On-line learning continues to receive an enormous amount of attention. Many times the debate revolves around whether or not students have the same learning opportunities in an on-line format as they do in a face-to-face, classroom environment. Upon stumbling across an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education I learned just how much of an impact on-line learning can have on students around the world. In particular I learned that American service members are taking on-line college courses while they are defending our country.
Over the past ten years there has been an increase in the demand for distance learning. This is due, in part, to the amount of service members who were sent overseas to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also, author Tom Peter indicates that many service members realized they will need a degree in order to land a civilian job or to receive a high-level promotion in a military career. As few as ten years ago 15 percent of active-duty service members were enrolled in on-line courses, which is a small percentage when compared to the 60 percent who utilize on-line courses today.
The United States offers the opportunity for higher education as a recruiting tool to get people to volunteer their time to the services. The Army offers about $4,500 a year in tuition assistance and this appears to be enough money to cover the cost of education. The new GI Bill is separate from any assistance our soldiers receive while on active duty. This provides incentives for soldiers to finish their degree while serving so they can use the GI Bill funding to finance their graduate education.
What was most encouraging about the article was the escape from the everyday stressors of war that on-line learning provides soldiers. Many soldiers in the article described how pursuing education offered him/her the opportunity to feel human. After their military duties are complete for the day many soldiers return to their bunks and have little to keep them entertained. The opportunity to learn has filled the void that many of our service members have experienced. As Sergeant Pruit states in the article, “By taking classes, it allows me to kind of escape the pressures of my job, and it puts the pressure elsewhere in my head.”
As an aspiring faculty member I have wrestled with the idea of on-line learning. Until reading the article I have spent my time thinking about how it limits and benefits those students who enroll in institutions within the United States. Reading this article offered a different perspective on the benefits of on-line learning. I had never taken the time to think about the opportunity and mental escape it provides for our troops. Although I am not ready to replace the traditional classroom environment with on-line learning, I do appreciate the relief it provides those who serve our country.
I also struggle with the idea of online learning. I agree that it can be beneficial in some cases and I also see it as an "easy" option for students. I never even considered the online education for our troops. After reading this blog I have a new argument for online learning. This is a great way for our soldiers to advance their education and at the same time escape the daily stress and pressures of serving the country.
ReplyDeleteOn a different, but somewhat related thought, what about online counseling for those overseas? As a counselor I do not particularly agree with online therapy but in this case it may be helpful. I am not sure what mental health support the soldiers have available when they are serving. Even if there were counselors available nearby their bunks, I wonder how much the stigma of counseling would impact their attendance. If these soldiers had an online counselor who they could discreetly work with, I think this would help them balance their stress. We know a lot of soldiers come home from war and often experience mental health issues. I wonder how the implementation of online counseling could help manage and lower the risk of suffering from post-war mental health issues.
What I thought was interesting about this article was that at Bagram Air Force Base, they actually have a small campus set up for soldiers and they teach over 1,000 students there. I think it's a great way for soldiers to further their education while stationed in unfortunate conditions. I agree that online education isn't always the best way to learn, some of these soldiers are finding it a god way to start earning their degree or enrolling in an online community college to get some of the basic classes out of the way.
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate though that many don't have the opportunity to participate in higher learning because their assignment overseas are much too taxing and they spend weeks away from base and without internet. It's good to see higher education reach out to this population though!
This post was very inspiring to me.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have had very strong feelings about online learning in either direction. I have clarified that I don't think it would work for me, and I have found myself devaluing a degree received from the University of Phoenix or similar institutions. But I didn't have a passionate response about it either way.
I understand that there are a lot of people for whom the online education is convenient and helpful. I had not considered ACTIVE soldiers into that equation. Actually, it sort of humbled me that I had not considered them. I believe myself to be a person who is deeply grateful to any of our military personnel. I grew up worshipping my Grandpa who fought in France, Belgium and Germany in World War II and like to think that my gratitude toward him would translate to any of our military. But I realize I have spent very little time imagining what their existence must be like in a battle zone.
If I remove myself from the narrow view of my stress, full time job, PhD program, balancing a life...I am humbled to realize that the stress I feel is nothing to the threats under which they continually work. For them to find a dose of relief from online education puts my life and my "stress" into perspective. Honestly, if online education can do that for our active military, I see it as much more valuable than I did before. Anything that can provide positive relief to men and women in the line of fire has value. Their sacrifice makes my world possible.
I appreciate the reminder to consider my gratitude. Good post!
The simple fact that military personnel have the opportunity to take classes while serving our country is amazing. I have done a lot of research on student-veterans for 761, and a very high percentage of active duty military members choose to take part in online courses and distance learning. It would be interesting to determine the percentage of military personnel, that engage in online learning while serving abroad, actually choose to continue their education on college campuses once they return home.
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