They say that the only constant thing is change. Nowadays, many people are begining to prefer online learning to the traditional classroom learning. Some because of its price and others for its convenience. All you need do is have a conputer and an internet connection and you're good to go. Well a poll that was recently conducted has it that graduates who took part and earned a credit in online class are about 46%. Lets have a little insight on the gains of online learning.
Advantages of Online Learning/Degree
1. Convenience and Flexibility
Online classes aimed at awarding a degree can generally be convenient. Upon that it is also flexible. Now if you've attended the classroom learning (to be awarded a degree or more) you'd find out that for that moment when u are studying, your whole life will revolve around that school. An attempt to combine study with lets say work will surely disrupt your accademic performance. The traditional class room learning is so time intensive and never flexible. For instance, in a school i attended, timetables are not followed. What this implies is that classes could be fixed at any time of the week irrespective of student personal plans. When selecting a course to study in online classes, you have the chance of understanding at least how much of your presence is needed online and this makes online learning more attractive to the classroom learning.
2. Cost Efficient
It has been estimated that online schools cost upto 50% less than the conventional classroom learning so why not go for the less expensive and flexible one right? Human population is always on the increase and while the traditional classroom learning could be expensive, the online learning could be cost friendly and help enroll more students than the traditional school system.
Having said all this, let us look into some drawbacks which online schools pose or encounter.
Drawback of Online Learning
Challenge of Accreditation and Practice
Its not new knowledge that skme courses require accreditation from a specialised government body so that the students who graduate from studying such a course can be deemed worthy of practicing in real life. Now alot of online schools are not able to get this accreditation for some various reasons and when the student finishes with the course, he cannot be considered worthy by an employer.
No Hands-on Experience
Since online learning is aimed at letting student to stay flexible while studying, the student doesn't get enough experience and some don't get any experience at all. Back in the traditional learning method, the school usually provides enviroments and equiment suitable for student learning however, in online learning, you are on your own. This is a great challenge as the bridge between theory and practical is never built.
Certificate Credibility
Exams or assessment will be taken online for online schools and these exams reflect the awarded certificate. Now co es the big question of how do you know your students didn't cheat which if rephrases could mean that employers don't trust the credibility of the Certificate awarded to online school graduates. To date, there hasn't been a perfect solution to student monitoring during their online assessments.
Some solutions which a handful of online schools can and have taken include
Improvised Assessment
Exams are not genreally nade to be multi choice rather, some examiners will prefer an audio presentation or the development and presentation of a project. Some others have organised laboratories where there students can visit in order to mix their learning with practical experience
In conclusion, this generation has seen more technology and more individuals want to study without the burden of having to assemble everyday or even live around the school environment. However, this flexibility which they crave comes at cost and I believe its in the place of the student to navigate through different schools, courses and find a suitable one especially one that has most or all of its courses accredited.