Why do nontraditional students who are enrolled in online programs Research Paper

Why do non handed-down students who are enrolled in online programs decide to dropout - Research Paper Example(Gutmann, A.1987). strange traditional educational ways involving a classroom and a teacher, online learning does not involve direct confrontations with a teacher and does not provide the surroundings of a traditional classroom. In most cases, distance learning involves a media center or a computer laboratory. Therefore, distance learning is a surface area of education that combines technology with teaching methods and techniques to provide an opportunity for students to learn without being physically present in a classroom. (Briel, H. J. 2011). Due to technological advances, there view as been a recent explosion in the field of online education but the history of distance learning dates back to as early as 1728, when Caleb Phillips, who was a teacher of Short Hand method, published an advertisement in Boston Gazette to seek students to whom he would send lectures on week ly basis. An Englishman, Isaac Pitman, is regarded has an early initiate in providing distance education. In 1840s, Isaac Pitman taught Short Hand using correspondence in the Great Britain. The importance of education in modern elected society is beautifully portrayed by Amy Gutmann in the following words When citizens rule in a democracy, they determine, among other things, how future citizens will be educated. participatory education is therefore a political as well as an educational ideal. Because being educated as a child entails being ruled, You cannot be a ruler unless you have first been ruled. Because being a democratic citizen entails ruling, the ideal of democratic education is being ruled, then ruling. Education not besides sets the stage for democratic politics, it plays a central role in it. (Gutmann, A.1987). Now adays, the world has transformed into a global village and with the passage of time, online learning has decease the best possible learning source. Due t o summationd commitments in life, it is hardly possible for everyone to physically attend a school in order to increase their educational qualifications. The only viable alternative remains are, online courses. Although the growth rate in online programs is high but yet the dropouts have been of great concern to umpteen organizations and higher institutions. (Briel, H. J. 2011). Magnitude of drop out crisis The non traditional students dropping out of online education fall into various categories I. Non-starters, II. Students who did not even make an effort to over(p) the official withdrawal procedure are classified in the category of in noble withdrawals, III. Students who completed the official withdrawal procedure fall into the category of formal withdrawals, IV. Academic failures, V. Non-continuers. (Darrow, R. W. 2010). Online education is more flexible and ensures that students can learn and progress to advanced levels at their own pace. Online courses provide more effectiv e learning opportunities than traditional schools because they provide an access to a broad curriculum so that students can enroll in multiple courses which they cannot in traditional brick and mortar schools. Most realistic schools provide courses that are enriched with challenges to help their students to attain high quality and flexible education. However, according to the retention literature concerning online education, the rate of non traditional students dropping out of online courses occurs at much a faster pace than the number of drop outs from on-ground or traditional brick and mortar classes. According to a report in Meister-2002, 70 portion of the online learners registered for online programs failed to successfully complete the course. The Corporate