BEFORE I STARTED AXIA

BEFORE I STARTED AXIA

November 4, 2009

Before I started my program, I thought that distance learning was a very strange concept.   I was initially worried that future employers would not think very highly of or accept the degree that I would earn through an online university.   I thought “Can this really be an accredited education?”
The reason I chose distance learning over a traditional face-to-face learning environment was the fact that I could do this in my spare time, day or night, without having to leave my children with a babysitter or having to miss work.   I decided that I wanted to have the best of both worlds-time with my children and family, and a higher education.   After speaking with an enrollment advisor I felt that an online university was the best thing that I could do for myself and my family.
In my opinion, the advantages of distance learning are a flexible schedule, block classes, all of the one-on-one time provided by faculty, and being able to be with my family while doing my work.   The flexible schedule is a great advantage to me because I am full time mom and I have a full time job.   I am able to now be a full time student as well.   The block classes are an awesome feature that really enticed me because they allow me to concentrate on fewer courses while still being able to complete my degree in the same amount of time as regular classes.
All of the advantages aside, I worry that I will be at a potential disadvantage when competing for jobs against other graduates who have attended traditional schools.   I also feel that although there is an abundance of resources and helpful faculty, that without face-to-face interaction I could sometimes have difficulty with some of my harder assignments.
Because we classmates interact without seeing each other’s faces, feedback could prove to be a little more difficult.   Some humor will not be understood, and some comments could be perceived as rude or mean even though there was no malice intended.   But, I...