“Should I take my next class online, or should I keep attending in-person classes?”
If you’re reading this post, consider enrolling for an online course but need more experience studying online.
Even if you are good with technology, you might be a little nervous initially if you have only ever taken classes in person. But there are some good things about taking an online rather than a face-to-face class. Here are five reasons why it’s good to study online.
1. Career advancement and interests
You will have greater freedom if you choose to pursue your education online. If you’re taking an asynchronous online class, you can log in at a different time for a live session. Instead, you can study and talk to your instructor and classmates at your own pace, for example, through the discussion forum. This way is easier to fit your work schedule and hobbies around your classes. If you are taking an asynchronous course, this is especially true. Asynchronous courses allow you to work and check your work schedule as well.
A survey by The Learning House found that 44 percent of online students claimed improvements in their employment situation, such as acquiring a full-time job within a year of graduating, and 45 percent of online students reported a rise in their wages.
By finishing your online course, you will have more job experience and learn new skills, which will help you grow in your profession!
2. Flexible schedule and environment
When you study online, you can select the learning environment most conducive to meeting your requirements. This could be your bedroom, study, the coffee shop across the street, or even your local gym, where you could run on the treadmill while listening to a podcast of your instructor’s lecture. That is relatively cool.
If you take an online course, you won’t need to commute to traditional classes, which means you’ll spend less time waiting for the bus and more time studying in the comfort of your own home, perhaps with the sound of a fireplace crackling in the background. You will no longer need to stress about traveling in the blizzard or missing an essential lesson.
3. Reduced expenses and obligations
When you enroll in an online course, you will be required to pay a tuition cost, fees for possible textbook supplies, an online application fee, and a few other items. You, however, will not be responsible for the price of accommodation (which can vary from $10,000 to $12,000 per year) and transportation, which will result in fewer financial obligations and more savings.
4. Discipline of the self and accountability for one’s actions
Who says having to rely more on self-control is something to be concerned about? Since you won’t have a professor or TA standing over your shoulder to keep you on track, studying online requires more self-motivation and time management skills. You will only have someone to distract you from your work when you’re alone for long periods. Think of it this way: whether you’re taking a course in geology or poetry, taking it online will teach you geology or poetry AND teach you how to motivate yourself. This quality will set you apart in your current role and any future ones you pursue. You can confidently list that accomplishment on your resume.
5. A wider variety of options for class topics
Let’s face it: while considering what to study, one of the decisive factors, in addition to personal interest and potential job paths, is the location of one’s academic pursuits. There may be a limited number of topics or classes to choose from. When deciding what you should learn next, you will no longer need to consider the location of your courses if you choose to study online and do it at your own pace. When you enroll in an online course, you can zero down on the topic that piques your interest and select from a wide range of other online courses and programs.
I just cited five advantages of learning online, but as someone who has experience as an online student, I know that there are many more. Are there other benefits or reasons why you would attend your next class online instead of in a traditional classroom setting? Please don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know your thoughts at hello@careercourses.co!
