Many of us long for a higher education, but if you are a working adult you probably have a busy day schedule and little time to commute to night class. These limits may soon be a thing of the past. With the increasing popularity of today’s online education, the home computer can now make college dreams become a reality for students who might otherwise be shut out of higher education. For one Atlanta woman, the distance education is her key to a higher degree and a more lucrative career.
“I wanted to get started on a graduate degree for years but I just wasn’t able to spare any time between work and my children,” says Nicole Palmer-Murray, a thirty-something business analyst and mother of three living just outside of Atlanta, GA. “I love studying online because it’s so much easier to park in front of my computer rather than having to arrange babysitters and sit in traffic. The money I’d spend on gas by driving to a campus I’d rather spend on my kids and I love being available to them as much as possible.”
Palmer-Murray, who with her husband is raising two boys and one girl between the ages of 1 and 11, has joined a growing number of professionals across the nation who choose to search out online programs to continue their education at home.
“Sometimes I don’t do homework until 10 o'clock at night because that's the time that I've gotten my kids to bed, but that’s OK, because I certainly need the flexibility,” says Palmer-Murray who is pursuing a Master’s degree in Information Technology-Network Security.
The convenience and accessibility of distance learning is uncomparable to on-campus education, especially for students who work full time or have families, so it is no wonder higher education is emerging as not just an acceptable but, in many cases, the preferred option for achieving a Master’s degree. Students have access to notes, lectures, chats, databases and other interactive activities 24 hours a day. With resources like these, a higher degree is more accessible and doable for people with many responsibilities. Palmer-Murray goes to class before she cooks dinner, while she's working, and on the weekends.
“I spend about one to two hours of reading every night. Friday nights I probably dedicate about three hours, and Saturday morning I finish up any assignments that are due that week,” she says.
The benefits of online programmes go far beyond scheduling. For Palmer-Murray, there’s plenty more quality time left as opposed to taking night classes at a traditional campus.
“My favorite time with my kids is play time and I want to make sure I take advantage of every minute with them. By not having to worry about getting to class and being away from my little ones, I can enjoy the few hours we have together every day.”
By fulfilling her requirements in cyberspace, the busy mother is sure to keep up with the competition in her professional field, while still getting to enjoy her family life.
“Not having to rush to class or being tied to a specific schedule allows me to make time for dinner, do homework with my children, clean the house, spend time and play with the kids. It’s great because I work at my own pace and as long as I organize my time, I can do whatever I want. I always know that I can spend Saturday doing any homework I missed throughout the week.”
Just because you study online doesn’t mean that there is less studying involved. Taking classes online still requires plenty of reading and turning in assignments.
“Time management and self-motivation proved the toughest part for me,” admits Palmer-Murray. “But I make sure to hand in assignments on time and keep up with all the reading requirements,” she says.
One in six college students -- about 3.2 million people -- took at least one online course last fall, according to The Sloan Consortium, a group of institutions committed to quality online education. Nationally, enrollments in online degree programs grow about 20 percent per year, and half of all colleges now offer some kind of Internet content, including University of Phoenix Online which offered the first online program in the nation, beginning in 1989.