What Are the Advantages of Online Learning?

As education evolves, so too evolves the ways in which people receive that education. According to the U.S. Department of Education, as late as 2017 there were over 6.6 million post-secondary institution students enrolled in some sort of distance online learning course.

This is mainly because online learning offers a lot of advantages over more traditional methods, including: 

• Flexibility. Students don’t need to be in a central location to take the course. 
• Convenience. There’s no commute associated with an online class. They can be taken anywhere. 
• Timing. Online classes can be stored on-demand, to be taken whenever the student is available. 

What is Online Learning?

Online learning at any type of instruction or education conducted virtually with the use of the internet. The style, format, and content of the course itself can vary depending on what is being taught and by whom. But what every online learning course has in common is that there’s distance between the learner(s) and the instructors. 

Online school can be more manageable for both the students and the instructors because they don’t have to be in the same room. They don’t even have to take it at the same time – instructors can disseminate the online lesson via website or pre-recorded videos.

Online classes can often be easier for everyone involved because there’s much less coordination needed. For students, they don’t have to worry about locating the physical classroom and figuring out how to get there. Instructors also have a lot more flexibility when it comes to where they either conduct the class. 

How Do Online Classes Work? 

How online classes are offered or accessed can vary, but some general principles are true for all types. 

Generally speaking, for an online class the institution will post the lessons, learning resources, tests, and quizzes online to a website they host. The students can then take the classes from the comfort of their own home (or whatever location they use). All they need is a PC or laptop along with a reliable internet connection. 

Online classes can offer the same features and benefits of more traditional learning methods, including: 

• Hands-on learning and lessons
• Assessments to ensure you’re mastering the core concepts within the subject
• Certifications you will need to advance in your chosen field
• Learn the critical skills needed for the field you’re looking to work in professionally

With online learning, the institution brings the course to you in more ways than one. Not only do you not have to show up at a predetermined location, but you also control the flow and speed of the course as well. It’s a more customizable learning experience for a more digital age. 

Face to Face Versus Online Learning 

While online classes vary from the more traditional educational approach of having in-person, face-to-face learning, this doesn’t make it any less effective. The quality of an online course depends on a few factors: 

• The quality of the learning materials and lessons
• The ability of the institution’s staff to be available to answer questions and work with the students
• How well it allows you to maintain a “work-life” balance in your personal life

Classroom learning represents a rigid approach to learning. You’re expected to be in a set location during a set time period. Online classes adopt a more fluid approach, allowing the student to define the terms. Other than the course content, online learning allows the student to define every aspect of the experience specific to their own needs. It’s a less structured way of looking at learning that accommodates a larger number of learning styles than the old method. 

Benefits of Flexible Learning

Online learning offers a more flexible learning experience for students than the older models of learning. Listed below are just three of the benefits: 

• You can take the classes whenever it works best for you. With online learning, you can fit your education into your own schedule. 
• You can control the pace at which you learn. Maybe you’re a fast learner who can work quickly through multiple lessons in a short period of time while still retaining information. Or perhaps you learn more when you move slowly through a course, absorbing all the information as you slowly move through the process. Neither approach is right or wrong – it depends on how you learn. With online learning, you can go as fast or as slow as you’d like. 
• Without having to commute to an actual classroom, you save time you can spend on other things that are important to you – family, friends, hobbies, or your current job. 

Online learning is clearly a versatile and reliable option for learning within many types of disciplines. But does it cover all types of education? 

Is Trade School Possible Online?  

While online learning is commonly associated with academic programs, online classes are also available – and a great option – for learning trades as well. Multiple vocational education options do exist online. The same benefits that apply to traditional academic programs found online also apply to online vocational programs. Applying that flexibility and customization to your trade school experience can help you on your journey to a vocational career – provided you find the right program. 

For example, did you know the Southern Careers Institute offers some of the best online vocational programs available? They offer online trade school courses for the following careers/industries: 

• Automotive Service Technician
• Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator
• HVAC
• Welding
• Electrical Technician

These are some of the most in-demand careers in the state of Texas. With SCI’s online program, you can sign up for a course and be in the field in as little as seven months. 

Online Training Programs In Texas 

If you’re in Texas and looking to take online classes, look no further than SCI’s offerings. SCI offers a wide variety of online programs that will help you learn a trade while balancing the other aspects of your busy life. These cover a variety of careers, including management positions. 

Online learning does more than help you simply take a course. It can help you transform yourself, infusing you with actionable knowledge on your own terms. It can help you begin a new you! For more on how you can get started with online learning, check out our website program page. 

Sources

https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=80

https://nces.ed.gov/pubs/web/95024-2.asp

Blog Disclaimer: Information stated in this blog is for general information purposes only. SCITexas.edu not assume or guarantee income earning potential or salary expectations based on the programs offered at Southern Careers Institute.