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by Wendy Lalli
n
her article, "Effects of Globalization on Careers,"
Bettina L. Brown points out that "lifelong learning
appears to be the only key to secure employment."
According to Brown, two significant changes in the
work environment make continuing education essential
for job security. First, citing the findings of
A.J. Templer and T.F. Cawsey, Brown writes "work
in organizations is increasingly portfolio centered
rather than position centered. Employees are being
hired to accomplish specific tasks and...their continued
employment depends on their ability to accomplish
other pertinent tasks, whether within that organization
or another."
Secondly, quoting R.P. Adler, Brown notes that moving to a global economy demands that workers "anticipate, recognize and adapt to the changing requirements of the new economy and workplace by developing new sets of skills and acquiring new foundations of knowledge." These developments have led her to conclude, "Taking responsibility for one's personal career management appears to be the prevalent strategy for increasing one's marketability in today's workplace."
Improving your skill sets is not only a good career move for you, it represents a terrific opportunity for your employer. That's why most companies are very supportive of employees who want to go back to school. That is, up to a point. In truth, most American businesses demand more work hours from their employees than ever before-and not just in the office during the week! Cell phones, e-mail and home fax machines have turned the whole concept of the 40-hour work week on its ear. So while your boss may seem to support your attempt to continue your education, even offering to help with tuition, the practical realities of going to class while working full time can be pretty stressful for you, your manager and perhaps even others you work with. Skipping emergency meetings that are announced at half past five because you have a class across town that starts promptly at six is simply not a career-building move.
The obvious alternative is to take a sabbatical from work and attend class full time. But if you have a family to support, giving up your job to go back to school may not be an option. Fortunately, there is now another choice: distance learning.
Of course, distance learning is nothing new. For the past century, working people have been furthering their education through correspondence schools. But these institutions and the degrees that they granted never enjoyed the cachet of an on-campus education either with employers or the general public. Today, however, the Internet and sophisticated telecommunications have brought distance learning to an entirely new level. In fact, a recent article in Newsweek declared, "corporate America is using distance learning, both internally and externally, for all aspects of training. Many major corporations save millions of dollars each year using distance learning to train employees more effectively and more efficiently than with conventional methods."
And corporations aren't the only ones who find online learning an excellent alternative to on-campus classes. So do students at all levels. The finest universities around the globe now offer online degree programs in an ever-increasing number of subjects. These classes are taught both by academic professionals with sterling credentials and practicing industry leaders whose expertise is enhanced by on the job experience. The format for most of these classes involves interaction between students and between the individual student and teacher. The results can be seen in a recent survey conducted by the Sloan Foundation in which "40.7% of the schools surveyed found that 'students are at least as satisfied' with their online courses as those taking face-to-face offerings, 56.2% are neutral and only 3.1 % disagree."
Online learning not only allows you to hold down a full-time job but to determine when, where and how often you'll go to class. Since your classroom is your computer at home, the office, or wherever else you have access to the Internet, you don't have to waste time and energy driving to school. Nor do you have to juggle your professional and family obligations with your class schedule. You simply go to school whenever and wherever you wish: on your lunch hour in the office, Sunday morning in your den or even on a flight to a business meeting across the country.
Whether you're pursing a graduate degree or just updating your knowledge in your field, you'll find that doing so while working allows you to immediately relate and apply what you're learning on the job. It gives a realistic frame of reference to your school work that is very productive. It also increases your value to your employer in at least two ways. First, it helps you do your own job more effectively and then enables you to share the latest theoretical and analytical thinking about the industry with your colleagues. Indeed, you could well find that going to school will get you promoted at work even before you actually get your degree or even finish the course!
Another advantage that online learning offers you is that it makes career transitions easier and safer than ever before-whether you're pursing a higher position with your current employer, the same job in a different industry or a totally new career altogether. Now, you can take courses that qualify you to make these changes without giving up the job you already have. After all, in this challenging economy jeopardizing a steady paycheck, health insurance and paid vacations is no small sacrifice. Keeping your "day job" while pursuing your dream career considerably reduces your financial risk and the emotional stress involved in making a major change.
Best of all, online learning can be a constant source
of information, support and inspiration throughout
your career, helping you to succeed in whatever
direction you choose to go.
Article Bibliography
(2003, September). "Distance
Education Information" Adprima. Retrieved on February
9, 2005. Available: http://www.adprima.com/distanted.htm
(2001, July) Cummings, H.J., "Studying Up on Tuition
Reimbursement." BusinessWeek online. Retrieved February
12, 2005. Available: www.businessweek.com
(2005, February). "Distance Learning Showcase" Newsweek
showcase.com. Retrieved February 9, 2005. Available:
www.newsweekshowcase.com
Brown, B.L. (2003). "Effects of Globalization on
Careers" Myths and Realities, No. 29. ACVE. Retrieved
February 9, 2005. Available: http://www.cete.org/acve/docgne.asp?tbl=mr&ID=119
Cleary, D. (2004, June 30). "Advantages of Online
Schools vs. Campus-based Schools" Online Degrees
& Online Education Information Center. Retrieved
on January 15, 2005. Available: www.online-degree-education.net/online_education_versus_campus_education.htm
McCabe, K. (2000, November). "Online schools target
busy execs" Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved
February 9, 2005. Available: http://www.unext.com/upload/Crains.pdf
Sloan Consortium. (2004). "Entering the Mainstream:
The Quality and Extent of Online Education in the
United States, 2003 and 2004" Resources. Retrieved
February 10, 2005. Available: www.sloan-c.org/resources/survey.asp
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