Why Online School Is Better
These are just some of the reasons for choosing online education and why 90% of students today think online learning is the same as or better than traditional classroom learning. [Sources: 10]
Each student must assess their unique situation and make a decision based on their own needs and goals, and although this alternative to traditional education is not suitable for everyone, it is still an affordable option with almost endless opportunities for international students around the world. Thus, an online education can give you access to many quality accredited programs without having to move to a specific area. As noted above, online college courses give students more independence and control over their education. Hence, students must instill certain life skills when attending online lessons. [Sources: 4, 11, 17]
There is no doubt that online education allows students to choose from a variety of schools and programs that are not available in their area. Another flexibility advantage of online education is the geographic location of potential students. With the ability to study anywhere, online students can take courses at home, in a coffee shop or in the library. Students can meet with professors in person, collaborate with classmates, and still enjoy the flexibility of online classes. [Sources: 0, 4, 11]
Online classes also offer students greater learning independence and allow them to work at an individual pace. Aside from convenience and cost, a large number of students are turning to online courses because they have become the best way to learn. [Sources: 4, 13, 16]
Digital education tools have allowed many students to qualify and even retrain for new careers at any stage in their lives, offering online courses that can be taken over an extended period of time. Online programs make higher education more accessible to many students, especially those who work full-time, have family responsibilities, and / or who live off campus. Online education also offers students the opportunity to connect with peers from different countries or even different continents. This way, students can take advantage of the best academic opportunities to learn from the best. [Sources: 3, 4, 8, 11]
But online education is also flexible to the individual needs and skill level of each student. Online learning is preferred by people who, for various reasons, cannot attend a traditional brick-and-mortar college. Online university education can give students access to specialized degree programs that may not be available at an easily accessible or local institution. [Sources: 3, 10]
Online learning can help students hone the technical skills needed for the job. Because online courses give students complete control over their own learning, students can study at their own pace. Because online learning is more flexible than classroom learning, students can use the materials at their own pace. [Sources: 0, 9, 16]
Online learning allows teachers and students to set their own learning pace and increases the flexibility of setting a schedule that suits everyone’s agenda. Online learning allows us and our teachers to set our own learning pace and has additional flexibility in setting a schedule that suits everyone’s agenda. Online courses use a learning management system to provide course content, allowing students to submit assignments and communicate with peers and faculty. Online courses are very convenient, so learners can access the course content according to their schedule. [Sources: 0, 10, 15, 17]
Since online students are given deadlines, they have more flexibility about their day — they can choose when to study, do their homework, listen to lectures, and more. While many online courses run asynchronously to provide maximum scheduling flexibility, some require students to collaborate with colleagues at specific times or meet with a professor during virtual office hours. Since most students perform best when allowed to go at their own pace, they need to look for online programs that offer flexible procedures and a speed of learning. Some students are able to do better in physical classes, while others value the availability of online classes, making the most of their own timetable and their family’s timetable. [Sources: 0, 4, 7, 11]
One of the main differences between face-to-face teaching and today’s online classrooms is that all participants — teachers, students, and at-risk family on both sides — are safer in online classrooms. [Sources: 7]
While we have seen many comments from both students and teachers about the lack of personal connections and relationships in the school, for some students, school socialization can be fraught with anxiety, our teachers suggest. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2017, at least 20% of students aged 12–18 reported being bullied in school. [Sources: 6]
While the study of virtual schools in the K-12 education system does not address these differences directly, the student study I worked on with colleagues at Stanford found very little difference in teaching high-performing students online and online. A study from California State University San Bernardino found that two different groups of students — one that studied online and the other took classes — who received the same instruction from the same professor performed the same results in terms of academic performance. However, the study found that online students were less afraid of participation and that there was a higher quality of interaction between the student and the professor. Additionally, a Forbes article notes that online classrooms are more likely to present content in attention-grabbing multimedia formats that might be better suited to today’s students. [Sources: 9, 12]
Specifically, this year, traditional classroom teachers have had to adapt and learn on their own to teach students online. This could slow down progress in education, especially since students also had to adjust to online learning. [Sources: 8]
For online or distance learning to work effectively, the course content delivered affects student achievement and must be of a very high standard and be adapted to the online learning environment. This can be more difficult to achieve without time spent in physical class, especially if online teaching is conducted in a large classroom rather than in small groups of tutors or in an individual setting. What is different from the online environment is that students may have more distractions and less control, which can reduce their motivation. [Sources: 8, 12]
In most cases, online learning platforms only allow one student to teach at a time, and in almost all cases this provides more interaction and more feedback between you and your instructor. Another reason why online courses can be easier is that the format of the courses suits the student’s learning style and needs for academic support such as virtual tutors and professional counseling. While students receive the same valuable education in online school as they do in college, the compatibility of their particular learning style with the structure of online courses determines whether the pros outweigh the cons. Online learning is by far the most efficient option for students, but it is also better for the environment. The Open University in the UK found online courses on average 90% less energy and 85% less CO2 emissions per student than traditional face-to-face courses. [Sources: 0, 10, 15, 16]
##### Sources #####
[0]: https://oedb.org/ilibrarian/10-advantages-to-taking-online-classes/
[1]: https://online.illinois.edu/articles/online-learning/item/2017/06/05/5-benefits-of-studying-online-(vs.-face-to-face-classroom)
[2]: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/03/virtual-learning-could-make-person-school-better/618297/
[3]: https://www.ccaurora.edu/programs-classes/online-learning/benefits-online-education
[4]: https://www.goodwin.edu/enews/online-classes-vs-traditional-classes/
[5]: https://www.classgap.com/en/blog/online-education-traditional-education-which-one-better-for
[6]: https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-are-some-kids-thriving-during-remote-learning
[7]: https://www.dwight.edu/dwight-global-online-school/blog/the-benefits-of-online-classes-amid-covid-19
[8]: https://www.ef.edu/blog/language/online-learning-vs-in-person-classes-whats-better/
[9]: https://www.nitrocollege.com/blog/online-college/why-online-education-better
[10]: https://www.educations.com/articles-and-advice/5-reasons-online-learning-is-future-of-education-17146
[11]: https://www.foresttrailacademy.com/why-choose-online-schooling.html
[12]: https://www.edweek.org/technology/opinion-how-effective-is-online-learning-what-the-research-does-and-doesnt-tell-us/2020/03
[13]: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brandonbusteed/2019/03/05/online-education-from-good-to-better-to-best/
[14]: https://www.excelhighschool.com/WhyOnlineHighSchoolCanBeBetterThanClassrooms.php4
[15]: https://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/F0232E15/Pros-and-Cons-of-Online-School/
[16]: https://www.dexway.com/5-reasons-why-online-learning-is-more-effective/
[17]: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-school/virtual-vs-real-online-learning-is-better-than-in-person-education/story-mDupPBaQYaiIH0GSZ22RJN.html
