Impact of Telecommunication Technologies on Virtual Universities
Shena D. Sterling
IX540: Research Methods for Education and Instructional Technology
Professor Kimberly Case
December 13, 2014
Introduction
Virtual Universities are on the rise and are a legitimate threat to replace the traditional University. The most prominent reason for the current explosion in student enrollment in the virtual universities, are advancements in telecommunications technologies. This paper presents a methodology for quantitatively testing the relationship between growth in telecommunications technologies, and parallel growth in student enrollment in Category 1, Title IV 2yr and 4yr degree granting distance education programs recognized by
…show more content…
As advancements in telecommunications technologies go forward the costs associated with such technologies have decreased while the benefits increased. New cutting edge technologies are always priced at a premium when they are introduced into the market. As competitors enter the market the cost of the technology gradually declines and demand rises following the law of demand.
In this project one of the major questions that must be answered is whether the value of low cost distance education programs, supported by new and innovative telecommunication technologies, is greater than the value of traditional educational programs costing much more. The researcher proposes that the explosive growth in student enrollment in on-line programs answer this question affirmatively. The researcher will use quantitative analysis to support the null hypothesis identified in the document.
Within the context of this quasi-experimental study the researcher has carefully investigated the role advancements in telecommunications technologies have played in the establishment and growth of virtual universities in the U.S., the impact telecommunications technologies have had on Title IV, Post-Secondary 2yr and 4yr degree granting colleges and universities, how the explosive growth in on-line student enrollment has globally
Online degrees are becoming an ever more trendy method to receive a college education and many students are switching to online education due to the quality of material, ease, and the level of flexibility in distance education programs. Recently, the internet has developed into a reliable capital of information for college seekers. Everything from applying for financial assistance to taking a course can be done online. Now, a student can even obtain online degrees from one of many schools offering online education as a practical choice to a traditional classroom education. There’s a load of information regarding online education, and distance education is becoming increasingly popular for students everywhere.
In addition to the rising demand for tertiary education, the advent of the internet gave PHEI’s a new delivery method for
The authors analyzed statistics of online learning to determine what they mean. They looked at the growth of online options in institutions. They also compared online learning with traditional learning to determine if it was as effective.
The term cost behavior is used to describe whether a cost changes as output changes. In this case the costs are tightly shielded. In order to describe the cost behavior of the industry, we have to study the process that results in cost incurrence. Based on the information in the AT&T case, the industry features a high proportion of fixed costs in relation to acquiring spectrum and building a network. Variable costs are relatively low and, in the case of text messages, are very low. The cost structure in the wireless industry is dominated by fixed costs, so the
The University of Florida’s (UoF) realization that brick and mortar schools no longer serve as the only means to attaining a higher education established an institutional paradigm shift (Kuhn, 2012) on education delivery. The university’s evolution of an online education developed alongside the growth of technology (Blocher, DeMontes, Willis, & Tucker, 2002) and the needs of the community (University of Florida, Distance Learning, 2016). For the UoF, online programs began transforming as early as 1947 when challenged to adapt during world events such as the need to deliver GED home study courses to nearly 6,000 immigrants (University of Florida, History, 2016). In years that followed, an increasingly competitive environment (Volery & Lord, 2000) led to the video taping of lectures in 1991 and to the online courses and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that initiated in 2013. In its early development MOOCs were housed under the Coursera website since it provided an opportunity to test online courses (Coursera.com, 2016; College Factual, 2016). Today, the UoF houses both MOOCs and online programs within the Division of Continuing Education (DCE), which the university established in 2009 and dedicated full-time faculty to it due to the steady growth of online education (University of Florida, Distance and Continuing Education, 2016).
Information for this paper was collected through interviews with the VP of Student Services, the Associate VP of Enrollment Management, and the Director of Financial Aid. These interviews addressed distance learning, social media, operating systems, digital divide, and digital native. We discussed the trends of usage and the impacts on students and community colleges. Throughout this section, I will refer to these individuals as participates one, two, and three and this order is random to those interviewed. All participates where asked to participate in interview about technology in student services. They were provided with a copy of the paper abstract along with the following items to consider in regards to technology; current trends/issues in your area; changes since you entered the profession, and challenges.
Bates, A. (2005). Technology, e-learning and distance education (2nd Ed.), London; New York: Rout ledge.
Casey delves into the history of distance education (DE) from the perspective of technological advances. Though citing three reasons for the growth of DE in the United States, she concentrates on the fact that technological advances paved the way for a similarly rapid expansion of DE. Her argument is that of the three instrumental factors (distance to educational facilities and thirst for knowledge being the other two), technology most closely parallels the growth of DE.
As technology continues to improve, the physical campus does not confine the university. Students from around the world are able to enroll in courses at universities whose physical campuses they may have never visited. For those distance-learners, methodologies such as advising via e-mail and video conferencing have proven especially helpful in providing a connection to the institution. According to Susan A. Gravel (2012), distance-learners have significantly higher attrition rates than their traditional, on-campus counterparts. Maria LaPadula (2003) attributes the higher rate of attrition at least in part to students feeling isolated and disconnected.
“No Short Cuts in Long-Distance Learning” by Bill Maxwell is an essay published in the Tampa Bay Times, in 2011. In this essay the author writes about the negative effects of post-secondary education online, and gives advice on what community colleges can do to improve the graduation rate of online students. The essay has some weaknesses, but is very informative.
Which type of learning is better, traditional or online? As we all know, attending a college or university is nothing new. For the longest time the biggest issues for students were which school to attend and how to pay for it. However, with new and constant developments in modern technology these students are faced with a new problem: which type of learning is better, traditional or online? Students are not the only ones dealing with this dilemma; schools are also presented with the same issue. Not only do schools have to be concerned with which type of learning is best for their students but also which type of
Distance education is about increasing access, not saving money. The technical, logistical and support costs can be very high. Therefore, the financial aspects must be considered.
Non-traditional students are finding it easier and easier to maintain a job, a family, and pursuing a college career at the same time. This is possible because more and more non-traditional students are receiving an education using distance learning, as opposed to traditional, in-the-classroom teaching. Distance learning is basically taking college level, credit-bearing courses via the Internet. One of the most obvious advantages of distance learning is that it puts the classroom in your home, office, or wherever you can find a computer and log on to the Internet. However, there is much controversy regarding the quality of the courses being offered on the Internet versus the quality of
Education is an important part of people’s lives; it will either make them or break them in the future depending on the careers they choose. Education is greatly diverse today in comparison to the 1950s because of advancements in teaching and other great inventions that provide easier techniques of teaching. One major issue that has been raised is distant learning courses and online education.
This cost factor has efficiently discouraged thousands of students from pursuing degrees. However, online education has effectively diminished or eliminated some of those costs. This form of education removes commuting costs, room and board, and other costs that could become burdensome to a student. Furthermore, this would increase graduation rates overall thus providing a significant benefit.