Online Education

Online Education

The idea of education was brought forth in the 17th century when the 13 colonies decided that it would be useful for the youth to learn the virtues of family, religion, and community. The oldest school in the United States is the Boston Latin School, founded in 1635, and is still functioning today. By the 18th century, common schools were created. This type of education consisted of children of varying ages being taught in a single room by one teacher. They were funded mostly by fees charged to the families of attending children. (Singer, Par. 4) Regarding girls, education was optional, and the first school for girls, created in New Orleans in 1727. (Singer, Par. 6) By 1918, every state required all children to complete at least elementary school, and by 1954, in a court ruling of Brown V. Board of Education, racial segregation in the school system was brought to an end. (Strauss) The institution of public education as undoubtedly undergone a radical transformation throughout the passage of time. It is only natural, that with the addition of the use of technology in everyday life, that education also move to the online platform as well.

The custom of online learning is on the rise more so today than it ever has been. College students are seeking a way of learning the can coincide with the needs of their everyday life, and they can attain that via online education. Some of the reasons one might be prompted to seek online education include its cost-effectiveness, ease of access to materials, and schedule flexibility.

The first cause of a student choosing to attend college online is that it can be very cost effective. According to the statistics compiled by College Board in the 2017-2018 school year, the average college student paid $34,740 at private colleges, $9,970 for state residents at public colleges, and $25,620 for out-of-state residents attending public universities. Furthermore, if a student were to live on-campus, they would also incur the cost of room and board. College Board estimates these costs to be 10,800 at four-year public schools to $12,210 at private schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Of course, if one lives off campus, one would need to think about the price of traveling back and forth to classes, as well as required meals during their time at school. The cost of that would be dependant on where the student lives. With such a hefty price tag attached to attending an in-person class, it is easy to see why a student might consider attending classes online to save money.

Another substantial cause of the internet education is students can access vast amounts of information through just a click of the mouse. Students can email professors, with their questions can be responded to instantly. There is even the ability to access assignments and quizzes at any given moment and submit them just as quickly. In the same token, with as soon as a student