I had the privilege a few years ago to work in the eLearning industry developing online content and learning management systems, during which I came to an important conclusion. Not nearly enough people take distance learning seriously.

Online training has been a staple of many universities for well over a decade, and used in the corporate world to help reduce the cost of employee training. “Why fly them when you can teach them from their desk.” High-end technical training can be produced and delivered in such an organized fashion these days, that it is actually possible to receive an accredited degree from a program that is thousands of miles away.

A nursing degree is a good example. I have enough ties to the medical and nursing profession in my family to know that a nurse is more than just a doctor’s assistant. Hell, I’ve met nurses who can perform a majority of the work… leaving the doctor to come in and “bless” it before moving on. This is not a profession that is undertaken lightly, yet it is currently a very active distance learning field with an active community. (See www.MyOnlineNursingDegree.com)

One of the articles from the site above lists 7 Myths about Online Training, which could easily be applied to many fields. At the top of the list of eLearning myth-busters is the fact that many employers are starting to value online degrees with the same weight as a classroom degree. In fact, some universities that host distance learning offer the same diploma as those that attend on campus. Makes me wish I’d had the opportunity to stay home to attend a few classes instead of trekking across the frozen campus tundra like I did. Could have saved myself on cough suppressants.

All of this leads to the question of confidence. When a university or organization offers up a degree program through online learning, how do they win over the confidence of potential students. The most obvious answer that I can come up with is through community sites and public forums. As online degrees become more common-place and more accepted within the workforce, more students will naturally gravitate to the new medium of instruction.