Online education began being offered in the mid 1990s and has evolved and become more widely accepted by educational institutions, teachers, students and employers since.
The main forms of online education are web facilitated. Web pages are used to post course syllabi and assignments, blended face-to-face instruction and online interaction, and fully online courses.
Many schools, facing dwindling on-campus enrollment, have turned to online courses to remain viable and lower institutions' overhead.
Online education allows students to begin or continue their educations, opening new opportunities for future employment, advancement and earning potential.
Critics of online education note that while students embrace online courses, there are still barriers inhibiting its widespread acceptance.
To enable online education to fulfill the needs of those involved it is important to address college and university faculties' and employers' lack of acceptance and support.