One of the hottest debates surrounding the field of education today is how the so-called “data deluge” has affected student scholarship. Some experts argue that the overwhelming flood of information available to scholars and students has caused them to stop thinking in terms of meta-theories, algorithms, models, or even the scientific method. Instead, they think in terms of data bytes and clips of information that help them digest bits and pieces of information.

Distance learning degree programs have contributed to this shift in perspective. As students from online degree universities search through the Internet to find information for a course or project, they scan abstracts, browse summaries, or read excerpts of books. Rather than spending long hours in a library copying journal articles or reading reference materials, they turn to search engines to help them quickly find the information they need.

One approach that traditional and accredited online university degree programs are taking to alleviate this problem is to work together to establish data structures that can be shared, referenced, and are continuously available to students and educators alike. Although this solution has helped somewhat, issues concerning data ownership, author credit, and authorization of access continue to require resolution.

The goal of distance degree programs is not to diminish scholarship, but rather to make it more accessible to everyone. By taking it out of the libraries and off traditional college campuses, however, scholarship has become more informal and casual. Many scholars argue that this trivializes efforts at scholarship. Rather than making scholarship less important, however, educators have succeeded in making it possible for the common man or woman to access and understand scholarship, without making it an exclusive property of academicians.

In short, distance learning students aren’t causing a lower quality of education and scholarship. Instead, through the efforts of online degree universities, scholarly information is much more accessible to everyone. Distance education degree programs have not lowered the standards for education; rather, they have lowered the bar that prevents access to education for everyone.