It’s no secret that our world is forever changing and evolving, and with that, so does higher education as well as the traditional college experience.
More and more students are opting for online courses now to fulfill their degree requirements instead of going about learning the traditional way.
So, what is driving this trend, and what are the benefits of online learning? If you’re looking for the answer, keep reading because, in this article, we will be discussing just that. We’ll look at everything from accessibility and affordability to quality and technology, so keep reading!
Accessibility
The first and one of the primary ways that online learning has transformed higher education is by making it more accessible to those who want to learn. Online learning platforms such as EdWize offer people courses from top universities around the world, and these courses can be taken by anyone with an internet connection. This means that people who would not otherwise have access to higher education the traditional way can now get a quality education from the comfort of their own homes.
Affordability
Another way that online learning has transformed the world of higher education is by making it more affordable. Many of the online courses that are offered come at a fraction of the cost of traditional on-campus courses. In addition to this, there are many scholarships and financial aid options that are available for students who are taking online courses. This affordability makes online learning a more viable option for people who may not otherwise be able to afford traditional higher education.
Flexibility
The next way that online learning has transformed higher education is by making it more flexible. This is a key benefit, and the reason this is possible is that online courses can be taken at any time and from anywhere in the world, which means that students can study around their work or family commitments. The flexibility that comes with online learning is particularly beneficial for adult learners who may not be able to take time off from work or other responsibilities that they might have to attend classes on campus. You can simply design your schedule around your life, versus traditional education, which has a set schedule that you need to follow and have no control over.
Quality
It’s no secret that online learning initially caused some skepticism, but despite this, it has proven to be just as effective as traditional classroom-based learning. A study that was conducted by the US Department of Education discovered that students who took online courses performed just as well as students who took equivalent courses on campus. To add to this, many employers now view online degrees from accredited universities in the same light as they would traditional degrees.
Technology
Last but not least, online learning has also been made possible by the continued advancement of technology. Learning management systems, or LMS, such as Blackboard and Canvas allow instructors to upload lectures, readings, and assignments for their students onto portals that the students can access at any time.
These platforms also provide tools for interactions between instructors and students, which allow them to interact using discussion boards and conferencing. Technology also allows students to always go back to their learning material whenever they want to because the material is recorded on the internet. Technology has made online learning accessible to anyone with an internet connection and has transformed the way that learning is done. Technology has also seen virtual reality and the metaverse join the realms of learning, which has made learning more interactive and fun.
We can go as far as to say that online education has the potential to be more effective than traditional education in the classroom. When learning online, students retain 25%–60% more material compared to face-to-face training, which has much lower information retention rates of just 8–10%. Students are also able to learn much more quickly online compared to a traditional classroom, and learning through the internet takes 40%–60% less time compared to learning the traditional way. With all these statistics in support of online learning, it’s safe to say that this is the future.
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