Saturday, June 5, 2010

Benefits of Learning Online

Online education has been growing substantially over the past decade with over 4.6 million post-secondary students taking one or more courses online in 2009. So why are more individuals choosing online learning over traditional brick and mortar classrooms?

Budget-friendly: In some cases, learning online is less expensive than attending a traditional class. Textbooks may be offered online at a reduced cost, or not used in favor of other free online materials. Facility costs are reduced with no classrooms needing to be maintained and this may offset student fees. Since there is no need to drive to class transportation fees are minimal and the cost of food on the go and appropriate clothing are no longer a concern as you can grab a snack from the fridge in your pajamas while participating in your online course.

Personalization: Taking an online course benefits the individual who needs more time to understand the material or the gifted student who can complete a course in half of the allotted time. You learn at your own pace. In many mba courses">online courses, learning style is also considered in the universal design. If you are a kinesthetic learner, the simulations in a course may appeal to you, while a visual learner might prefer reading and the auditory learner enjoying videos.

Flexibility: Online learning allows the individual to choose when they learn best. This appeals to the night owl who feels most creative at 1am or the full time employee who works 40 hours a week. Asynchronous learning ensures you have access to the material when it is most convenient for you.

Relationships: Taking a course online helps you to build many relationships. You manage your time and will develop the ability to motivate yourself and set your own study schedule. This ability to work independently is highly valued in the workplace. You develop a relationship with your Instructor and will learn how to ask when you need help and refine your ability to communicate clearly online. As globalization increases international business relations, experience in formal online communication is an asset. Online education also teaches students digital citizenship, allowing them to successfully navigate through online content. Being able to distinguish quality information helps to create a positive and successful relationship between the individual and the world wide web. Finally, you will develop relationships with your classmates that are productive and beneficial to you.

These are just a few of the many benefits of learning online. As technology continues to develop, online learning will become more prevalent and accessible to the general public.

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