Technology is always driving change and disrupting industries. Higher education has been no exception. While online learning is nothing new, the popularity of accelerated degree programs earned online is a relatively recent phenomenon, one which can be traced to improvements in technology over the past decade.
But wait…what’s an accelerated online degree program compared to a traditional one? As the name suggests, an accelerated program is one in which the degree is earned faster than it would be in a program set at the normal pace. For instance, online accelerated BSN programs can be completed in as little as one year, whereas traditional BSN programs take years to finish.
The availability of accelerated degree programs is owed to the acceleration of technology. From smartphones and tablets to video conferencing and proctoring software, the rapid development of tech has streamlined the digital distance learning process, making it possible to earn an accredited degree in a shorter amount of time.
Here are five reasons why accelerated online programs are the future of higher education, all thanks to advances in technology:
More accessible
Between raising kids, working a nine-to-five, and maintaining a household, most folks don’t have the time to go back to college without neglecting their existing responsibilities. Accelerated degree programs offer a way to earn a degree without putting your life on hold for several years.
More credible
There was a time when people judged you for earning a degree online. However, thanks to the internet becoming a daily (if not hourly) part of our lives, the thought of taking classes online has become less strange and more acceptable. Throw in the recent explosion in online learning thanks to the pandemic, and it’s easy to see how the credibility of e-learning is no longer something people cast doubt upon.
More efficient
The pace of life has accelerated exponentially over the last 100 years. As a result, the traditional campus-based model of higher education has become increasingly antiquated and inefficient. In order for ordinary men and women to earn an advanced degree at a speed that fits into the pace of modern life, they need it to happen within a matter of months, not years.
More affordable
There’s no denying that online learning platforms are inherently more cost-effective than traditional classroom-based education. The lack of overhead alone is enough to explain the allure of going digital. More times than not, universities pass the savings onto their online students. As time goes on and more courses are exclusively offered online, the cost of education will continue to go down.
More mainstream
Even though online education has become more prevalent in recent years, the majority of college-educated folks earned their degrees the old-fashioned way. In time, those figures will reverse to the point where the majority of college-educated people will have earned their degrees online. There will still be a role for traditional classroom learning, but it will be limited to situations where live instruction is the only way to adequately lead lessons and give lectures.
The progress of civilization can always be traced to technological advancement. Even the so-called traditional forms of learning are based on what was once state-of-the-art technology, whether it’s written language, copied text, or carefully designed acoustics. Thanks to computer technology and the proliferation of high-speed internet access, the latest leap in learning is the acceleration of education itself.
What will the future hold for higher education? Whether it’s AI instructors, virtual reality training, or lessons held live from the Martian surface, there’s a high likelihood the opportunity to learn will be made available to anyone with an internet connection.
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