Going Through the Mill?

Jason Baron and Missy Alexander explain how to avoid ‘diploma mills’ and how to make the most out of online learning.

HRM. What is a ‘diploma mill’ and how can I determine if a school is credible?
Missy Alexander. Diploma mills provide academic credentials for little or no academic work with many degrees awarded for ‘life experience.’ These businesses are not accredited by any nationally recognized certifying agency (although not all unaccredited schools are diploma mills) and often claim certifications by bogus entities.

Josh Baron. The key step to avoiding diploma mills is to ensure a school is accredited. The US Department of Education provides a listing of 6,900 postsecondary educational institutions and programs that have been approved by regional accrediting bodies and/or state agencies. Specialized accreditations for programs like business, psychology, or nursing might also apply. Check school websites for these additional certifications.

HRM. Is the role of the professor different in online classes?
MA. While the style of teaching in an online course is different from what students typically experience in the traditional classroom, the role of professor is no less important in terms of guiding students through the curriculum, creating meaningful learning opportunities for individuals and small groups, and evaluating the learning process and student outcomes. Teaching in an online environment is very exciting because the people who enroll in online programs tend to be motivated learners ready to engage the material. It’s easy to get to know online students because they can’t hide in the back of the room: everyone must participate. Unlike the instant responses necessary in a traditional classroom, the time delay between questions and answers encourages a productive dialogue.

HRM. What is the difference between online college courses and web-based training?
JB. Web-based training, often used for corporate training, is generally delivered in a self-paced mode without an instructor. As a result, students often work in isolation. In general, this model works well when a set of facts needs to be learned and when the students are externally motivated (e.g. certification is required) to complete the work.  The model is less than ideal for learning a larger body of knowledge or developing high-order thinking skills (e.g. problem solving).

With high-quality online courses the learning outcomes go beyond a standard checklist of facts or skills. Online learning provides students with the mechanism to explore topics at a greater depth, in part because they tend to be lead by an instructor who helps facilitate the learning process. These courses also encourage more student-to-student interaction through things like online discussions.  This allows students to gain insight into a diverse set of options and learn from one another.

HRM. How can I figure out if an online program or course is a good fit?
MA. Start with the basics. Consider your professional goals and try to find the best path to meeting them. Then start looking into the programs available. Don’t just look at the names of the degrees: look at the specific courses offered. Then check out the faculty expertise and whether their interests mesh with yours. Beyond curriculum, check out the support services available to online students. Will an online writing center be available? Can you access the library from home? How often is the help desk available? Are you eligible to attend on campus events?

JB. For those folks who are hesitant about online learning, the eLearners advisor tool helps students determine if the online learning environment is best for them – both in terms of their familiarity with computer technology and their learning and personal interaction styles.

Credit text
As part of their white paper, Marist College has provided an easy to use questionnaire that students or benefits administrators can use when evaluating programs. This is available through the HRM website.

Josh Baron is Director of Academic Technology and eLearning at Marist College and is a member of the Sakai Foundation Board of Directors.

Dr. Missy Alexander is Director of the online Masters Program in Communication at Marist College. Her Ph.D., from New York University, focused Media Ecology, a subject that explores how new media communication transforms social institutions.