Today, digital learning have become more common after the covid-19 pandemic, but even in the post-pandemic era, virtual learn is still here to stay.
Whether if you are pursuing an online degree, learning a second language online, or attending an online training to get an in-demand skill, 70% of students agree that the many benefits of online learning makes online education a great alternative to learning in a traditional classroom setting.
In fact, with with the help of learning management system, 77% of education leaders believe that online education is equal or superior to learning in the traditional classroom setting.
However, it’s important to understand your learning style, and know which are the best online learning platform before starting an online education, if you want your online learning outcome to be fulfilling and effective.
Major Benefits of Online Learning Compared To Classroom Learning
With the obvious benefits of online learning is to have the ability to learn a new skill anywhere anytime, there are many other major benefits why more people are choosing to take up an online program over learning in a traditional classroom setting.
All major benefits of online education comes in one of these five categories:
- Accessibility
- Productivity
- Work-life balance
- Career benefits
- Financial advantages and personal independence.
In this article, we will look at the different major benefits of online learning, and why you may want to choose learning in an online learning environment over face-to-face learning.
Online Learning Makes Learning Accessible
The first and main benefit of online learning is how accessible it is. When you are taking an online class, you basically will be able to access all learning materials and attend the class online. All you need is a computer and an internet connection along with a desire to learn.
1. Learn from Anywhere
One of the benefits of learning online is that it gives you the freedom to learn from anywhere you want.
With an digital device and an internet connection, you can start learning a new skill or completing an online degree program at the comfort of your home, but it could also mean you can do all these while traveling, sitting at a coffee shop, waiting for an appointment or killing time.
You are no longer bounded by the limits of a physical classroom.
2. Convenient ; Flexible
Convenience is one of the main reasons why students choose an online course or programs over the traditional way of learning.
With a vast library of digital learning materials, you’ll be able to learn when it’s most convenient to your schedule. You can learn at your own pace.
The flexibility that online education offers means you can avoid the negative setbacks with over scheduling your time or feeling overwhelmed by everything you have to do.
Learning become less stressful and more enjoyable.
3. Study at Any Desired School
Almost all colleges, universities and other educational institutions offer some kind of online learning or offers some form of online degree programs.
This means you can attend topnotch schools or earning an online degree without having to travel or relocate.
The option of getting an education online removes the barriers, borders or customs procedures you’ll have to go through if you need to study physically in the school.
4. Certification, Degrees and Diplomas
Depending on what you want to learn and how you want to apply it to your life, you can opt for completing an online program for a certification, diploma, get an online degree, or learn a new skill for the sole enjoyment of learning.
You have total freedom to decide how far you want to take advantage of this new option, to help you enhance your resume while gaining a new skill.
Online Learning Helps You Be More Productive In Achieving Your Learning Goals.
What makes any educational endeavor successful is your ability to be more productive and achieve your learning goals faster and easier.
Although, this may vary between people with different learning style, generally, online learning have evolved with the advancement in technology for you to experience learning in more ways that make you reach your learning objective faster.
5. Learning Freedom
Freedom is priceless, and with the use of online learning, students gain the freedom to learn anything under the sun.
As an online student, you’ll get the options and power to gain knowledge and skills which you cannot gain otherwise.
Because the internet is wide open to you and your learning ambitions, with internet and a laptop in hand, you literally can learn whatever your heart desires.
There are full courses to receive certification as a makeup artist, an herbal healing diploma or even a degree in novel writing, to name a few.
The only limitations to freedom is your resourcefulness and imagination.
6. Studying at Your Own Pace
In a traditional classroom, an instructor often expects everyone to understand and grasp the material at the same time.
But in most online cases, you are free to study at your own pace and getting stressed out to follow the pace of the class isn’t necessary.
So, if a particular subject or topic is difficult, you can review the material as needed without having move on before you comprehend it with confidence.
7. Reduced Pressure
Because you’re able to study at your own pace, it brings us to the next benefit of online learning: reduced pressure.
In traditional learning, there’s a lot of pressure to perform, turn in assignments on time and excel above all other classmates.
With online learning, you usually don’t have to worry about this, which leads to better mental health and learning outcomes.
8. Study to Accommodate Learning Style
Oftentimes, instructors and their teaching methods do not mesh well with some students and their learning style needs.
Taking a couple of classes online means you can study according to how you like to learn.
There are many types of online learning which can cater to almost everyone according to their needs and wants.
- Visual and verbal learners loves to study by themselves, they will benefit from the vast amount of online learning materials , visualizing information in their “mind’s eyes” in the form of image and sounds.
- Visual and non-verbal learners tend to prefer learning in a quiet environment where online learning provide learning in the form of graphical representation, videos, charts, tables images or even infographic.
- Auditory and verbal learners will prefer audio type of education where they will learn best when interreacting with other through listening and speaking activities.
- Tactile and kinesthetic learners will prefer a more hybrid form of online education, where they will experience a mix of online learning and practical coursework classes.
Depending on your learning style, online learning fulfil different learners, even for tactile and kinesthetic learners, there are option of hybrid learning which let people who prefer a hands-on approach to learn in their best learning environment.
9. Concentration ; Participation Is Easier
Because you’re studying to accommodate your learning style, it will be much easier to concentrate and participate in the different activities offered by the online course.
Regardless of whether you’re taking a live online stream or watching post-recorded videos, your relaxed state of mind and comfortable learning environment will allow for better absorption of the material.
Online Learning Let You Gain Work-Life Balance
Online learning is excellent for people who have a busy, burgeoning daily schedule.
With education that is being conducted virtually, students can take advantage of learning at your own free time, giving students the option of self-paced learning, and access to the learning platform anywhere, anytime.
This makes it ideal for busy professionals, parents and college students alike.
10. Control Your Own Schedule
Controlling your own schedule has to be one of the best advantages to learning online. You get to determine what kind of time you want to dedicate to your studies while also having enough wiggle room to take care of children, attend to your job or career and go to in-person classes.
When you have control of your schedule, you control your life.
This, in turn, provides the ultimate confidence booster and self-esteem builder.
11. Balancing Family, Work and Studying
Because your time is under your control, you can balance everything you have to do in your life and still find a moment to study.
This means you can accomplish all your learning goals while giving everything in your life its needed attention.
- You will have the time required to perform in your job
- Your children won’t feel ignored and able to feel your love for them.
- You’ll get to expand your knowledge base and learn need in-demand skills.
12. Allows for Pursuing Interests; Hobbies
Even if you’re not a busy professional or parent, online learning allows for pursuing your interests and hobbies.
Because you’re in control of your schedule, you get to choose when you want to study.
This translates to being able to enjoy more traveling , cooking, painting, model building or any other leisurely endeavor.
13. More Time for Family; Friends
When you dedicate a lot of time to friends and family, you need the flexibility that online learning offers.
This means you can care for sick relatives, friends who are going through a rough patch and attend to your children in a meaningful way.
No one will starve for your time, not even you.
Online Learning Gives You Many Career Benefits
Naturally, learning online opens your career horizons in vast and varied ways.
The additional knowledge, training and education you receive could define the line between success and failure which is essential for progressing in your career.
14. Boosts Resume Potential
Having additional degrees, certifications and/or diplomas means you can boost and puff up your resume in an honest way. You’ll easily be able to prove your attendance, grades and overall success with your online learning.
Plus, it shows potential employers your ability to take initiative and engage in self-discipline.
Many companies and organizations look favorably upon a person’s ability to perform tasks and duties without being told by a superior.
15. Expands Employability
Along with a beefed up resume, online learning opportunities will expand your employability. Even if you don’t get a degree of some kind, you can display your training and knowledge.
Tweaking and refining your education will only help you get better jobs and a larger paycheck.
16. Experts ; Professionals You Respect
Due to the fact that you have a wide open door into your chosen field of study, this means you can network and interact with experts and professionals you respect.
When limited to a standard educational institution, you have to succumb to the experts and professionals they provide, not what you choose.
This means you can get deep down into the details of the industry, getting inside tips and advice. When you respect the person you’re hearing this information from, it will stay with you forever. Such a thing is particularly poignant to a full, complete and satisfying educational experience.
Online Learning Give You Better Financial Advantages
With inflation sharply increasing all over the world, the financial advantages to online learning are invaluable. However we can cut corners and save a few dollars is always beneficial no matter which way you slice it.
17. Reduces Costs to Traditional Education
Getting your diploma or degree online will dramatically decrease the price tag when compared with how much traditional institutions cost.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average college student in the United States pays about $35,000 per year. This includes supplies, living expenses and books.
For online classes, students pay around $10,500 per year. Such a price is far more affordable, which means you don’t have to drown yourself in student loans and other debts to pay for tuition.
18. Saves on Transportation/Relocation Costs
The amount of money you’ll save on transportation or relocation costs means you can apply it to other things you need in life. You won’t have to waste the gas in your vehicle or sit in cold weather to hop on a bus/train.
Plus, if you get accepted to an institution that’s far away from home, you won’t have to fork over thousands of dollars to get there. Online learning simply provides peace of mind in terms of financial obligations and burdens.
19. Saves on Eating Out
Another major money saver in terms of learning online is with food. When you have to go to school, you have to plan your meals ahead of time and how you’re going to pay for them. Taking classes from the comfort of your own home means you can cook at home, which saves major dollars in the interim.
Online Learning Helps You In Your Personal Development and Independence
Of all the categories of online learning benefits, personal development and independence has to be some of the more important. Even if you’re the kind of person who lacks self-discipline, you can start small and buildup your schedule according to your needs.
20. Develop Healthy Habits
Since you’ve dedicated yourself to an online learning schedule, it will result in developing healthier habits. You have to pace yourself and commit to studying a little each day, which means you can also fit in things like exercise and eating healthier.
Anything we can do to increase our lifespan while ensuring optimal health is always ideal.
21. Communication Skills Improvement
Because most of your communication in an online learning situation is via text format, it forces you to be more specific. It not only increases your typing capabilities but it also requires you to expand on your vocabulary so you can say what you mean and mean what you say.
That being said, it is imperative you read what you write before you send it. If you do not understand the context of what you wrote, the other person won’t either and this leads the way for massive communication breakdowns.
22. Expands Brain Health ; Capacity
Aside from all the benefits mentioned thus far, online learning can expand your brain’s health and capacity.
Maintaining brain activity by absorbing new things is best to stave off neurological issues in your elderly years. Problems like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are a couple that fall under this.
23. Discipline, Responsibility ; Accountability
Because you are not under the particular thumb of an instructor or at the mercy of a predetermined course schedule, personal responsibility is the pinnacle of any online learning experience.
This is invaluable to develop since it brings on a sense of self-discipline and accountability you may not get at a conventional institution.
24. Stress ; Tension Reduction
You simply cannot put a price tag on pursuits that help reduce stress and tension. Online learning can greatly help in this regard. Because you’re learning what you want at a school you really want to be at, you won’t be nearly as stressed or tense.
Plus, the expectations and competition isn’t necessarily the same as a traditional class. Of course, this translates to lowered tension and stress that feels like a weight on your shoulders.
25. Boosts Time Management Skills
If you’re the kind of person who has a problem managing your time throughout the day, online learning can help to improve your skills. It has the potential to allow self-training for time allotment each day. This will maximize your productivity while providing efficiency and handling obligations.
For instance, you can preset your schedule for the day ahead. Plan to spend one hour on your studies and follow that with going to the grocery store, picking up kids from school and then making dinner. Once your tikes hit the hay for the night, you can dedicate another hour to your studies.
Why Some People Prefer Face-To-Face Learning?
There are many reasons why some people will prefer face-to-face learning over virtual learning using online learning platforms.
- People may question if investing in an online education will be worth their time, money and effort.
- People may want an more intimate connection with their fellow classmates and teachers.
- People may prefer face-to-face communication over online communication.
- People may find online learning lack of personal interaction, increased feelings of isolation
- People may feel that the computerized experience of getting an online learning program have remove the gusto out of wanting to engage in such an endeavor.
These are just some reasons why some people are more comfortable to learn in a classroom setting, but as the technology advances, online learning have evolved to allow teachers and students to participate in online activities in a more intimated manner.
With eLearning that have helped students to retain information 25% to 60% better, technology related to digital learning are evolving day by day.
Metaverse is an evolving technology that have closed up the gap and help online learners to feel “real” in a virtual environment.
Stimulating our basic senses, technology helps to make online learning more effective and have improved over the years by leap and bounds.
Looking into the future, getting an education in the online environment will become more common and online learning is here to stay.
And if you want to start your education online, here are some great place to start exploring:
- Best online learning platform
- Best online language learning platform
- Best in-demand skills to learn online
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