Online Classes: Success or Just Another Scam?

If you have been cruising the World Wide Web for any length of time then you have seen your share of ads concerning online classes. And, like myself, you may have dismissed it with a click of your delete button as quickly as your eyes perused over it. Some of you even may have written it off as just another scam much like those ads in the back of the music magazines of the 70's and 80's that touted that you could have a college diploma just for $25.00, no questions asked!

But what are online classes? Are they truly a rip-off or is this form of education a progressive way to get that degree? Let us first start from the beginning.

When distance learning began, it did not need the benefits of a computer. The idea of learning long distance began to take shape in the form of correspondence courses where schoolwork was mailed to an instructor and was returned with the graded paperwork and instruction or suggestions to the student.

This began in 1858 with the University of London's External Programme. Then, in the 20^th century, telecourses were utilized in which a radio or television was the chief transport of the material. Missionary families, who were residing in Middle East countries or even the Australian outback, relied on this method to educate their children. Books were ordered and delivered to them (usually) from the United States by schools such as the Granddaddy of all home school institutions, Calvert School, who began worldwide home instruction around 1907. Later on, other types of distance learning came on the scene such as CD-ROMs, online classes and now mobile learning through a wireless server.

Online classes have grown tremendously in the past ten years. Anyone that can type, or those who still hunt-and-peek, can enter the electronic highway to a better education through online classes. Through different schools, programs or even companies, students can take these types of classes on a variety of subjects. The type of learning has also been called E-learning or distance learning and has been available, in various forms, for about thirty years.

Now, it is estimated that almost 2 million university students in the United States use online education and the number is increasing each year. Hence, the home school genre comes onto the scene.

Home education has always been present in American society since the time of the Pilgrims. But 'home schooling' has grown in popularity, especially since President Bush enacted the 'No Child Left Behind Act' in January 2002, and left not only the children behind but the teachers and parents as well. Now those parents are left holding the bag of how to give their children a worthwhile education without being sacrificial lambs to the TAKS gods.

That is where online education's success soared by leaps and bounds. Calvert, Alpha Omega, Jubilee Academy, Excel High School, Oak Meadow, American High School, Grace Academy, MorningStar Academy are only a few of the hundreds on online schools directed solely at students from kindergarten to 12^th grade.

According to Robert L Jacoben in his June 2007 article, for eSchool News, the Sloan Consortium that was created by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to improve online education stated that online schools educated 700,000 of the United States' 48 million elementary and secondary students during the 2005-2006 school year. Mr. Jacobsen also mentioned that at least 24 states have virtual school programs that are most at the high school level.

Even a United States Department of Education report in 2003, acknowledged that there were at least 1.1 million students being home schooled. An unofficial statement from the National Home Education Research Institute confirmed that 1.9-2.2 million children were being home schooled in the 2005-2006 school year.

But are they any good?

Good question. There are a lot of online programs and a lot of money being spent on them. Online education has cut the cost of education at home whether the student is in the first grade or his first year of college. And for the student who has issues being around crowds, it is a blessing.

It also allows the student to be more mobile. They can learn at home on the family desktop or traveling via wireless laptops or a Pod cast. Furthermore, a student's program can be personalized to his or her needs, strengths or weaknesses. Grades are recorded, counselors and teachers are available at any time and not just during 'school time' and the majority of online schools are accredited through CITA (Commission of International and Trans-Regional Accreditation).

Of course, the down side to this utopia is the fact that some of these programs, while less expensive than tons of textbooks, materials, transportation expense, and extra study guides, can be expensive.

Alpha Omega Academy is one of the more reasonably priced programs with their registration fee is $185.00 per child and annual tuition (for grades 3-12) is $200 for their LIFEPAC program and $300 for their Switched-On-Schoolhouse. There are extra fees as well. On the high end, there are online programs such as Oak Meadow that, for a 5^th grader, can get mighty pricey. The online curriculum is a measly $400 but tuition for a 10 month period is $1400 or $975 for a 5 month period. And if your baby is a special needs child, well that price just went up! The IEP consultation is another $1800 for a 10-month period or $1250 for a 5-month period! A special needs 5^th grader that you plan to home school the length of a normal public-school year; you will spend a whopping $3600 in one year!

And how many years do you have to go until college? You may have to win the state lottery just to be able to educate little Johnny or Jane through some of the more expensive programs!

However, it's up to the individual to do a little research to make certain the company running such great ads on your favorite message board holds up to their end of the deal. Online education seems to be here for the duration and the majority of them appear to be legitimate. But, just remember, 'if it's too good to be true', it usually is! After all, a little education before getting educated can't be all that bad.