Online education or eLearning existed long before the 2020 pandemic. Many learning institutions had set up the infrastructure to give students the ability to study remotely. However, the trend became even more popular when COVID-19 kicked in. The lockdowns that followed saw drastic changes in different industries, including education. More schools and students were open to the idea of remote learning.
Studies also show that many learners prefer this mode over traditional education, and it doesn’t take a genius to know why. Online education provides a wide variety of benefits that are impossible to enjoy with traditional learning. Below is a breakdown of some of these benefits:
1. There Are No Geographical Limitations
Gone are the days when you couldn’t take the course you love simply because the university is too far from you. In today’s digital world, you can study from any state or country and get a recognized degree. All you need is reliable internet and a computer or tablet.
The best part is that e-learning is currently on offer from institutions of all levels. This essentially means you don’t have to limit yourself to the local college if you believe another more prominent institution is the better fit for you. Prestigious schools like Stanford, Harvard, and MIT are all offering great online courses open to students from different parts of the world.
The institutions also provide massive open online courses (MOOC), allowing the student to learn with the same materials and from the same professors that are in the school. They offer non-credit courses increasing your competitiveness in the job market.
2. It Is Convenient And Flexible
Online learning gives you the freedom to study at your own pace from the comfort of your home. Some lectures may require the students to be online at a particular time, though. However, these lectures are usually archived, so students can always use them later for reference.
The convenience and flexibility come with additional benefits. For instance, juggling between work and learning becomes easier when you are in control of your schedule. This is unlike traditional education, where you’ll be forced to take an extended leave or even quit your day job just to earn a degree.
Another benefit is it allows you to keep up with other social responsibilities you may have. This is essential if you have a young child or old parents who need to be cared for. Online education allows you to fulfill these responsibilities without sacrificing your education.
3. Online Education Can Be Cheaper
Online learning can be way cheaper than the classroom-based model. How so? First, you don’t have to be physically present at school, which means you save on transport and housing expenses.
Second, most institutions charge higher tuition for in-person classes due to the infrastructure that students use, like electricity, water, etc. Students who learn remotely do not consume any of these resources, so their tuition is usually lower. This also means that it can reduce your student loan.
The internet is also filled with plenty of free online courses. These will give you the skills you want without getting you in debt.
While saving money is essential, don’t get carried away and prioritize savings over quality education. That doesn’t mean that you need to spend big bucks, though. As Layla Acharya of EdWize reiterates, it is possible to get “learning products that are priced well while still maintaining a high-quality standard.” You just need to do proper background research on each course and the institution behind it.
4. It Can Be Very Engaging
It may sound preposterous, saying online education is as engaging as in-person classes, but it really isn’t. This article from Forbes goes through numerous studies showing how well online education competes with traditional learning on multiple fronts including student performance. They also explain how online e-learning utilizes engaging multimedia to keep the students interested.
The multimedia provides a unique approach to teaching that may prove effective among today’s students. For instance, the young learners get more access to their professors and fellow learners through interactive chats.
5. It Shows Excellent Self-motivation And Time Management
Many job seekers add “self-motivation” as a skill on their resumes but ask them to prove it, and they’ll start babbling. The fact that you hold an online degree demonstrates you have great self-motivation and time management skills.
Online learning is the future of education. The module is beneficial to both students and institutions. The learners enjoy more freedom, convenience, and other benefits while the schools reach a bigger audience and cost-effectively provide learning.
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