Update: This article was last updated on 2nd April 2024 to reflect the accuracy and up-to-date information on the page.
In recent years, online classes have gained significant popularity, offering students the flexibility to study from the comfort of their own homes. The demand for online education surged during the pandemic when traditional educational institutions were forced to close their doors. This shift towards virtual learning has been embraced by students of all ages so much so that the online education market is projected to yield a revenue of $185.20 billion by 2024, according to Statista.
Online education means different things to different people. For some, it is about the continuation of their education, and for others, it is the way to enhance their skills.
Research suggests that on average, students retain 25-60% more material when learning online compared to only 8-10% in a classroom – World Economic Forum
A few years back, enhancing your skills meant taking a break from your job and attending college again. With online classes that seem to be a thing of the past. Out of the many advantages of online education, the topmost reason for its success is that it allows you to learn at your convenience. You can easily earn a degree while managing your work and family life.
Online education can be accessed from anywhere anytime. You can earn a degree from a college of your choice abroad and that too without having to physically be present there.
This being said, there are always two sides of the coin. Let’s explore the benefits of online education and then we will get into the disadvantages of the same.
But before that let’s look into how to choose the right online course for you given that there is a plethora of EdTech companies and educational institutions that have now jumped into this area.
HOW TO SELECT THE TIGHT ONLINE COURSE AND PLATFORM
| BENEFITS |
|---|
| Decide on the online course you want to take. |
| Research the course and best platform for your needs. |
| Look into the instructors' qualifications and experience. |
| Check the course fee and what it includes. |
| Find out if you can contact instructors for help. |
| Read online reviews of the course. |
| Compare the course with similar ones to ensure it meets your needs. |
| Enroll in a course that offers maximum benefit for you. |
BENEFITS OF ONLINE EDUCATION
1. It gives you added flexibility and self-paced learning.
2. You can manage your time better with online courses by balancing your work and family life.
3. Online courses help you demonstrate self-motivation as you are responsible for the time you dedicate without being forced to attend physical classes at a pre-decided time and venue.
4. Online courses can help you improve your virtual communication and collaboration skills.
5. You will also gain a broader, global perspective, it will refine your critical thinking abilities and teach you new technical skills.
While the benefits are great, there are several disadvantages to it as well.
DISADVANTAGES OF ONLINE EDUCATION
1. Limited Feedback Compared to Traditional Classroom Settings:
In schools and colleges, students can get immediate feedback from their teachers and can resolve the issue by working on it. With online courses, many students feel feedback is limited.
2. The Absence of Human Connection:
Imagine your days back in school and college. Talking to people, hanging out after class, making friends, etc. Wasn’t it fun? With online courses, one of the main concerns is social isolation as there is a lack of human connection.
3. Challenges of Online Education:
Online courses require strong time management and time self-motivation skills. It can also result in a lack of communication skill development in online students. Another concern is the difficulty in preventing cheating during an online assessment. There is a lack of face-to-face communication and it is limited to certain disciplines.
4. Digital Access Gap in Online Education:
With the advancement in technology, most people now own a mobile or a computer or both, but there is still a percentage of the population, albeit small, who are computer illiterate and are unable to access online courses.
It will take a few more years for companies to give equal importance to candidates with online degrees and consider traditional methods of learning authentic. Currently, online courses lack accreditation and quality assurance.
Taking into consideration all these, it’s only a matter of time before online courses will become a part of everyone’s lives.
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