[Blindtlk] On-Line Education

Fri Mar 25 02:40:03 UTC 2011

Hello,

I would say much more if I could research for, and organize for a conpareson of UoP and my college of choice, WGU.

One factor that I think sets Western Governors University apart is that it is not for profit. 

One barrier is that it is online, ad there is very little student to professor, and student to student interaction. Both are inportant.

The web nature of course content, assignment submission, text book access, lecture views and the like presents access issues, but the college is willing to work around this, and to support me in what I need for class.

i was using one of their assignment submission sites, www.taskstream.com, and could not access assignment instructions, and the place to submit my work. Heck, this is the site function, right? Well, it took many hours, much frustration, and a heavy dose of trial and error until I, no, we figured out that Jaws settings blocked some site features from displaying.

I was able to submit my assignments through a college staff who received my file attachments, signed on to the site under my account, and posted the file on my behalf. She happens to be blind.

I found out soon after this accomidation that NVDA did not pose issues with browsing taskstream. I could not stand the speech, found I could use it with eloquence if I am not mistaken, and then found a permanent solution to the problem:

Firefox.

I struggled with things at first, and still fight my battles, but I find I can stomach the tedious process, and have enough workarounds at hand to get things done.

WGU was this close to sending a taskstream rep to my home in Rhode Island to troubleshoot the problem, but between me, taskstream, Freedom S, and WGU we found out what needed to be done.

On the other hand, and perhaps unrelated to this, I applied to a job at University of Phoenix some 3 or 4 years ago, thought I did a superb job at their collective interview against the other candidate, and was never hired. your guess as to why I didn't get the job is as good as mine, and probably just as accurate too.

I would not recommend WGU for the unprepared person who may have less than desirable skill and advocacy to make things work for them. 

WGU programs are limited, in scope, which may be an advantage since they don't try to become all things to all people.

I hope this helps, and feel free to ask other questions.
Î
Antonio Guimaraes
On Mar 24, 2011, at 5:27 AM, David Andrews wrote:

> 
> 
> 
> Note: The following article is from a free, long-running, online e-zine called "The Internet Tourbus" written by Bob Rankin and published online March 22, 2011.  He teaches about Internet technology and subjects in language suitable for non-tech readers. Here is his article from today's "Ask Bob Rankin":
> 
> 
> University of Phoenix Online Degrees
> 
> Category: <http://askbobrankin.com/education/>Education
> 
> "When I search online for a job, career training, or any related subject I always find advertisements for the University of Phoenix and its online degree programs. Is UoP a real college or a diploma mill? Will an online degree improve my odds of getting hired as much as a traditional degree earned in a classroom?"
> 
> 
> 
> Is University of Phoenix For Real?
> 
> University of Phoenix Online Degree
> 
> First, the <http://askbobrankin.com/university_of_phoenix_online_degrees.html?tbart##>University of Phoenix is definitely a "real" college. In fact, its total enrollment is second only to the State University of New York (SUNY), at over 412,000 undergraduates and 78,000 graduate students. While <http://askbobrankin.com/university_of_phoenix_online_degrees.html?tbart##>online courses are its bread-and-butter, UoP also has physical campuses in 40 of the United States and 200 campuses worldwide.
> 
> UoP is accredited regionally by The <http://askbobrankin.com/university_of_phoenix_online_degrees.html?tbart##>Higher Learning Commission (HLC) as a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). It also has accreditation for many of its 100 specialty <http://askbobrankin.com/university_of_phoenix_online_degrees.html?tbart##>degree programs. But accreditation is not a guarantee that credits earned at one school are transferable to others, or that a <http://askbobrankin.com/university_of_phoenix_online_degrees.html?tbart##>degree from an accredited school is as good as any other degree.
> 
> Several things may make you wonder how academically rigorous a UoP degree program is. First, students spend only 20 to 24 hours with an instructor during each course, compared to 40 hours at a traditional university. Many colleges and employers are skeptical of UoP's academic rigor; one professor refers to its <http://askbobrankin.com/university_of_phoenix_online_degrees.html?tbart##>business degree as "MBA Lite." Even former UoP instructors complain the courses are too short to inculcate all the material covered by the curriculum.
> 
> Second, UoP is a for-profit <http://askbobrankin.com/university_of_phoenix_online_degrees.html?tbart##>higher education institution, and they don't have the greatest track record. While only 9% of college students attend for-profit colleges, they account for 44% of all student loan defaults.
> 
> Third, only 16% of UoP students graduate, compared to a 55% average nationwide. (UoP claims that the criteria used to calculate the graduation rate apply to only 7% of its "non-traditional" students and offers its own 59% graduation rate.)
> 
> Fourth, UoP relies on part-time instructors to an extraordinary degree, raising criticism about instructor quality and experience. Nationwide, about 47% of instructors are part-timers; at UoP, about 95% are.
> 
> 
> Is a University of Phoenix Degree Worth The Price?
> 
> The University of Phoenix is owned by The Apollo Group, a publicly traded corporation. Like any such corporation, its first loyalty is to shareholders, not students. It is widely argued that UoP sacrifices academic quality to meet investors' demands for ever-higher profits.
> 
> Intel Corp. dropped UoP from its list of schools for which Intel employees could receive tuition reimbursement, saying the UoP lacked top-notch accreditation. Before enrolling in any continuing-education program, it's good idea to check with your employer to see if tuition reimbursement is available for that particular school and course.
> 
> In general, academic experts concur that for-profit colleges such as the University of Phoenix cost 4-5 times more per credit hour than non-profit (<http://askbobrankin.com/university_of_phoenix_online_degrees.html?tbart##>government subsidized) colleges, deliver less valuable education, and leave students with twice as much debt.
> 
> It's buyer beware, for sure! But then, an education is often what the student decides to make of it. And if an online degree is your only path to advancement, it may be worth a look. With eyes wide open, of course.
> 
> Have you had experience with UoP or another online college? Post your comment or question below...
> 
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