Bricks Versus Video Deciding if courses are better online or in-person by Kate Rogers

Online courses and distance learning have opened up the doors for nonprofit executives, those in career transition, and graduate students seeking the highest levels of education despite their location. As technology continues to advance, those participating in coursework via the Web can interact with professors and discuss material in real time, bringing personal connection to cutting edge education.

While academia online is expanding, some still prefer to attend courses on-site and get their degrees the old-fashioned way -- face to face.

The vast majority of online students are women, currently employed in the nonprofit sector, seeking to bolster their resume with either a master's degree or certificates in nonprofit management, according to program directors. While many might be taking distance learning because the college isn't close by, others are peppering in online courses throughout their schedules of on-site classes, for convenience and experience.

Bay Path College in Longmeadow, Mass., combines high-tech online course components with personal teaching styles, offering its entire Nonprofit Management and Strategic Fundraising Masters programs, as well as a variety of certificate programs, on the Web. Many graduate courses are on an eight-week accelerated plan, according to A. Rima Dael, acting director of the nonprofit management program at Bay Path, with class discussion forums meeting online between four and five days per week. Professors use video or voice-over PowerPoint presentations to have students attain an interactive feel while learning off-site.
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Source: The NonProfit Times