The Advantages of Online Courses
Millions of people all over the world are turning to online educational and vocational courses to help them to start a new career, progress in their current one or just to learn more about the world around them.
Previously, online learning was seen as second-best to traditional schooling, but this image is being swiftly overhauled as the numbers of providers and the quality of their courses increases. Providers like The Knowledge Academy, for example, offer thousands of courses, some online and some at physical venues, that will help people to develop and make progress. If you’re thinking about starting an online course, here are five advantages you’ll soon notice.
You can do what you want
Of course, you can aim for anything you want in a physical setting as well, but you need to get onto an often highly competitive course, pay for your halls as well as your tuition, and possibly give up your job. Online courses, be it Russian literature or inorganic chemistry, allow you to get on board even if you hated chemistry at school and totally flunked it. You get a second chance!
It’s more comfortable
When you’re working, or busy raising a family, the thought of leaving home for a couple of evenings a week, in all weathers, to attend a course is just too much for some. Learning from home means you can make yourself comfortable once the children are in bed or at school and get swotting. Another aspect of this advantage is not having to take public transport or spend money on gas to get to and from the venue.
That said, you mustn’t slouch around when studying – get into some constructive habits and do at least some of it at a desk.
Online courses boost your resume
Think about it – you are showing that you’re a self-starter and that you’re disciplined. You’re really committed to improving yourself and you can think and act independently. Hiring teams won’t look at your online qualifications as inferior to ones gained at a physical university.
You can go at your own pace
One of the biggest advantages of online courses is that some of them allow you to progress at your own pace. Even if it takes a few years, you’ll get there in the end and you won’t have to choose between family and work commitments and your course, which is a serious problem for many people, especially women.
And remember that you can still use a CLEP study guide to help you prepare for online exams, or for entrance exams should you decide later to go to a bricks-and-mortar school.
Online is often cheaper
Many online programs are significantly cheaper than campus-based ones. Even the more expensive options don’t involve renting a room on campus or giving up your day-job, so that’s still a bonus.
Sadly, there’s no Spring Break
The one downside to doing online courses is that it can be lonely at times, as you’re not on campus or dorming with a bunch of other people; you’re still commuting and making stews. When you consider the doors that you could open, however, it’s something of a trifling matter.
.
Images via pixabay.