“...the world needs talent more than ever, yet it's being wasted every day by an educational system steeped in tradition and old ideas.” – Kaplan University TV Ad
Distance learning sometimes gets characterized as somehow inferior to the traditional sort of education that takes place in a classroom. During this decade as grads from online programs show in the workplace that they've learned as much as their classroom-bound peers that's abated somewhat, and research has come out to support the no significant difference position that distance learning and face-to-face learning are comparable.
But few have argued that not only is eLearning just as good, it's often actually better – until now. Kaplan University has come out swinging with this punchy new television ad.
Ouch! And this spot has even more impact thanks to the inspired casting of James Avery as the apologizing professor. Avery played Uncle Phil in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and from that millions will unconsciously see him as exactly the sort of avuncular, traditionally-minded figure who would only admit grudgingly that old ideas aren't necessarily working.
It's even more interesting that the spot features commuting students watching the lecture on an iPod. Today's New Scientist has an article about some recent research suggesting that students who watch lectures on one of the popular portable devices learn more than students who attend those same lectures in class!
Distance learners, our time of vindication is at hand!
Next up, some good news about A.T. Still University.