Students need all the help they can get. Plenty of students are working while trying to finish their academic studies which adds another layer of complexity. We have all heard that different people learn and adapt knowledge at different rates. Yet, colleges cramp hundreds of students into study halls and expect the same results. Tailor-made and individually catered studies sound great in practice, but until now, they were impossible to do. As technology develops, and some world events practically force innovation in this field, students and colleges have adapted to the new status. Now there is no turning back as online learning is here to stay, and students can reap its bountiful benefits.
To those students that are working while studying, having long commutes, or any other factor, balancing between college attendance, and other activities was a living nightmare. Before, attendance was mandatory, the norm and absolute. But, online learning changed all of that as now you can start the recorded lecture at any time you want. There is no more balancing and making sacrifices as you can view them whenever and wherever you please. To add to the ever-growing list there is also no commute time because all lectures are available for viewing from the comfort of your home.
2. Learning at your own pace
We brushed on the subject a bit, but it is worth expanding on. A college education is a marathon and not a sprint. Plenty of students can accomplish and master the subject, but they may need more time or several tries. As lectures used to be a one-time event after which students would have to rely on notes, books, libraries and each other, now it's all of that plus a recorded version. Each student can pause, skip, rewind etc. all the parts they need or don't understand at the moment. As we all learn and adapt knowledge at different pace, or adaptive learning as it is called, online learning is perfectly capable of adapting to those needs and accommodating any student.
It is worth noticing that less commute time, better work/study balance and less reliance on physical goods all produce a net benefit of fewer expenses. Depending on the situation, colleges can be expensive or are at least able to impact anyone's budget. Yes, there are multiple discounts and promotions aimed at students to help them out, but you can never get enough of these types of assistance. Online learning is the best and most professional student management system software available to help with any budget balancing.
No more commute costs as you don't have to be physically there. Also, going to college and living on campus has many hidden costs attached, and these are all gone. To the students that had to move or rent to be closer to their preferred university, online learning is the lifeline and game-changer they needed. Speaking of which, this brings us to our next topic.
Finding the perfect college or course and then realising that's across the country or in a different one altogether is disinheriting. Without us realising, we were limited in the number of choices we can make with our education. That great university or course may be on the other end of the globe, but online learning brings it to your screen in the comfort of your home.
Again, the whole world is your oyster. Not being limited to local libraries and lectures from one university opens up your mind to all sorts of information. Also, it is all grouped up on your computer. Gone are the days of the entire desk being covered in notes, paper and books. The subject of your study is learned from the abundance of online material that's all readily available. If that particular paper is not making any sense to you then another one is a click away.
6. Online learning is eco friendly
This is more of a sum up from the previous points as it's worth noting that Mother Nature benefits from the process. Since there is less or no commute, less gas is being used. This leads to a significant decrease in emissions of carbon. There is less paper involved overall, so fewer trees are getting cut down. Overall, the trash is being generated at a lower level from fewer activities and materials required. With all that in mind, going online is going green, and our planet is thankful for that.
Staring any new adventure can be daunting at first. Completely normal as the abundance of material can seem like a steep mountain to climb. The most important step you can make is to get started. Bit by bit, step by step, you will soon be able to see the fruits of your labour manifest before your eyes. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours.
Mike is an Australian business consulting specialist. He’s working with companies that outsource their IT maintenance. He often writes about technology, business and marketing and is a regular contributor on several websites.
