| There were times when students had to travel to | | | | acquisition of online education on all degree levels a |
| far ends of the world to seek knowledge. They | | | | bit more difficult. One strong argument put |
| had to travel for months or even years to reach | | | | forward is that of the academic honesty of the |
| that desired country or city. Time passed and | | | | online students. They have the tendency to go |
| distances became shorter with the invention of | | | | easy because they know that no one is going to |
| modern ways of traveling such as planes and | | | | question them. It is a part of human nature that |
| railways. But the tradition of traveling to the cities | | | | unless we meet someone face to face, that |
| or countries for better studies remained intact. | | | | person remains a stranger to us and same is the |
| Than a technological revolution came with the | | | | case with those who opt for online degree |
| invention of 'Computers'. In its early stages the | | | | programs. There is no face to face interaction |
| computer had limited use but with the passage of | | | | between the tutor and the student. An online |
| time its usage became more consistent and later | | | | student does not know the aspects of a true |
| it became a very useful machine for every field | | | | campus or a traditional classroom, which makes it |
| of life. But still, the computer was not complete, till | | | | difficult for them to learn the values of life and |
| the time that 'the internet' made it a perfect | | | | friendship. The old school theory claims that the |
| machine. | | | | internet offers other things, which are totally not |
| Over the years people have argued about the | | | | suitable for the students and can spoil them and |
| use of internet. Many have claimed that it is a | | | | deter their concentration while studying. |
| waste of time and a source of spoiling our new | | | | The new school theory, which supports online |
| generation. This a conservative thought. The | | | | education, claims that many of the pupils are not |
| other faction, a more moderate one has claimed | | | | wealthy enough to go to conventional colleges or |
| that it is a portal of knowledge. But our topic is | | | | universities, for which they require an alternate |
| not directly related to this argument although it | | | | style of study. They clam that studying through |
| has an indirect relation. With the passage of time, | | | | distance education courses saves time and cost. |
| education over the internet has also gained much | | | | Another aspect is that numerous students live |
| fame. There are two views on online education; | | | | hand to mouth and if they go to an institute to |
| one view is old school, which believes that | | | | study how would they work? This problem can |
| education must be taken where it is suppose to | | | | easily be solved by studying online and working at |
| be taken, that is at traditional colleges and | | | | the same time. Supporters of online education |
| universities, while the other view is new school | | | | claim that if they study online, the students can |
| and according to this view, students have the | | | | learn whenever and whatever they need and |
| choice of doing whatever they desire and if they | | | | they are not dependent on anyone. Many |
| do not have the time or financial perks available | | | | students cannot keep up the pace of combined |
| to them, then they can easily acquire education | | | | study, but if they have the option of studying |
| through eLearning from any of the accredited | | | | online they can study at their own pace and thus |
| online colleges and universities. | | | | learning and the acquisition of an online degree can |
| Our views can not be endorsed on anyone as | | | | be adjusted in their busy schedules. |
| both of them have some weak and some strong | | | | Both the sides have their views clear, and it is |
| points. The old school theory claims that it is | | | | really hard to pick up a winner, but we do not |
| impossible for any teacher to transfer education | | | | have to pick up a winner, because the world is full |
| and the whole of his or her years of experience | | | | of people with different kinds of needs and we do |
| on the internet. They further believe that at times | | | | not have the right to force our views on them. |
| it is not possible for teachers to provide | | | | The best way to co-exist is to respect other |
| individualized feedback considering that active | | | | people's views. So those who wish to study |
| learning is not possible through eLearning. This | | | | through a traditional institution can do so, while |
| view claims that the equipment required to | | | | those who face some issues can always turn to |
| correspond with each other is not available to all | | | | accredited online colleges and universities to |
| the students or teachers which makes the | | | | acquire their degrees through eLearning. |