The number of people enrolling in online courses is growing fast, according to data from Statista and other sources. However, before you decide to take this option too, you need to consider the pros and cons of online education. This system, though convenient, is not as perfect as ads make you to believe. Therefore, it’s essential that you go into this with your eyes wide open.
The Pros and Cons of Online Education: Short Overview
Online Education Pros: Convenience & Affordability
The main advantage of online classes is that they allow for a flexible schedule. If you are like me, meaning a mom working and studying from home, this might be a perfect setup. You get to arrange your learning hours around your schedule, which might be the only way you can fit them in at all.
Another advantage of online education is that you get access to any class you want. In a regular school, you will be limited to the classes offered there only. But the Internet gives you access to any courses you might need. You shouldn’t forget that you don’t have to stick to college courses offered online. You can also master many useful skills through platforms like Udemy, which offers hundreds of highly specialized courses.
Online education is also cheaper than traditional classes. Not only are the course prices lower, but you also get to save money on transportation and other costs involved in being away from home for extended periods of time, like snacks and babysitters. If you are looking for additional education specifically to overcome immediate money troubles, check out this post. It will help you save up enough to pay for an online course.
Online Education Cons: Lack of Social Interaction & Motivation, Tech Issues
Unfortunately, the flexibility mentioned above, is a part of both the pros and cons of online education. You see, with e-learning, no one is there to push you and keep you stay on track. Many courses don’t provide any supervision at all. This means that sticking to the course and completing all your assignments is completely your responsibility. And it’s very easy to lose your motivation and drive to actually stick with the course.
Also, by learning online, your social interactions will be limited. Sometimes, you’ll be able to participate in group chats or discussions via comments and specialized platforms. But there will be no real-life interactions.
And you shouldn’t forget that online studies rely completely on tech. This means you’ll need to have access to a device capable of running all software you need for the class. And you’ll be dependent on having a stable internet connection. Any tech issues you have might lose you important data, but as even traditional classes today involve a lot of digital work, this will be a problem in any case.
Can you suggest any other pros and cons of online education? Have you ever taken an online course yourself?
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