It is non-debatable that online learning has had a spike in popularity in recent years. While opinions are still divided on the subject of online education, many agree that it has brought more flexibility for students attending online classes. Time management is also a big factor because most courses allow you to watch and access courses on-demand, rather than sticking to a fixed schedule. To be fair, online courses do bring some cons with them as well. That is why we want to dive into those pros and cons and have a closer look at digital learning.
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Increased flexibility
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest pros of online education is the flexibility it brings with it. When taking online classes, you get to choose your learning environment and the way you want to interact with the learning material. If it is in textual form, you can read it while lying in bed or having breakfast, and the same goes for video classes as well. This freedom of choice has encouraged people to take more courses online, but it has also brought a few cons with it.
Flexibility can sometimes bring the worst out of people and encourage laziness in a sense. If you are allowing students to plan out their learning schedule, sometimes they may resort to procrastination and fall behind. This is an individual responsibility, and unless you take online programs seriously, you may find it difficult to stay focused and motivated. But, if you practice your time management skills and don’t lack discipline, all of this can be dismissed.
Online courses can save money
Apart from the many advantages of online learning, affordability shouldn’t be overlooked. The internet, powered with an open market, has allowed online programs to become better and more efficient every year. Constant competition is increasing the quality of online degree programs, and at the same time, making them more affordable. This has also opened a window to international students and brought the very best educational programs to those who need it the most. All of this is possible because online schools have fewer expenses and don’t need a traditional classroom environment to share their knowledge worldwide.
The downside of this open market is that many specialized courses can’t be offered right now. Chemistry and medicine are just a few of many courses that can’t exist online, simply because they require a hands-on approach. This doesn’t mean that they won’t be around in the future, but don’t expect to see them any time soon. Another con that comes with affordability is the quality of the course. You have to check the credibility and history of your online colleges if you don’t want to waste your time on vague or incomplete learning experiences.
The lack of social interaction can work both ways
For some time, the lack of social interaction was considered one of the cons of online courses, but it seems that this is just a common misconception. Individual learning can be a blessing for students that don’t feel comfortable in classrooms. While social interaction can be key for some, it can be a big burden for introverts. Most of the time, they will feel pressured to interact with other students and teachers, while they would rather study on their own in the comfort of their home.
The everchanging reputation of online students
Addressing the elephant in the room is essential to get all of the pros and cons out of the way before we conclude this whole debate. When they first appeared, online degrees were met with a lot of scrutinies for various reasons. Most of the time, the main argument for this was that online courses were unregulated by government officials or an overseeing body that would ensure the learning material meets quality standards. We can agree that this was a big flaw in online degree programs, but the industry has changed. Today, employers are more comfortable with certified job applicants. Virtual classrooms have become a standard, while online universities are enjoying a much better reputation than just a few years back.
Allowing students to choose from a variety of degree programs has created a somewhat decentralized learning environment that can only improve over time. The above-mentioned competition will always keep companies like MyComputerCareer on their toes. This is in no way a con because they will have an incentive to offer the very best and most efficient courses to their students. It is only a matter of time before an online degree is weighed on the same scale as traditional degrees.
A small recap before we wrap things up.
Pros:
- Affordability
- Efficiency
- Ease of access
- Increased quality of learning material
Saving money alone is a big plus if you are working on improving and advancing your professional development, but there are many perks that come with that as well. Acquiring a degree online can be a lot faster and easier than taking the traditional route for a few simple reasons – the material is curated and filtered by professionals to save time and improve efficiency. On top of that, you won’t have to come up to your teachers and ask for additional information. Everything you need to know is packed into one knowledge base that can be accessed anytime and anywhere. This emphasis on flexibility is what is driving more and more people towards online education.
Cons:
- Less social interaction
- Reputation
- Providing special education is limited at this time
It is more than clear that you can’t become a Pediatrician if you take online courses, but it doesn’t mean that this won’t be possible in the future. With the advancement of information technologies, there will be more room for you to apply for jobs online, and this whole process may encourage a big step forward in online college education.
At the end of the day, it is very clear that you can dismiss most cons of online classes simply by removing the stereotype factor and adding a bit more discipline to the learning process.
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