Today’s institutions of higher education offer several alternatives to the traditional 12-15 week course/ 3-term academic year, and one of the most dynamic is the accelerated format. Acceleration is typically program-wide, and can be as rapid as a 5-week course/8 session year, saving as much as 55% of the normal time needed to earn a degree or certificate.
Adult students are especially attracted to accelerated learning, as the need for ‘earned credentials’ is often triggered by work: advancement opportunities, recertification and/or career change. They see the end of the educational tunnel as being far closer, with the desired outcome achievable sooner rather than later.
What’s the downside? Pressure! Accelerated-format courses and programs are stress-rich, demanding exceptional time and task management skills, both for individual and group activities comprising assigned readings, supplemental research, papers, projects and exams. Accredited institutions must ensure parity of content regardless of format/schedule, and as a result, a 6-week course is not half of a 12-week cousin—it’s the same content crammed into 50% of the time. Attrition rates soar way above traditional counterparts, as many students cannot keep up with the demands of acceleration.
Those who learn best in the fast lane are already sharp ‘process managers’, have sufficient technical resources and psychological support, as well as a private/quiet space in which to work.
Mon, Aug 17, 2009
Adult Education, Higher Education, Tips