Why Online Learning is the Future of Education

Most parents and ambitious students today are searching for answers to an exciting question: is online learning really the future of education?

To be fair, this question makes sense because traditional education has radically changed within the last few years (and the pandemic has given the change an extra push).

With the rise of the internet and new technologies, being physically present in a classroom is no more required today. Top schools and universities are encouraging students to take online courses.

If you are still in doubt, let’s give you five reasons why we believe that e-learning is becoming the preferred mode of learning and will dominate the didactic stage in coming years.

1.   Makes education accessible to all.

Accessibility is one of the top reasons online learning is becoming popular among the masses. Whether you are in the United States or in a third-world country, you can enroll for online courses and experience the same quality of education anywhere in the world.

Also, it doesn’t make any difference what digital device you use; whether it’s a laptop, smartphone, or tablet, the learning experience remains consistent given that you have a stable internet connection.

Online learning is especially beneficial for those who are working and wish to continue their education or learn a new skill simultaneously. They don’t have to go and sit in the classroom and instead can get started with an online course.

We see a lot of people leaving their jobs or quitting their passion for traveling just to keep learning. Well, there’s no need to do it anymore. And that’s a welcome change.

2.   Allows learning at your own pace.

In a traditional educational environment, a lecturer might overwhelm students with complex information, and it may get difficult for the students to grasp all concepts in the limited time a physical class allows.

Online learning allows you to teach yourself with the help of recorded lectures that you can pause and play while taking down notes, taking as much (or as little!) time as you need to fully understand the topic.

This ensures that you have understood the basics well before moving further to advanced topics, allowing you to squeeze the most out of your course.

3.   Offers a wide selection of programs.

Another great benefit of online education is the range of programs it offers. With infinite skills and subjects to learn, curious students are already exploring new skills and learning stuff they are passionate about, something traditional education finds hard to offer.

Imagine for a second that you are enrolled in a college or university and studying quantum physics as your major in one city (or country). But you are also interested in learning music composition or digital marketing at another institute in another place. Would you be able to learn both at the same time?

No! But, with thousands of online learning resources, you can take multiple courses and learn different skills simultaneously, without heading out your front door.

This will prove very valuable as employers are now increasingly on the look-out for multi-talented, well-rounded individuals.

4.   Is flexible and optimizes time.

Lack of flexibility in schools makes it hard to achieve a healthy balance in life. When you are bound by time or premises, you often miss other important life events.

In contrast, online learning is flexible and gives you unprecedented freedom. From working at your own speed to re-visiting lectures and videos, e-learning gives you the flexibility to utilize your time efficiently.

Mothers can continue learning after putting their baby to sleep, and full-time employed fathers can utilize their evenings and weekends and benefit from continued learning via e-learning platforms.

In other words, e-learning has made education accessible to groups that find it extremely difficult to navigate through the traditional educational system.

5.   It allows for a more customized experience.

We’ve already discussed how online earning can help you set your own study pace, but what’s even more impressive is the flexibility for each student’s individual requirements and level of ability.

Online classes tend to be smaller than conventional class sizes. Most of the time, online learning platforms allow a limited number of students at a time, and in almost all cases, this allows for greater interaction and more feedback between you and your course instructor.

Besides, studying online means that diverse didactic material such as videos, audios, photos, and eBooks are just a click away, and tutors can include these wonderful resources in their lectures.

All of us learn differently – some like to read long chunks of text while others learn the best using images and infographics. In contrast to traditional learning, online education makes it easy for teachers to cater to the needs of different student types at the same time.

Rebecca is the Content Manager at Extras, a freelance writer, and an avid reader of self help books with a focus on finance. A big believer in taking action, she wastes no time tackling obstacles that lie ahead. When it comes to her endeavors in business and entrepreneurship, she’d rather be stuck with oh well than what if.