SAN DIEGO — Online continuing education offerings increased 83 percent last year at the University of California San Diego, according to Elizabeth Meyer, director of online learning for UC San Diego Extension.

During the 2009-10 academic year, fully online classes at UC San Diego Extension served a record 11,738 enrollees in 791 courses, up from 432 classes the previous year.

Meyer credits the strong demand for fully online courses to changing attitudes. Both employers and adult workers have come to appreciate the unique value of a multimedia learning experience.

“Fortunately, the increasing popularity of Web 2.0 tools — including blogs, social media, video sharing and wikis — is positively influencing how adults perceive online education,” says Meyer. “The lingering attitude that online education lacks the rigor of traditional face-to-face classroom instruction is changing.” 

Another myth that has been debunked is that one must be technically savvy to participate in an online class.

“No doubt taking an online course is a different experience from taking a traditional classroom-based course,” says Meyer.  “Students need to feel comfortable using a computer, but using e-mail and being familiar with programs like Microsoft Word is sufficient skill level. Of course, time management skills are important to get assignments done; but on a positive note, no one cares if you work in your pajamas either.”

Overall enrollment at UC San Diego Extension increased 2 percent last year. During the 2009-10 academic year UC San Diego Extension served a record 55,598 enrollees, which translates to 26,006 students in 4,989 courses. Additionally another 47,946 individuals were trained throughout the western United States by UC San Diego Extension-certified instructors in programs not directly offered by the university.