Twenty years ago, people would have laughed at you if you’d told them that they would one day be able to attend an online school. However, that is today’s reality.
Online learning is becoming increasingly popular as a secondary and tertiary education alternative. For quite some time, people were reluctant to try it, but it has survived, thanks to evidence that online learning can be just as effective as face-to-face learning.
Is it an option for everyone? The answer to this question is not as easy as you might think. There are advantages and disadvantages to utilizing an online school, but it is an individual decision.
Here are some characteristics of online schooling to consider when you decide if it’s for you or not:
Variety of subjects
A lot of students can’t access classes in their preferred course locally, nor can they afford to move to an area where they can. It is expensive and impractical, and being able to attend the class online makes far more sense.
Costs
For high school students, online schooling can be expensive since they can attend public school for free. College courses are, however, a lot cheaper than the alternative. You’ll also save the cost of accommodation in a dorm or apartment that other students have to pay.
Conducive learning environment
A lot of people find that they absorb more knowledge in an environment in which they are comfortable. They find the presence of other students distracting, so online courses are perfect for them. For those who are working while studying, online schooling allows them to access classes without having to take time off work and fight the traffic to get to class.
Online schooling takes self-discipline
Staying motivated and on-task can prove challenging for many people who take online classes. When you’re at home, there are lots of distractions, and you’ll wind up coming up with several excuses not to get down to business. Suddenly, the couch will look very attractive and, before you know it, you’ll be taking a ‘well-deserved’ nap!
It’s is vital that you have a schedule for your online classes that you adhere to if you want to stay abreast of the work, say the experts from Education Reference Desk. Make sure that you don’t allow unnecessary distractions to get you to deviate from the plan. Set up an area where you do the work in a part of the house that offers as few distractions as possible.
Flexibility
If you work or you’re just not a morning person, conventional classes don’t work for you. One of online education’s biggest advantages is that it allows you to work when it suits you. Aside from a few live sessions, most of the material is pre-recorded, and you can watch the videos anytime.
For many people, this is the only way they will be able to further their studies. A lot of people who struggle with chronic illnesses have also praised online schooling as it allows them to cover the work when they’re feeling up to it.
You can refer back to lectures
A lot of people favor online schooling because they can ‘attend’ a class as many times as they like. This helps when you feel you haven’t fully grasped all the content that was covered in class. Instead of frantically taking notes and hoping you’ll be able to make sense of them afterward, you can revisit the class anytime.
This also comes in handy when you’re completing assignments as you can rerun to the video lectures and classes if you’re struggling to answer the questions. Many people learn through repetition, so this approach suits their learning style.