Will online education ever replace the classroom?

The prevalence of online education has obviously been pushed along by the advances in technology. If you'd told someone 20 years ago that it would be possible to complete and online education degree without leaving your home, you'd probably attract some strange looks. Online education programs are now big business.

It used to be the case that a lot of online education programs were 'fly by night' operations or dodgy get rich quick schemes. Now you can graduate from legitimate education institutions through completion of an online degree. It's certainly not a traditional way to complete your education, and obviously there are some pro's and con's.

One obvious benefit for those undertaking an online degree is that they do not have to physically attend class. Obviously this is an attractive proposition for those unable to travel, or required to stay home for whatever reason. If your already working full time completing an online masters degree may be a better option than trying to attend night school. The downside to this is the lack of human face to face interaction. I think for all its positives this is where online education is let down. I don't believe anything can replace the face to face relationship between teacher and student, which is why I don't believe that the classroom will ever become extinct.
How do you feel about online education? Would you feel comfortable completing a degree online? Would you recommend it to others?

If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.