Bharat SainiLast Updated on October 1, 2015 by Bharat Saini
Online learning has been growing in popularity among undergraduate students pursuing their college degree as well as those who want to learn particular skills. Despite the initial reluctance towards the online mode of learning, more and more students and educators now see the benefits of offering this alternative educational environment. And while we cannot say that online learning is better than brick-and-mortar schools, online learning is certainly a good option for many who need the flexibility that online courses offer.
Here are six advantages that online courses offer:
More Options
Online learning offers a wide range of options for students, so they will no longer have to forego their passion or move to another state or country just to take the course that they really want. With so many educators and experts who create and offer quality online courses, highly specific online courses and degree programs are now available to everyone.
Lower Costs
Compared to traditional colleges, online programs are more affordable, and some are even free. Although not all online degrees offer lower tuition fees compared to traditional colleges, the associated costs are usually less costly with online courses. There are no textbooks required and most references are available online for free.
Convenience
Since there are no physical classroom sessions, there is no need to leave home and fight traffic everyday. Lectures and materials are sent to the students electronically, and the students can read these and complete their assignments at their own pace and during their free time. There are no heavy books to carry in a backpack and no struggles with rain or snow on bad weather.
Flexibility
Online courses allow students to attend to their obligations and go to work then access their modules after. Students are not compelled to sacrifice certain responsibilities to attend to their lectures and vice versa. They can balance their studies with other duties, so they won’t have to miss any lecture or exam.
Greater Control
Because most of the activities are online, students have greater control as to when they choose to interact with other students or their educators and when they would need to be distant to focus at their task. With online courses, shy students are no longer inhibited to express themselves as chatrooms, email, and VoIP give them a more comfortable venue to participate, compared to face-to-face classroom sessions. On the other hand, students can only choose to stay offline to concentrate on the materials without any distractions.
Transfer Credits
For college students who would like to attend summer classes but either reside too far from their schools or have summer jobs, it would be a great idea to take online classes from accredited institutions and then transfer the credits to their primary college. With online classes, it is possible for students to earn college credit while they enjoy their summer vacation or go to their seasonal jobs.
These are just some of the many benefits that students can enjoy by taking online classes. Without the requirement to be physically present in classrooms, students can learn and earn their degree without having to sacrifice their work or personal responsibilities.
