Due to unfortunate circumstances, online learning was the buzzword of 2020 and seems to be a continuing trend of the year 2021. However, even before a global health crisis, many saw the benefits of online learning compared to traditional classes. Many are searching for an online course to improve their knowledge, skills and perhaps even obtain a higher degree.
Online learning is based on live or recorded lectures and various other resources (such as eBooks, journals, discussion boards, and others). Depending on the institution offering the online program, anyone from pretty much anywhere can enroll to become an online student if they so desire.
If you are interested in signing up for an online program, you should know about these five major benefits of virtual learning.
Self-Paced Learning
This may not be the case with all online courses, but most of them offer their students an opportunity to learn at their own pace. This means that you can organize your lectures and assignments around your work schedule, family time, or any other obligations you might have. Balancing different aspects of your daily life is so much easier when you don’t have a strict schedule to attend.
Furthermore, this type of learning environment helps develop your time management skills. If some of your assignments have a deadline, you can set such a pace for yourself to be productive every week. Most employers don’t care how many hours you spend at your desk – they care about how many assignments you complete on time. This type of self-paced education develops just the right skills to prepare you for future employment.
Lower Cost
Online education is not for free. However, it comes at a much lower cost than traditional education. Suppose you’re interested in an online degree program. In that case, you will have to pay a tuition fee, perhaps some fees for resources such as books, access to a digital library, and similar, and an application fee.
You won’t be required to pay for campus housing or transportation, which will dramatically reduce the strain on your budget. A crucial advantage of remote learning is that you will be working from the comfort of your home – you won’t have to worry about finding an appropriate place to stay, roommates to share the rent with or money for food.
Some institutions offer a lower tuition fee for their prospective online students as well!
Sharpened Critical Thinking Skills
The very nature of distance learning is that it is outside the norm. Online students need to think differently than traditional ones. They are required to organize their own time, hold themselves accountable for their actions and how they divide their responsibilities and be continually motivated to complete their work.
All of this means that an online learner has no choice but to develop their critical thinking skills. You have to critically assess what you do every day or week and conclude whether it is working for you or not. If it’s not, you need to adapt and change tactics to not fall behind on coursework. Employers highly value critical thinking, and it will set you apart not only as a student but also as an employee.
Stronger Technical Skills
An online learning environment demands technical skills you may not have considered before. You will be doing everything on the computer, day in and day out, utilizing digital learning materials, tools, and new software. You will quickly learn how to troubleshoot typical computer and software issues, which will give you an advantage in your career.
Just as schooling has transferred from a traditional classroom to a virtual one, most of the global workforce has also transitioned to working remotely. And as it stands, it appears that working from home will become the new standard in the future, even after the COVID19 pandemic is nothing but a bad memory. Elearning will give you an advantage because you will already be familiar with all the major software platforms and tools intended for collaboration and interaction between members of a remote team.
Some examples of these tools are:
- Slack
- Skype
- Trello
- Dropbox
- Basecamp, and more
A Global Perspective
Because of the convenience of learning from a distance, an online environment is filled with students from all over the world. Your fellow students may not even be from the same country as you! Pursuing an online degree will broaden your horizons, allow you to meet different people, understand other cultures, and gain different perspectives.
Once you complete your degree program, this unique worldview will give you an edge in the business world. You will be able to think out of the box compared to other candidates and employees, be more creative, and have innovative ideas that impress your superiors. Learning about other countries, their solutions to common issues, technological advancements, or specific industries will prove invaluable for career advancement.
Conclusion
Distance education is the future. If the 2020 pandemic has taught us anything, it is that most higher education and work assignments can be completed remotely.
The online class offers comforts that you cannot expect from a traditional classroom. They include learning at your own pace, organizing your studying schedule around other duties in your life, and reducing costs because you don’t have to look for housing on or near campus. Your critical thinking and technical skills will significantly improve, and your unique learning style will positively impact your view of the world.
An online learning experience will prepare you for the challenges of your job in the future. You won’t lack motivation or discipline to complete your work tasks, and your coworkers and managers will appreciate the way you approach and overcome obstacles in your path. MyComputerCareer offers a wide range of online courses that will help you become a respected IT professional.
If you’re interested in changing careers or strengthening your computer knowledge, contact us at MyComputerCareer. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about online learning benefits in the information technology industry.