Instructional Connections knows that there are many varied advantages of utilizing online education classes or distance learning. From a potentially higher quality of instruction and constant communication to cost savings, student independence, and responsibility, online education courses can be a wonderful addition or replacement for traditional, in-person degree fields.
Some of the largest benefits that we have identified by speaking with online students, faculty, and researchers include flexibility, savings, independence, time-management, career preparation, access, and connectivity.
Let’s go over these advantages, as well as the potential difficulties that online students face due to distance learning, or online education courses.
Online Education Course Advantages for Students & Faculty
Online Education Courses Provide Students with Greater Flexibility
One of the biggest advantages of online classes that we hear echoed time and time again is the ability to fit learning into an existing schedule. Whether your students are spread across multiple cities or states, or if they travel for work and cannot commit to being in the same physical classroom week after week – locational flexibility is important to many in 2020.
Students in online education courses are given the freedom to complete lessons from anywhere, which gives not only the institution the ability to reach a broader audience not constrained by geographical location, but also allows the students more freedom. This locational flexibility allows students to save travel time as well, fitting more into their busy schedules and less time on a bus or in their car, parking, and walking to the classroom.
Online Education Courses Can Offer Cost Savings to Students
The expense of going to college is one of the biggest reasons students hold back from enrolling in a program, however, online education courses are often able to lower their overhead, which is appealing for many students on budgets. And the potential savings of online education courses aren’t always in the form of tuition, either.
Not paying for on-campus parking, meal plans or eating out, and gas can all contribute to lower student costs compared to in-person traditional classes. And because online education courses are often more flexible and don’t require as much travel time, students are able to work more and earn more, furthering their financial stability.
Online Education Courses Can Provide Better Career Preparation & More Independence
Learning valuable and necessary information in university courses is wonderful, but some students have reported feeling that the information they gain throughout their degree doesn’t always translate into their actual career path. However, our virtual teaching assistants who work alongside faculty in their online education courses, all have experience in the field and in the careers the students are aspiring to enter – this means better career preparation from day one!
Additionally, online education courses often expect the student to create their own schedule that will allow them to finish their projects on time, learn the material, and generally gives them a large portion of the responsibility for their own education – just like the responsibilities they will have to handle in their career of choice.
Online courses, especially in modern times surrounded by technology, are quite similar to working in an office or at a traditional desk job with personal deadlines and meetings to remember and attend. From staying in touch via email to understanding project management software, managing your own time, remotely working with a team, and completing projects on a set deadline, all of these skills translate directly to the workforce, often even more so than traditional in-person education courses.
Online Education Courses Offer More Connectivity & Better Access
Online education courses are, by definition, more accessible and connect you more than in-person courses. Not only through freedom and flexibility, but simply because they focus on internet access for connecting to the course, information, assignments, faculty, and other students. In our modern era, the internet, or other digital means, are how the majority of our interactions are facilitated – and education is no different.
The instant ability to access your course materials, schedule, assignments, lessons, and communicate with others makes online education courses highly appealing to modern students. And being able to connect with students and instructors wherever they are is the icing on the educational cake.
Difficulties of Online Education Courses
While there are many great advantages of online education courses, there are always downsides. In fact, a positive for one student, like personal responsibility, may be a negative for another learning style.
Less Peer Interaction
Though online education courses connect students to their coursework, peers, and instructors with ease, it is not the same as in-person interactions. Some students prefer and thrive better in social environments.
Understanding the social aspect of classes should be considered in all online course plans, as adding group work or projects may be highly beneficial for online course or degree students.
Potential Time-Management Difficulties
The personal responsibility that comes with online education courses can be a disadvantage if the student struggles with time management. Without the accountability of a scheduled in-person class, some online students find it difficult to manage their workload and self-schedule their time.
