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How can online programs be more efficient than on campus programs?

It will depend on the subject. Subjects with more writing or interpreting skills can be more efficient and attractive to students to choose them online rather than face to face program. Subjects that require the use of specific material or an enviroment to learn will requiere a face to face program or an hibrid program.

Javier ,
Setting the curriculum content aside, do the traits or characteristics of the student population have any effect on whether or not to offer online courses? For example, what demographic mix and traits would you be looking for to enroll in your online program(s)? How would you prepare your admissions people to determine if an online program is right for a particular prospect? What type of training do you have in place to provide your faculty with an awareness of how to address, support and encourage different online students, e.g. those with different academic preparations, employed and unemployed, learning styles, ages, etc? These are the type of questions you should be asking when thinking about the characteristics of your online population. Aside from the revenue contribution, why would your institution offer online programs? Do you have an online learning strategy in place and was it well thought out?
Dr. Robert Roehrich

An online program can be more efficient from the point of vue of time flexibility, availibility of the course materials online, accessibility from anywhere with internet access, accessibility anytime for asychronous courses. Some students are better learning at their own pace instead of being in a classroom setting where they can be overwhelmed by the size of the classroom and the speed of assimilation of the materials by certain students. The availability of instructors' feedback cpompensates for the one-one interaction and facce-to-face learning experience.

Micheline,
A few additional examples of efficiencies manifest in:
- the shift in the role of the faculty from lecturing and telling to coaching and mentoring;
- learners become more engaged and responsive which leads to taking on more responsibility for their learning; and
- assessment of learning is frequent and continuous throughout a course and engages the learners as a community rather than individuals.
Dr. Roehrich

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