As students around the country increasingly turn to online computer training for certification or education in a number of fields, traditional institutions of higher learning must evaluate whether technology trends warrant a change of product versions and release updates.
A report earlier this year from U.S. News and World Report reflected that debate. According to the news source, administrators at some of the country's top colleges and universities are debating the merits of online training to replace some of the industry's ineffective teaching methods.
For instance, rather than requiring students sit in on 400-person courses taught by one professor, universities might want to instead offer online classes that effectively reach an audience the same size but with a greater impetus on the students' part to focus on the course material. Experts told the source that ultimately, online education may be preferable to that particular hallmark of university life.
However, one of the industry's top challenges includes a lack of consistency in the quality of online teachers. It can be difficult for students to trust what their professor is teaching them if their credentials are questionable in any way, said the report.
"Training is all over the map," Elaine Allen, statistical director of the Sloan Survey on Online Education, told the news source. "We need to do something about that to address quality."
As a result, students looking for professional accreditation or education in a particular field may be best served by turning to online certification programs that offer highly qualified computer instructors.
While some organizations may employ less-than-credible online professors, others work with individuals who are experts in their respective fields, meaning the quality of education they provide could be better than what's available elsewhere.