10 Advantages of Online Courses
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Online courses are convenient.
The great advantage of online courses is that your classes and instructors are (in theory) available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your only excuse for missing class is not surfing the Internet!
On the other side, everything is available to you. You can receive notifications, access notes, review assignments, take practice quizzes, discuss questions, chat with classmates, and study at any time.
In addition to certain deadlines, you can create your own schedule to complete the program’s requirements.
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Online courses offer flexibility.
You can study anytime, any place. You can study with whomever you want. You can learn to wear whatever you want (or nothing at all if you prefer!) Online classes give you the flexibility to spend time with work, family, friends, significant other, or any other activity you enjoy together.
You still have to get work done (this flexibility can be your downfall; see the downside) but for many people, people with changing work schedules or frequent travel, parents with young children, caring for others, or poor health From students who come into campus on a regular basis, students who have a friend or boyfriend/girlfriend visiting unexpectedly, or on days when the surf and/or snow is inclement, this method of course delivery is unrivaled.
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Online courses bring education into your home.
Online students often find their family, friends, and/or boyfriends and girlfriends involved in classes. Often, students study with that special someone present. Children may be interested in the online environment.
Parents may be watching online students over their shoulders as they surf the web. In short, everyone in the family is involved in learning. Having the support of family and friends will make your success more likely.
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Online courses offer more personal attention.
Because you have direct access to the instructor via email, you can get your questions answered directly. Many students are uncomfortable asking questions in class for fear of feeling stupid.
The internet has (hopefully) removed that fear (as long as you’re comfortable with a tutor). Many times a question comes to your mind after class or while studying. Instead of trying to remember to ask it or forget it, send the tutor an email. Your chances of learning increase.
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Online courses help you to meet up interesting people.
Many of us don’t really take the time to get to know our fellow students, especially in larger classes. Maybe we’re too busy, or we’re just too shy.
Online classes provide opportunities to get to know other students through bulletin boards, chat rooms, and mailing lists. I have students form study groups online that meet at the local library or coffee shop.
Even if you’re just talking online, it can give you a way to interact with other students and other people that would be impractical in a time-limited on-campus classroom.
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Online courses give you world trusted skills.
After completing this course, you’ll be able to list email and web browsing as technical skills on your resume. This gives you a definite advantage over those who don’t have these skills.
Learning how to get information over the Internet can open up a world of possibilities in your personal and professional life. You can find jobs online, apply to colleges online, make travel plans online, get car dealership fees online, compare shops online, access great art and literature online, meet people from all over the world online, follow sports and movies online, etc.
Wait. It is true that, the possibilities are practically endless.
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Online courses promote whole-life learning and gathering knowledge.
Most of the time, most of what we learn in a course is forgotten within a week or two of the course. Having this interest and knowing how to find information online ensures that what you learn is always within reach.
If you’re interested in a topic, perhaps because of something you’ve seen, read or heard, or maybe because your kids or friends have a problem, you can look it up online. You will develop the skills to find information, digest it, synthesize it and formulate answers to any questions you encounter.
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Online courses have economical or financial benefits.
While you may think buying a computer and paying for Internet access is expensive, consider how much you’ll pay for gas and parking each month if you drive to campus. Consider the cost of eating out versus eating at home.
Consider the cost of child care, pet care, or any other type of care you need to provide while you are away from home. Consider the cost of not being able to take classes or be eligible for promotion because you can’t take classes to advance your education. These are all very tangible benefits of homeschooling.
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Online courses teach you self-discipline.
Perhaps the biggest enemy of online courses is procrastination. Most of us, including teachers, put off things that need to be done until the last minute. When it comes to education, the last minute can be the worst learning moment.
Sometimes that lesson is learned the hard way in the form of poor performance on exams or assignments. But in the end, you succeed because you realize the importance of doing things on time and even ahead of time.
This self-actualization propels you to succeed in your online courses. No one is going to look over your shoulder and tell you to study online. No one will let you ask questions or post replies. The motivation to take online courses comes from you.
We call this student-centered or active learning. Online students take responsibility for their course of study and grow into individuals who place a high value on learning and achievement.
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Online courses connect you to the global village which means a world-wide connection.
There is no technological invention in human history that connects the people of the world like the Internet.
While there is still a huge difference between those who have access to the Internet and those who don’t, the very fact that any of us can communicate across the globe speaks volumes about the importance of this medium.
Many times, the websites you visit during your course are located in another country. And where better to learn about Michelangelo’s work than in Italy (virtually, of course)?
What better way to learn about the Amazon rainforest or Chinese history or the customs of the South Pacific Islanders than by visiting these places online? You might even meet and make friends with someone from another country if you attend a Global Study Day or another online event. After all, it’s a small world.
Online Education, Positive and negative effects of online education
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