's, and
doctoral degree programs. Their Web site claims the following benefits for students enrolling
in online degree programs:
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Attend class at times and places that fit their schedule.
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Complete 100% of their education via the Internet.
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Earn their degree in two or three years.
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Classes are offered one at a time, for five to six weeks, so they can focus on one subject.
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Programs are continually updated to provide skills and expertise in high demand.
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All faculty members hold a master's or doctoral degree.
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All coursework is designed to apply to their work environment.
Faculty Concerns
Online courses may be developed by curriculum specialists with little or no participation
from the faculty member who will conduct the class. Much e-learning is self-directed and not
led directly by faculty members. A fear is that faculty members will no longer be curriculum
developers and participate in intellectual debates within their disciplines. Instead, there is a
concern that “faculty will become mere shepherds herding their passive sheep through pre-
prepared fields of outdated and insubstantial information.” Many faculty members have a
perspective that Web-based academics must be driven by the interaction between students
and faculty in order “to generate debate, conversation, and participation” (Accetta, 2001).
Faculty members are also concerned that students will not get the same campus
experience that is provided to students who are enrolled in traditional programs. Some
schools require that students check in online for a specified number of times each week. Many
programs also require some amount of on-campus time, as well as meetings via conference
calls. Some programs incorporate team projects that require students being together during
specified points during the course. Some programs require one or more retreats in a traditional
lecture/seminar format.
Many faculty members are skeptical about the short time period required to obtain a
degree at some online schools. The American InterContinental University-Online (2002)
advertised that an MBA degree could be earned in as little as eight months, and that a degree
in Information Technology could be earned in as little as 10 months. Additional concerns
include the following:
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Students need to be prepared to engage in self-directed learning.
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Measures for quality assurance must also be included in the system to assure that
cheating does not take place, that the student does the work, and that the course has
rigor and quality.
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Students must understand faculty expectations and know who to contact for techno-
logical and instructional needs.
There are also concerns about technical, administrative, and pedagogical issues that
arise as faculty consider moving from a traditional classroom environment into a Web-based
environment. Logistical concerns relate to providing students with the same level of support
