Online Learning Is As Effective An Approach To Education As Traditional Methods  

It seems everything is moving online these days. Even our education is transferring onto the internet. Students are receiving diplomas, degrees, highschool diplomas and graduating from grades K-8 as well. Many people might squabble about the disadvantages of this phenomena, but there are many advantages of getting an education online. This is a pertinent topic, as the future of education is moving more and more towards shifting physical educational institutions online. There are reasons for this: many times you can learn whatever you want, it is more comfortable in a variety of ways, the pacing of learning is managed by the learner,online courses often look good on resumes, the level of parental involvement is one area in which traditional and online schools can differ greatly, and unlike traditional bricks-and-mortar schools, online school offers parents the ability to control their child’s learning environment.

The freedom to choose your educational path is an enduring quality of online education. For more creative people, or people who want to focus on a single activity, this can be a dream come true. According to elearning Industry, “You can pick the program of your dreams in traditional education, too, but that would involve traveling away from home, living in a completely unknown city, and struggling in an extremely competitive learning environment. With online education, you can take any program or course present in traditional four-year universities” (Norman, Stephanie). So, the ease of access to the courses and majors you are striving to study are widely available online. This increases opportunities to gain the education we desire instead of making needless compromises.

Like the last point, comfort takes center stage for many students. Countless students choose online education in order to avoid wasting time travelling and on many other activities in order to attend physical education institutions. According to the Open Education Database, “Commercials that feature online students studying in their pajamas only skims the surface of one of the benefits of online education: no physical class sessions. Students listen to classes and complete assignments sent to them electronically, with no need to fight traffic, leaving their home or work early for class, or miss important family time. Rather than missing important class sessions (due to weather conditions), students in online courses can always “attend” by participating in discussion boards or chat sessions, turning in their work on time, and watching lectures or reading materials” (“10 Advantages of Taking Online Classes”). In other words, by being an online student, you circumnavigate many of the issues that regular students endure on a daily basis.

In addition, many employers are happy to see online courses on resumes. Many recruiters see the taking of online courses as a sign of taking initiative. As stated by Pongo Resume, “Employers respect a degree earned online as much as a degree earned from attending a brick-and-mortar school. They understand that with the technological advances we have today, more and more employees are getting their education and training online. Because hiring managers value continuing education and professional development, having the relevant courses and programs in the education section of your resume will demonstrate that you are resourceful and have taken the initiative to stay ahead of the curve and improve professionally” (“The Advantages of Online Learning for You and Your Career”). Therefore, not only is online education seen as equal to regular education by employers, but it is also viewed as being competent in the latest technologies and trends.

Back to the students, one of the great advantages of online education is that learners can study at their own pace. According to eLearning Industry, “This type of system does not require attending live sessions; you can access the materials at any time that works for you. If you have to work or take care of your family during the day, you can study at night. That’s an advantage the traditional educational system cannot beat” (Norman, Stephanie). In addition, people who want to take a longer time to receive a degree or a high school diploma can do so without any pressure.

The level of parental involvement is one area in which traditional and online schools can differ greatly. At a traditional school, for example, parental involvement is often limited to things like reviewing homework and attending parent-teacher conferences. There may be opportunities to volunteer or to chaperone field trips, but these typically decrease in middle and high school. Many parents are also out of the loop on academic performance until the end-of-term report card comes home, leaving parents and students little chance to make improvement academically.

With online school, parents have many options for being involved in their children’s education as personal Learning Coaches. As Learning Coaches, parents (or other trusted adults) may choose to support learning by structuring the student’s daily routine or reviewing lessons and grades as often as they wish. They can consult with teachers in regular meetings and when needed, play an active role by helping to monitor attendance, progress, and comprehension. While every family does online learning a bit differently, online educators agree that it’s a good idea to assist with organization and time management, encourage students, and praise them for their hard work.

Unlike traditional bricks-and-mortar schools, online school offers parents the ability to control their child’s learning environment. Parents can ensure their student is learning in a safe, secure atmosphere that is free from bullying and peer pressure that is sometimes found in a traditional classroom setting. In addition, learning at home may offer fewer distractions than a traditional classroom setting, allowing students to focus more easily and get the most out of their time.

Receiving an online education is becoming more and more popular due to a multitude of advantages it has over traditional instruction. These advantages include, to name a few: students can learn whatever they want, it is more comfortable, online courses often look great on resumes, the pacing of learning is managed by the pupil, the level of parental involvement is one area in which traditional and online schools can differ greatly, and unlike traditional bricks-and-mortar schools, online school offers parents the ability to control their child’s learning environment. With these reasons, it is hard to not see why this form of education is on the rise.