Thoughts about Online Learning
I have been thinking about online education for the last few weeks and I have been reading some positive as well as some not so constructive criticism of online certificates, bootcamps and traditional degrees.
It’s worth making a distinction between online certificates, bootcamps and online degrees, they each have a place in talent development and offer unique benefits for prospective employees.
Online (short-term) certificates gives a structured path to learning about a new topic. With digital certification and badging sites constantly issuing an increasing number of them, I agree that the value of said certificates could be declining but anyone that has successfully completed one or many of these regardless of rigor shows interest and dedication a key trait employers should be hiring for.
In my professional experience I have not entered any role with all the skills needed on day one. Instead I have shown how relevant experience would uniquely put me in a position to learn and deliver what is expected quickly. If you are hiring your employees for what they are today but not what they will develop into you are seriously limiting the organization. Technologies, trends, businesses and markets change constantly. You should hire people that can adapt to the changes quickly not someone that only checks every box for your problems today. Candidates that constantly show eagerness to learn and grow posses that hard to find adaptability skill every employee needs.
Bootcamps provide other benefits. I think that if they are priced accordingly they are the best gateway for professionals from different industries to transition. Since a bootcamp is more intensive than certificates and requires a larger time commitment it grows deeper level of understanding of concepts, techniques and tools. Even if the admissions criteria is not as strict as an Ivy League, the quality of the student within a Bootcamp will speak for itself thanks to what they will produce overtime. With social code repository tools like GitLab and Github you can see the evolution of a student as it relates to their activity in such platforms. Finally Bootcamps pride themselves in helping students build a portfolio of their work, there is no better practical experience than that. Because these programs are immersive and are typically structured in cohorts, they also allow prospective employees to learn how to work with their peers effectively.
Traditional degrees online also have their place. Academic institutions especially those that charge outrageously high prices will want you to think that the value of online education doesn’t cannot compare to on-campus experiences. They will try to convince you that knowledge can only be obtained by walking around old buildings and lecture halls. Different from the other two options mentioned, an online degree gives an even deeper perspective on a topic. A traditional degree delivered online is meant to drive thought leadership and research in an area. People who complete these programs have a strong foundation of important concepts but also have a more well rounded view of problems within the field of study.
As I mentioned, they each have their place in the modern preparation of our workforce. My only piece of advice is to be skeptical about anyone telling you that a specific certificate or platform, bootcamp or online degree is 5–10x more expensive because it’s more valuable or better.
On a personal note I decided to pursue Online Graduate Degree in addition to the numerous certificates I have completed. My rationale was centered around finding an institution that is known for high academic standards ( @Georgia Tech) but that is also looking ahead and giving back to the global technology community by making their Online Graduate Degrees the most affordable in the world. I wanted to give this institution a chance because it’s pioneering the future of learning and I gotta say I’m beyond excited to take part in this experiment.
