We often forget that prior to the wide use of the Internet people do not often have the opportunity to receive a higher education, be cause they could not afford to pay for college education and also work at the same time. But with a computer and access to the Internet, you can receive an education from anyplace in the world. Therefore, more and more colleges are offering online opportunities to receive an education today. All you have to do is open up a webpage and you will see Google ads for universities where individuals can apply for college and receive an education while at home.
Just think how this has opened the doors for people with disabilities who do not have the mobility to attend a college and live on campus, especially when there was no accessibility for people in wheelchairs since many of the buildings were built before the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. Under this law at any building being renovated has to be made accessible, and any buildings built after 1992 have to be made accessible.
Higher education with the advent of online learning also allows older Americans the opportunity to receive a higher education even while they are working. Since we are currently in a down economy there is a big debate about whether or not receiving a higher education will make you more unemployable and valuable to a company. What we often forget that we are learning continually even after we finish our formal education.
Here is a scenario for you to consider about how online learning has become a part of your every day life. You completed your formal education at the undergraduate level during a time when jobs were plentiful and went to work for the corporation thinking you had a job for life. After 20 years on the job your company has decided to cut back the number of employees in the workplace and you have to do side whether or not you were going to stay in the same field, or whether or not you are going to go into a totally different field.
Once making this decision you have realized you have to go back school and update your formal education but feel uncomfortable living on campus and attending classes with students who were 15 or 20 years younger then you are. With the use of the Internet you can apply for and attend classes from the comfort of your own home, and also continue to work.
Here is another scenario that will help you decide whether and not this is for you. When you went to were 20 years ago you used a typewriter where you had to use carbon paper and white out for corrections. Today, with the use of computers, you have to learn how to use the software and incorporated into the work you do on a daily basis. You don’t have the opportunity to attend classes, but you can learn online how to use the software and incorporated into your business. This also makes you more valuable to the company because they would rather not have to pay to retrain an employee.
