Online learning is gaining traction worldwide. Recent statistics from Tech Report show that about 49% of students all around the world have completed an online course in the past. These programs offer several opportunities, from reduced commuting costs to students’ clear headspace when studying in their homes. This article will discuss several benefits of online education and how you can use it to find and train for your dream career.
Seven benefits of online education for finding your career
If you’re considering enrolling in online courses, these are seven benefits you can access on the internet:
Accessibility
Online education offers unmatched flexibility, empowering busy individuals to pursue their educational goals. Students might have the option to access course materials, lectures, and notes at their convenience, eliminating the stress of missed classes. They could revisit lectures, attend online tutorials, review past questions, and watch practical videos – all at their own pace. This empowers nontraditional students, like adults with parental duties or non-nursing backgrounds to pursue career changes through the online nursing degree for non-nurses. Wilkes University’s 100% online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is a perfect example. This 15-month program equips students with the knowledge and skills to become nurses, including the theoretical foundation and practical application of nursing practice.
Online learning goes beyond formal degrees. Nurses can access a wealth of resources like expert interviews, online courses, and medical articles to develop their skills and stay current within the field continuously.
Flexibility
Many online courses are designed to let students progress at their own pace. They can spend more time on challenging topics and refer to prior lectures on the parts they don’t understand. Most online courses have no designated class time, and students can create their timetable based on their schedule. You don’t have to sacrifice your family responsibilities and work schedule; instead, you can create a timetable that suits your lifestyle. Besides, many online programs use a modular teaching method that discusses one area at a time. This way, students can focus and build their skills around topics one at a time.
Another flexible advantage is that there are many career options to choose from. Students are not restricted to one industry or a certain program. You can explore these options, from subjects to niches, before choosing the career path that truly interests you.
How does this impact your career pursuit? In plenty of ways. For example, exploring various fields will help you identify your passion and interest, which is vital in finding your dream career. Also, online education lets you select courses and acquire skills that match your career goals or are needed in your chosen profession. Finally, the flexibility of online education makes transitioning easier. For instance, a health education teacher transitioning to nursing can learn online and keep her current job.
Cost-effectiveness
Online education can help students save on certain expenses. One of these expenses is the cost of commuting. Unless you live on campus, traditional students may need to spend a lot on gas, public transportation, and parking fees throughout their education. Online students, on the other hand, can attend their classes from anywhere with internet access. This, of course, negates the need for daily commutes.
Another cost-effective advantage of online learning is that you don’t have to worry about campus housing or the need to relocate. You can stay with family, attend classes in your room, and significantly reduce the time you’ll need to commute to class.
With online classes, you can also avoid paying campus facility, lab, or library fees; after all, most of your resources are online. And while you may pay technology or platform fees for some online programs, it usually isn’t much.
Skill development
The major goal of any educational program, whether physical or online, is to improve student knowledge and skills in various fields. Online learning platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and A Cloud Guru frequently update their courses to reflect industry trends and demand. This frequent update ensures students acquire skills directly applicable to their careers.
This, in turn, aligns them with industry evolution. Due to the changing market needs, there’s more technology for online courses. Online learning platforms have fast-update capabilities that can quickly incorporate new developments, tools, and methodologies into their curricula.
Online learning encourages direct application to career paths. Staying atop every industry trend means that students can learn techniques and tools in demand within their field. Sectors like IT, digital marketing, and data science are typical examples of industries with new software and practices emerging regularly. Online courses provide their learners with the knowledge of these innovations, how to use and understand them, and how that knowledge and skill can help them improve in their careers.
Online learning also enhances students’ employability. Employers will value candidates armed with the latest skills more than someone who is not up to date. A marketing agency will prefer to hire a content marketer with an in-depth knowledge of Search Engine Optimization, content strategy, and lead conversion, even when they’re entry-level. Completing an updated content marketing course shows potential employers that you’re committed to their professional development and know what you’re doing. This significantly improves a job seeker’s employability.
Networking opportunities
It may be hard to believe you can network online – after all, you are not meeting these people physically. However, contrary to belief, online education offers many networking opportunities. Online academic programs connect students with their instructors and professionals in their field through digital platforms like virtual events and social media groups.
It also promotes global peer interaction. It brings together individuals from diverse cultures, and you can meet these people through forums and group projects. You can interact with them, collaborate during projects, and even make friends that will last a lifetime.
You also have direct access to your instructors and experts. There are live webinars where you can learn from these experts, Q & A sessions where you can clarify topics from instructors, and interactive discussions where students get personalized advice from these professionals.
One of the biggest online networking platforms is social media. Many online courses use social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to promote community among their students. These groups let students share their experiences, celebrate their achievements, and work on their challenges with the help of others.
Personalized learning
Every student has a different way of learning and assimilating what they’ve learned. Online academic programs understand this diversity and use various learning techniques to customize students’ experiences.
One of these techniques is adaptive learning technologies (ALT). ALT uses algorithms to analyze a student’s performance, preferences, and interaction with the material. The algorithm’s results inform the technology’s adjustment of the academic content and difficulty level to help the student learn better.
If a student excels in an area, the platform introduces more advanced materials to challenge them. On the other hand, it provides additional resources, hints, or brings back past concepts to help a struggling student understand. See what Google says about ALT here: Adaptive learning technology and education.
Online education also provides tailored learning styles. As mentioned earlier, everyone has a unique way of learning. For some, it could be visual, like pre-recorded classes, and for others, auditory, such as e-books or written materials. Online platforms cater to that through various content, like videos, podcasts, articles, and interactive simulations.
Career advancement
This is for individuals already employed. Sometimes, you need an upskill or knowledge update in your line of work. Maybe there’s a new tech tool you can’t operate or software that can streamline processes you don’t know about. Recently, the use of AI has impacted many industries. For instance, the automotive industry uses AI to connect vehicles, perform predictive maintenance, and make traffic pattern suggestions. Online educational programs update you on these tools to help you stay abreast of the trends.
You can get an additional certification or degree to prompt a promotion at work and keep yourself up to date with real-world skills. Opportunities for continuous online learning also ensure you retain relevance in your current role and have top-notch skills to offer if you are transitioning into another role.
It’s unarguable that online learning programs offer realistic benefits, from comfort to money-saving attributes. But how do you know if online education is for you?
How do you know if online learning is for you?
To know if you’ll flourish in an online class, here are five questions you should ask yourself:
Are you self-disciplined and motivated?
Traditional academic settings have many factors that can encourage you to go to class, do your projects, and read for your exams. These factors could be your dorm roommate, the constant flock of students studying around you, or your lab partner who’s just as invested in their academics as you are.
However, you’ll most likely be alone when studying until you find friends online. Hence, you should know if you’re disciplined enough to stick to your study schedule. Find what motivates you and determine if it’s strong enough to keep you going in your studies.
What’s your learning style?
Figure out if you learn effectively from written materials, videos, and virtual lectures, as online courses rely on these types of content. Or if you’d prefer hands-on and face-to-face learning experiences, you need to know that as well. Your need for immediate feedback should also fuel your decision. Online platforms will offer forums and chat groups, but would you prefer the immediate feedback you’ll get from an instructor in a traditional setting?
What’s your technological comfort level?
Are you comfortable using computers, discussing on online platforms, or even solving minor technical issues on your own? Rate your relatability with technology on a scale of zero to ten, with zero being that you’re not used to technology and online platforms and ten being that you are very comfortable with them. Another is to check if you have reliable internet access and the necessary tools, such as a computer or webcam, to learn online.
What’s your schedule like?
Your lifestyle is a crucial factor in choosing an online program. Ask yourself if your current lifestyle allows for the flexibility required for online learning. While online courses are flexible and let you decide when and where to study, you still need to make a significant commitment to keep up with lectures, assignments, and exams. Also determine whether you can effectively balance your study, work, and personal life. This is important whether you’re learning online or in a traditional setting.
What are your goals?
Your goals fuel your academic decisions. For instance, you take the ABSN degree for non-nurses because you dream of becoming a nurse, and you enroll in cybersecurity classes to become a cybersecurity analyst. The online courses and programs must align with your educational and career objectives.
Reflecting on these questions can inform you of your readiness for online education and whether it aligns with your professional needs.
What are some features of a great program?
If you answered all these questions positively, then online education might be a great fit for you. You only need to find a perfect program for your career goal. Here are five things to look out for in an excellent online educational program:
Accreditation
This is the first and most important aspect. Accreditation validates the quality and credibility of the education you will receive. Ensure the institution offering the program is accredited by a recognized accrediting body. Wilkes University, for instance, has been accredited by CCNE at the baccalaureate level since 1998. If a university is not accredited, you should keep on looking.
Updated curriculum
Check if the curriculum they’re providing aligns with your career interests. Look for current and relevant course content that meets industry standards. If you’d like to take it up a notch, check out the qualifications and experience of the faculty members. Are they experienced? Do they have optimal academic knowledge? You can check their public lectures online to get a feel for their teaching methods.
Technology and support services
Get familiar with the platform you’ll be using for coursework and interactions. Ensure it is user-friendly and accessible. Look for programs that offer comprehensive support services, including technical support, career services, and library access.
Discover their format
Ensure you understand if the program is synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous requires you to be online at specific times, and asynchronous lets you access materials anytime.
Tapping into the benefits of online education
Online learning has many benefits if learners choose the right institution and instructors to work with. Enroll in accredited programs and enjoy the many advantages of online learning.
