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Ironically, as I prepare to teach my first “for profit” online course on Matygo I was sent this guest post by Marina Salsburg with some very legitimate concerns on for profit education. I think that Matygo is one of the few companies that is offering education online with the right intent, disrupting the very notion of accreditation.

Take it away, Marina:

Online education is often touted for its convenience and flexibility. Students dream of being able to work on their own timetables under their own direction, and web-based education can make that possible. However, as with everything, there are both good and bad online learning options. Online education is the wave of the future, and as it continues to grow, educators must find ways to make it better.

One common concern is quality. In some cases online classes for college are taught by the same faculty who teach the conventional campus-based versions of the same courses, and are of equal caliber. However, it’s often true that web-based classes, especially in a fully online university, are not taught by full-time teachers. Part-time instructors often work for relatively low pay, without benefits, and sometimes don’t even have their own offices. As a result, it may be difficult to employ quality instructors in such positions, and those who do take the jobs may have to teach an inordinate number of classes simply to survive.
Traditional colleges and universities can address this by actively encouraging full-time faculty to take on online classes as part of their teaching loads, perhaps by offering increased pay or other incentives. Another solution would be to incorporate online components to existing classes, so that students taking an online class simply view lectures and submit assignments remotely, but along with the classroom-based students.

The huge number of for-profit online schools are also a common concern. These schools rely heavily on mass marketing to entice students to enroll, but the quality, adequate academic support, or even fundamental goal of actually providing sound education may simply not be there. Many of these schools are essentially diploma mills, taking tuition from students, providing perfunctory education, and awarding degrees that may or may not be of any real value. Even well-established and relatively well-respected online schools like the University of Phoenix have been accused of predatory recruitment, regardless of quality of education. Kaplan University, for instance, made almost 90% of its 2009 revenue from collecting taxpayer-backed financial aid.

One particular problem has been the targeting of military veterans by the recruiters at such schools, motivated by the lucrative financial aid benefits the veterans bring with them. Donald Overton, Jr., executive director of Veterans of Modern Warfare, claims “These schools are after the monetary gain of a healthy benefits package, not necessarily what’s in the best interest of students.” As it stands, existing online schools that really have this mindset have no incentive to change. One way to correct that would be to have greater regulation of federal education aid funds, particularly those earmarked for veterans, and greater accountability on the part of the schools themselves. Indeed some legislators are calling for just that.

There are, however, positives to web-based for-profit schools. In some cases, they’re on the cutting edge because they’re not limited by topheavy administration, as are many brick-and-mortar schools. As such, they’re better able to be forward-thinking, designing classes and degree programs that more effectively meet the needs of students, as well as providing flexibility in scheduling that many traditional colleges can’t accommodate. Some, like University of the People, aim at the even higher ideal of providing college education freely online. Modern educators who truly wish to provide superior education should see the advantages technology provides, and embrace them by creating new online programs that benefit students, and can compete with schools that may not actually have education as a fundamental ideal.

As technology continues to develop, new options are becoming available in education. Students are no longer content to settle for the limitations of the status quo in higher education, and are looking for schools that meet their needs. Web-based education is increasingly able to entice such students, but may not yet be in the best interests of students. Educators must continue to look toward the future, and avoid being tied down by outdated ideas, while at the same time ensuring education doesn’t simply become another money-making venture.

Marina Salsbury planned on becoming a teacher since high school, but found her way instead into online writing after college. She writes around the Web about everything from education to exercise.