Online education is becoming more and more popular with each year, and as of now, online courses can provide the same kind of knowledge and skills as a traditional college or university would.
So why aren’t we all studying from home? Well, there are certain caveats to online learning, some things that are unique to the traditional learning facilities online courses cannot provide just yet.
Of course, as universities and colleges around the world start to acknowledge the benefits of online classes, it is possible to predict a rise in this learning mode’s popularity. Today, we are going to take a look at the pros and cons of online learning services and the new possibilities they provide the students with.
Efficiency
It is much easier and more efficient to just turn on your webcam, join your online class, and begin the learning process than having to spend time commuting to your college each morning, having to spend money on a dinner, pay for a parking lot, and all that stuff. It is much more convenient to study from home or any other place you find comfortable.
Of course, being able to study any time and any place requires some discipline and time management skills, but if you do it right, you can save much time and dedicate it to your other activities. As Peter Miles, a professional online tutor suggests, “You can turn to such online platforms as PapersOwl.com, where you can receive some professional academic assistance with your term paper, dissertation, or whatever other kinds of work you might struggle with”.
There are tons of other online programs for students that help them master different skills and increase their knowledge on different kinds of topics.
Affordability
Online schools are usually much more affordable than classic ones. That’s because students don’t have to pay for so many things like housing, transportation, cantina food, paper textbooks, and all that stuff. It is simply cheaper to study in your hometown, live in your parent’s house, eat at home, and not waste money on transportation.
Of course, most youngsters do not want to stay in their parents’ house and want to leave as soon as they can to taste the freedom of student life. But, if you choose online learning, you can save money for buying your own house in the future.
Flexibility
With most courses online, you are the one in charge – you can study wherever and whenever you want. Don’t have time in the morning? No problem, just pick it up in the evening. Don’t want to study at home? Just go to any other place that inspires you and study there.
Of course, if you have a scheduled class, you need to log in when the tutor says, but if you can just turn the lesson on whenever you wish, it becomes a truly revolutionary mode.
Lack of Social Interaction
Talking about the cons, the first thing that comes to mind is the lack of communication with peers. We, as people, crave communication and company, which is why it might be stressful for online students to be devoid of live communication.
Of course, the Internet gives us tons of ways we can communicate with people, but it does not compare to the communication between the students in a traditional classroom. It is essential for us to have people around, especially for young individuals who are still going through their formative years.
That way, we create bonds and relationships with others, which gives us crucial experiences that are as valuable as education itself.
Reputation
As of now, online training is considered to be inferior to classic studying, which is why some employers might look down on applicants with online diplomas. This will surely change over time, but they still exist a kind of stigma around online schools.
This problem is still there because the classic schools do not want to lose their position and give in to the rapid spreading of online schools, and for that reason, they have this reputation of being worse than traditional colleges and universities. As said, this will change with time, but they’re still is a huge problem with this mode of studying being disregarded as inferior.
Limited Access to Special Education
There are millions of students with special needs around the world, and while some of them might feel comfortable studying from home, the others might experience severe difficulties studying that way.
Different special schools employ a variety of strategies that target students with certain health needs, and these educational facilities are accustomed to providing their services in traditional classrooms. Switching to the online learning mode might be really challenging for those schools.
For the students, who already experience challenges in acquiring education, this transition might be harmful and really disadvantageous. Right now, online schools are still a long way from being inclusive of students with special health needs.
Wrap Up
Online learning is a relatively new thing, and its evolution has only just begun. Though it might be flawed and somewhat rough around the edges, there’s no reason to deny its huge potential.
Will it replace traditional education? Probably not, but it can surely become a powerful tool in the hands of both students and teachers, providing them with more freedom and flexibility. The Internet has changed all the aspects of our lives, and it is not surprising that it has changed the way we acquire new skills and knowledge.