Getting a diploma, should I bother with a IT degree?

raross

keatron wrote:

raross wrote:

jdmurray wrote:

jaeusm wrote:

It takes more motivation and discipline to get through an online course, which usually results in learning more.

This is basically true. On-line learning is "self-directed" rather than "instructor-directed." It therefore takes more "self-motivation" and "self-discipline" to make it through an on-line course than the equivalent classroom course (IMHO).

I dont find this true at all for many reasons. Sure you could go through the book and complete the tests online and even pass the course. But lectures at "good" uni's dont come from the textbooks, they come from the professors. Thus you dont learn as much, plus the hands on experience you get at a university. For instance an engineering degree etc.

From my experience the people who take online classes and ofcourse this is a generalization but are extremely lazy. That is why they are taking the online classes instead of the real thing.

For these reasons and many more is why employers look down on "many" of the online degrees.

I don't know of any engineers who will tell me that the hands on experience they got in college was crucial to where they are now. Most of them tell me that everything they learned about engineering they learned on the job. These are engineers ranging from Civil, to Chemical and everything in between.

Consortiums such as ISC2 accepts (and even encourages) online master's programs at certain colleges. Also we have here in Chicago the following colleges; University of Chicago, Depaul, University of Illinois at Chicago, Northwestern University, and Loyola to name a few. All of these schools are top ranked in one or more departments and well respected schools. They also have HUGE online enrollments. Especially in their Master's programs. As a matter of fact, I'm enrolled right now in a Master's program at one of these schools. It is mostly online courses. We actually meet every 2 weeks for one class. All of us have management type jobs. The professor thinks it's the best idea of the 20th century to start doing these distance learnings. We also have on-line collaboration projects. So basically you got mostly executive people, most over 30 with a minimum of a few years experience in management. You wanna talk about some powerful and insightful discussion? You should read some of our collaboration project transcripts. And we do this mostly online. Sometimes (when I'm in town) I'll meet a few of the people for lunch or coffee. And let's not even start talking about networking opportunities. The people that do distance learning like this are usually people too busy at work to do the traditional class room thing. One professor told us that he really gets a lot out of these classes because those of us in there are actually out doing the work. He says that often times in our class he becomes the student and just listens to us. It helps him stay in touch with the real world and real issues we currently deal with. Which helps him in preparing the students in the traditional class room settings (who usually have no experience or minimal experience) for facing those real issues.

Like I said before, you might want to actually read my posts before you argue. I was speaking of under-graduate like I said I have no clue how online programs for masters are. But I would assume the same.

wastedtime

I'm an active duty service member I'm trying just to get an associates in the next 3 to 4 years through online courses. I don't feel I'm laze nor are all the other service members doing online courses, or parents that are trying to improve there education. I know that isn't everyone that is taking online courses but I am sure that makes a large consistency of them.