11.
Online Degree Programs Face Barriers to SuccessThe United States Department of Education has noted the growing popularity of online degree programs,known as‘distance education'.It reported that 14 percent of all students at American colleges and universities studied through such programs in 2014.
Leanne is one of those students.Her goal was to earn a master's degree in nursing from George Washington University in Washington,D.C.She signed up for the university's online program in 2014.
Leanne chose to study online for many of the same reasons that other students do.She was working full-time,and did not want to move away from her job and family to continue her education.Leanne liked that she was able to study whenever and however much she wanted.
But while the program met her needs at first,Leanne feels there are things she did not get from studying online.She earned her undergraduate degree from a traditional,face-to-face study program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania.
Leanne says physically being in a classroom helps build a strong connection between students and their professors.She says in some ways she liked taking control and leading her own studies.But many times,she also felt lost without that special connection.
"In the end,there's really no substitute for the exchanges that actually happen in a classroom.So if I were to do it again,I don't know whether I would have made the same decision."
In addition,it may not be just a student's learning that suffers in a distance learning program.There is some concern about what future employers think about an online degree.
Public Agenda is a nonprofit research organization in the United States.In 2013,the group reported on a study of over 600 employment specialists working for American companies.
Fifty-six percent said they were more likely to offer jobs to people with a more traditional college experience,where students and teachers meet face-to-face.Forty-two percent said they thought students in online programs learned less than those in traditional programs.And 39 percent of those questioned said they thought online programs were easier to complete.
It is hard for people to change their ideas about higher education from a professor teaching students in a classroom.Also,some employers may have limited understanding of what is possible through an online program.Many people think studying online just means watching videos of teachers talking.Yet technology is always changing.Computer programs may someday educate and test students in ways human teachers cannot.
However,until there are widely accepted standards for online programs,critical opinions about what online programs can do will likely remain.There is still a long way to go before online and traditional programs operate on the same level.
1.Students may choose online study programs because of the following reasons EXCEPT thatB.
A.they can't stop working to continue their education
B.they don't like to take control of their own studies
C.they can decide time and place for their studies
D.they don't want to be away from their family
2.The underlined word"substitute"in Paragraph 6 probably meansA
A.replacement
B.use
C.agreement
D.need
3.We can infer from the passage thatC.
A.students in online programs can't find jobs after graduation
B.Leanne thought online programs suited her better than traditional ones
C.widely accepted standards will win more supporters for online programs
D.computer programs have more advantages in educating and testing students
4.What's the author's attitude towards online programs?D
A.Subjective.
B.Supportive.
C.Doubtful.
D.Objective.