From being an option for adult learners seeking higher education to being the mainstream education system, online learning did a fast 360-degree turn during the last couple of years.
It’s no longer a requirement to be physically present in a classroom, thanks to the internet and evolving advancements in this particular field in the last few months. The pandemic made everyone realize that they have access to quality education wherever and whenever as long as they have a working internet.
However, there is still a group of sceptics that can’t get behind the whole online learning revolution. That is a given considering traditional classroom education has been the way of life from time immemorial and it’s hard to leave it behind for a virtual space. But the proof is in the pudding and the pandemic has shown how effective and useful online learning is for students.
According to a survey, more than 30 percent of students in the United States of America pursuing higher education are undertaking at least one online course. Be it an adult or school-goer, online learning is an effective method to deal with a difficult subject or simply enhance your knowledge. Here are five reasons why online learning is the future of education.
Learn at Your Own Pace
The most important benefit of online learning is that it’s flexible. One has to understand that no two people have the same learning comprehension. While some might quickly grasp the subject matter and put in their school work ahead of the schedule. While others take a while to grasp and understand, which then results in a longer duration to submit assignments.
This is where the online learning system shines over traditional education. Instead of putting in a rushed assignment with half baked knowledge, learners can set their own pace of learning. Moreover, online learning offers flexibility to set a schedule that serves everyone’s agenda.
Therefore, online education also allows for a better balance in life between studies and other stuff like a job or a part-time job if you’re a student trying to make ends meet.
Access From Anywhere
This is the second most important benefit of online education but some may argue that it’s the most important. Online education allows students to learn and teachers to teach from literally anywhere in the world, subject to the availability of a reliable internet connection. This means not only do pupils save time on the commute but also money, which can be useful for other priorities in life.
You can gain life experiences and beautiful memories travelling the world while also studying at the same time. Virtual classrooms and online learning resources have made it very convenient to study while travelling or doing anything else that you love.
Customize Learning Experience
We have already established how flexible online learning is when it comes to learning pace. Another aspect of this flexibility is that online learning also accommodates every student's level of ability and individual requirements. Thanks to the smaller size of a virtual classroom with some online learning platforms allowing only one student at a time, learners get dedicated personal attention.
This result results in a greater level of interaction between the teacher and student as well as bespoke feedback for individual learners. Moreover, there are online resources like WebAssign help for homework. This allows students to get homework and assignment help from experts online in all fields and subjects. Apart from this, there are diverse materials including eBooks, videos, and audio podcasts, that facilitate a custom and dynamic learning system.
Cheaper Than Traditional Education
This goes without saying that online learning tends to be cheaper in comparison to traditional education. We have already mentioned that learners save their commute money but also save on class materials, which are often available online for free. Moreover, most online learning platforms charge a fee that is much less than the annual fee of any school or college.
Moreover, there are often discounts and also a wide range of payment options including instalments or pay per class, which allows better budget management for students. Additionally, many students are granted scholarships as well, which brings the fee further down. Simply put, monetary investment in online learning is way less than the benefits offered.
Unlimited Options
Lastly, options available in terms of courses and subjects in online learning are as vast as the internet itself. Most universities and schools also offer the online equivalent of their regular courses at various levels and in various fields.
Doesn’t matter whether you are looking for a quantum physics degree or clown school classes, you’ll find them all online. What’s even better is that you get the certificate, degree, or diploma from the comfort of your home without having to set foot on campus.
In a nutshell, online learning is all about freedom, flexibility, accessibility, and variety. However, these are only a handful of reasons to go for online learning over traditional classroom education. Learners must assess their needs, goals and situation before picking one over the other.