Benefits of Learning Online | ecadema - interactive learning

Globally, Online learning is on a path of becoming a regular platform to earn a college degree while balancing family and professional duties. Some students can’t afford to go to college or some live far from college. And, few learners can’t quit their full-time jobs or leave their families to study at a university. While taking online courses, these distance learners can attend lectures virtually, can chat with fellow students, pose questions to professors, take virtual exams, conduct research, and much more. Online certifications don’t require any prerequisites to be fulfilled from the participants, who want to earn a qualification in a particular area of expertise, without spending the same amount of time and money they spend on achieving a traditional degree.

Here are 8 key benefits of online learning:

1.) Work from anywhere, at any time

One of the benefits of online education offers that students can balance their responsibilities along with their studies. With the advent of the Internet, class materials are easily accessible, and submitting work is very convenient. For many learners, the primary benefit of online learning is getting flexibility while scheduling other tasks. Some programs allow degree or yearly courses, while some offer students to select between a traditional weekly course and an accelerated short duration course. Many online courses provide maximum scheduling flexibility to the learners, while some require learners to collaborate with peers or instructors at fixed times during virtual office hours. Prospective students should research these requirements before stepping up to join any online course.

2.) Review Lectures Instantly

Taking online classes provides benefits of availing lectures that are pre-recorded, and can be accessed anytime when there is any doubt that arises while studying. Additionally, students can interact with their instructors through email, live chat, Whatsapp, Zoom sessions, and group discussions, and get more opportunities to have a great Q&A session with your college professor. In many online programs, students can review the whole lectures from professors instantly, only through audio or video transcripts of the lecture available.

This way you can review course material on a periodic basis.

3.)  Improved Virtual Communication and Collaboration

Many online education programs incorporate some sort of group project or teamwork while designing their curriculum. Online learning programs foster virtual communication and allow students to work in groups through email, chat rooms, and other digital tools or methods. All you need is internet connectivity and join others virtually to swap ideas about classroom assignments, get questions answered about things you're stuck on. You can share screens, present documents, use virtual whiteboards to brainstorm ideas, and organize your study projects.

4.) Flexible Learning Schedule

Online programs are built to use PowerPoint presentations and other web tools to deliver lectures, so students can experience the first half of a lesson one day and the second part can be done in the next half. Online Education is Beyond Boundaries: Geographic location is no constraint, if you have enrolled for hybrid classes, as Nowadays top colleges and universities offer online degrees and certificates, hence learners do not have to relocate to attend classes. This flexibility also saves money, as the cost of living and the cost involved commuting from one place to another is eliminated.

5.) Cost

Students can save money by avoiding hefty paychecks on campus-based traditional education which includes lab fees, commuting costs, parking fees, hostel fees, security deposits, etc. 

Many prospective students overlook the cost advantages of online classes. Other cost savings include stationery materials, textbooks, notebooks especially if online learners can purchase digital versions where they get study material in form of a pdf. Traditional costs associated with using classroom space and equipment can be saved by joining online earning programs.

6.) Self-Paced Learning

Before taking an online course, learners or students can complete work at convenient times but must still meet assignment deadlines. However, some online courses maintain fixed slot timings to submit your assignment. Also, students can reach the professor or instructors l over Zoom or another video conferencing service, to discuss assignment-related queries.

On the other hand, Accelerated courses post the same academic requirements and work best for learners with no external work or family obligations.

7.) Instructor availability

At traditional colleges and universities, it can be challenging for students to have interaction due to limited hours availability and holidays. But web-based learning makes the conversation part much easier, as students can communicate during intermissions to address questions, leave comments, and more. Online classes provide more opportunities to get feedback or have a great Q&A session with your college professor. This kind of study environment with an online class, which allows you to gain a more profound understanding of your course. The future of online learning is exciting and opens the gates of education to more people.

8) Improve Your Technical Skills

Learning online can help students polish their technical skills, which are required to fulfill the technical aspects of a job. New skills may include the ability to use new web-based tools, perform research online, and communicate effectively through platforms like group discussion boards, forums, videoconferencing, and teleconferencing. Employers often lookout for these skills and nowadays most job positions require employees to work remotely. Students can also learn new skills to make an effective resume and can make them win the job.

9) Online Education: Worth The Effort

As discussed above, Online degree programs or courses are way more convenient and cheaper as compared to traditional education. For students, professionals or learners, who are facing challenges in life-work balance, online education can be an ideal solution to pursuing an online degree, further help students in career advancement and showcase key skills to potential employers. 

Eman Al Ashouri certified professional life coach, who is expert in emotional intelligence, stress management, relationship coach at ecadeama