Cover Letter

Cover Letter

1. The purpose of writing this essay is to agree to the fact that, it is essential to deregulate online learning. Online learning benefits many people around the world, and therefore, people should access best products at best prices. I plan to make colleges and individuals offering online courses to put reasonable prices for their customers. I would wish the reader to get the benefits of online learning and the reasons why we should deregulate it.
2. After completing this paper, I understood the logistics involved in online learning, which was from an online courses provider. It is a fact that providers of online learning exaggerate fees despite the cost of start-up being low. This is taking advantage of the customers.
3. However, I encountered problems of supporting the facts available from the attached document on why we should deregulate online learning. I also encountered a problem while trying to avoid the point of high fees to customers, which was the first call for regulation of online learning. However, it was a good challenge to explain the points.
4. What I enjoyed about this assignment is the clear proof of why we should deregulate online learning. Colleges and companies earn huge profits from online learning despite the fact that they should be demanding fewer fees. In addition, a provider of online learning wrote this article.
5. I chose the essay supporting deregulation of online learning. I chose this because; online learning has crucial benefits that no individual should be limited to access because of lack of money. Therefore, it is essential that we deregulate online learning.

Let’s Deregulate Online Learning

Online learning is a process of imparting knowledge and skills by an online tutor. The only requirements are a computer and a network connection. With this, an online student can access the online classes from any college or university of choice. Online learning has several benefits, a reason why its availability to the majority is necessary. Firstly, online learning is convenient as everything is available online. One can access classroom materials, discussion groups, and lecturer’s assistance easily. Secondly, online learning is flexible. One can study anytime he or she wants, and from anywhere. Mobility and communication is unlimited.  Thirdly, online courses offer individual attention. One can ask the lecturer questions directly, which enhances learning. Finally, online learning gives a student computer skills, which one can include in his or her resume. Computer skills are an added advantage in today’s job market characterized by globalization and the world being a global village. (Kehrwald 39-50)

Online learning greatly benefits from the advancement in technology, which allows communication over vast regions. However, in the recent times, the cost of online learning is very high. According to Smith, many colleges tend to put fees of online courses higher than the face-to-face courses. (Smith 3) This leads to both profit oriented and non-profit institutions garnering huge profits, which they take back to the main campus. In the case of a non-profit college, the college shares the profit with the private-sector providers supporting the college. (Smith 3) These high costs of accessing online learning bring a high financial burden to the consumer, which is the only limitation for people to access education. Therefore, it is essential for the deregulation of online learning.

Firstly, it is essential to deregulate online learning because the start-up costs of online programs are low. According to Smith, advancement in computer technology and reducing costs of learning software and digital content lowers the investment resources required by the institution to start offering online learning. (Smith 3) In addition, after amortization of these finances across the online courses offered, one sees that the cost is minimal. Therefore, since the start-up costs are low, institutions ought to minimize the fees required for one to access an online course in that institution.

Secondly, online learning has a different economic structure from the substantial fixed costs with low marginal costs model. (Smith 3) In the mid-20^th Century, many institutions linked accreditation status and the amount of revenue earned. During this time, tutors to teach specific subjects were minimal, and there was a limited communication option. Therefore, many institutions capitalized on building prestigious schools, which would attract experts or tutors. This came hand in hand with high fixed costs, which lowered the cost of an additional lecturer. Consequently, a large number of lectures attracted a large number of students, which attracted more lecturers.

This model limited mobility and communication among students and lecturers. However, the introduction of online learning allows mobility of students, as learning does not take place in a traditional lecture hall. The fixed costs and marginal costs are low in online learning. One can have a lesson in the comfort of his or her home. In addition, communication enabled through the internet is fast. The contents of the courses are readily available and cheap. The students can communicate directly with the lecturer where one does not understand, which is capable using emails. Therefore, since the only cost required is the one to cater for tutors’ labor, then it is essential to deregulate online learning.

Thirdly, it is essential to deregulate online learning to ensure that colleges offer credible courses. According to Smith, the government can do this by assessing the general-education and skilled-based courses offered in online learning. An accredited college will offer a similar transcript for an online course to that of a face-to face course. However, it is essential that the accreditation program depart from the high-fixed cost business model, use of taxpayer’s financial aid, and lack of colleges to accept courses taken elsewhere. (Smith 4) Note that, there are so many colleges and companies, which provide online learning. However, the one with the best product and avails it at the best price will succeed. (Smith 4)

Conclusion

In conclusion, online learning brings many benefits to online students. One gains computer skills, which are a necessity in the global village. Secondly, one gains a good learning opportunity as learning is individualized. Thirdly, the flexibility of online learning allows one to take courses from anywhere and at any time. Finally, online learning is convenient, as all materials are available on the internet. All one needs to do is get online. (Kehrwald 39-50) Therefore, these benefits proof that online learning is crucial. However, colleges and companies offering online learning demand high fees for the courses. This leaves the customer with a high financial burden. However, start-up costs of these programs and the economic structure of online learning are low. In addition, other colleges offer poor courses at the expense of the customer. Therefore, it is essential for the deregulation of online learning to ensure the success of the colleges with the best product and at the best price.

Work Cited

Kehrwald, Benjamin. “Being Online: Social Presence As Subjectivity In Online Learning.” London Review Of Education 8.1 (2010): 39-50. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Sept. 2013.

Smith, B.”Let’s Deregulate Online Learning”. The Chronicle of Higher Education. (2011). 3-4. ProQuest Health Management,ProQuest Education Journals. 12 September, 2013. http://search.proquest.com/docview/902851108?accountid=8289

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