China Online Education

According to a recent study conducted in the United States by the Sloan Consortium, the rate of students pursuing online education far exceeds the growth rate of overall higher education. In fact, in the United States almost 3.5 million students are now studying online. Similarly, a recent poll of 250,000 students from 523 American universities conducted by the National Survey of Student Engagement, indicated that students pursuing education online reported higher levels of academic challenge than on-campus counterparts, were more satisfied overall with their educational experience, and reported greater developmental gains.

Online Education Accepted as Quality Learning Method

• 60% of employers polled believe that online education is as good or better than campus-based programs
• 62% of academic leaders believe that online education quality is equal to or superior to face-to-face instruction.

Benefits of Online Education

Online education makes it possible to access quality education offered by The University of Massachusetts from anywhere in the world. Online learners find real value in learning with peers from all areas of the globe and sharing learning experiences while advancing their skills for the workplace. Students often remark they find learning online to be a very robust, interactive environment and often become lifelong friends with their online classmates.

Is online education right for you?

Even with all the benefits of learning online, you may still wonder if online education is right for you. Here are a few questions you might want to ask yourself:

• Can you manage time effectively?

  Managing a rigorous online course while juggling work and family life can be a challenge for many students. Online education offers the flexibility to complete much of the course work according to your own schedule. You might choose to read a chapter during a lunch break or take a quiz after the kids are in bed. Whatever schedule you choose, there are still deadlines and timelines associated with online education. The ability to manage time is vitally important to meet the demands of online education.

• Are you comfortable communicating in writing?

  Much of correspondence between faculty and students is written. Students should feel comfortable expressing ideas through email or discussion boards. If you are more at ease posing or answering questions in a face-to-face setting, online education may be a challenge.

• Do you prefer to take time to respond thoughtfully to issues?

  Learning online allows students the time to reflect on new material. Some find this to be an advantage over interaction in a classroom-based setting where it happens real-time.

• Are you open to using new technology?

  Although most online education courses employ commonplace technology such as email and discussion boards, some explore the educational value of new technologies such as pod casting. Fear of technology should not be a deterrent as there is ample support for those who need it. However, if you enjoy cutting edge technology, online education might be right for you.

Additional Information

More questions about online education? Review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Contact Us or review our China Course Offerings.

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