Guide to Online Education > Online Education In-Depth > Meet Real Online Students > Steve F., M.A. in Educational Technology Leadership
Though he has a great deal of experience, many of his online IT courses still have the ability to challenge him. On one occasion an assignment piqued his interest to the degree that it led to more in-depth study. He utilized that term paper on the use of open content in developing curricula as the basis for a presentation at an academic conference.
Name: Steve Foerester
Age: 33
Marital Status: Married
Children: Four
Current Location: Washington, D.C.
Advice to Online Students: "I specifically chose programs where I am familiar with the material [though] that's a double edged sword."
School: George Washington University
Target: M.A. in Educational Technology Leadership, 2007
Another prudent move was his decision to take advantage of CLEP tests whenever it was feasible to stretch his college budget. This providence was particularly sound as his eldest child, already 10 years old, is headed to college in just another eight years.
Steve, who mostly covers his own education expenses with student loans, earned a year's worth of credits by examination. He estimates that it was a $5,400 savings. He finished his degree through Charter Oak in 2005 at a cost of only about $3,000.
Because his educational odyssey began over a decade ago, he had a slew of credits from various colleges. He had initially begun college right after high school at Shepherd University. He left after a year, got interested in politics, worked for a campaign, then an advocacy group, traveled, and got married.
He became interested in technology and worked in that sector picking up a Microsoft certification along the way. Throughout that time he kept his eye on the ball and worked toward finishing his education.
“I was raised to think I was supposed to [finish college]” he says. “I would do what I could whenever I had the opportunity and whenever the time constraint was low enough.”
Charter Oak was willing to accept his credits from other schools, and in addition granted him 12 units for his MS certification.
With such a positive start to distance education, Steve doesn't see a return to a traditional classroom in his future.
Like many e-learners, he appreciates the flexibility of an online program. “If I had to spend that much time in a classroom, it would be a real challenge to schedule that.”
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