Employer Bias Changing Towards Online Learning...
- John Boylan
- Nov 20, 2017
- 2 min read
In a recent article published in the Globe and Mail it was noted that Canada's employers do not feel that an online education is any inferior than an education that is given on campus. However, employers do state that this is very much dependent on the institution providing the education - does it have a good reputation? The face of education is changing but it all comes down to the "reputation of the program, the institution offering it and the accreditation attached" says Mary Baroll,President of TalentEgg (a student and recent-graduate career resource company). The stigma of online learning has now changed from the viewpoint of 10 to 15 years ago. But, employers do still require that online graduates will still need to prove they have the interpersonal soft skills (via community work and/or work experience), in order to be successful and land that perfect job! In the past, the online version of education was not highly looked upon by the upper crust of academica. But, times are now changing. Online learning is now a growing phenomenon. According to a 2015 study commissioned by Global Affairs Canada, 361,000 members (nearly 30 per cent) of the student population in Canada took online courses in 2015. And it is this growing number of online learners that is attracting employers to revisit their viewpoint on this form of education. The article does go on to state that if you are looking to do your education online, do your homework and research. There are some cautionary tales out there. For example, the University of Phoenix - a for profit institute that offers online education has a history of being investigated for overstating its results. Therefore, a good place to start is the public Canadian post-secondary institutions. One such school is Vancouver Community College. Vancouver Community College is where I am pursuing my Professional Instructor's Diploma, through their Professional Instructor's Diploma Program (PIDP). The program has a stellar reputation in its curriculum throughout the province of BC, and many graduate students of its program are teaching in the adult education sector today. I really enjoy the online portion of the learning... as it allows me to tailor my learning to my own schedule (I can work full-time and still take courses at my leisure). I must admit ... I have always been an in-classroom learner -so this online version was new for me too. And, yes.. I was a bit skeptical at first...to see if I would enjoy it and would I learn. Well.. was I wrong. The medium is a great platform to learn from not only the fantastically engaged instructors, but my fellow classmates from all over. I am pleasantly surprised on this educational journey... Not only are employers biases changing towards online learning... but so are some of the leaners biases changing too..
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