Online Courses: Convenient & Earth-Friendly // 10.29.2008 at 09:33 AM

Categories: Conservation, Social Responsibility

Last year, I decided to return to school and pursue my Master's degree. Since I was working full time and had a toddler in the house, I decided to look for a program that would be taught completely online. I had taken a few online classes in the past and liked the flexibility and convenience they afforded. That and the fact that I absolutely hated circling the University parking lot six times over during the first week of school. Fortunately, there are plenty of online degree programs out there, and not all of them are as bad as some people make them out to be.

It's true that for X amount of dollars, you too can get your Ph.D. from University of Bahama Mama without ever lifting a pencil or typing one sentence on a computer. But, you can also get a rigorous, fully accredited, top-of-the-line education via the Internet just the same as if you showed up in a classroom. Some of these programs are even run by traditional brick-and-mortar institutions. The added bonus: you never have to leave your house. And that alone means that you've just significantly reduced your carbon footprint in the world.

Think about it. Online classes mean you don't have to drive (or ride the bus) to school which translates to less air pollution (and aggravation, since you are not having to circle the parking lot). No classroom means there is no electricity to expend in powering a room or in maintaining one. Schools do not have to buy equipment such as desks, whiteboards, or chairs to stock the room. Since there is no classroom to clean, schools do not need to spend as much money on cleaning solutions. In an online class, the instructor emails you the assignments or lecture notes, so there is less paper usage. In fact, the University that I am currently attending has done everything online - from my admissions paperwork, to my financial aid application and award, to my transcripts. Not so with the traditional show-up-for-class degree program. The amount of paperwork generated to process one student is mind-boggling. Trust me, I worked for a college - I know. So, next time you're thinking about taking a class or going back to school, think about taking it online. It's more convenient and better for the environment.