Drexel University School of Education
Similar to attending a physical campus and learning in person, there are advantages and disadvantages of attending a virtual classroomand learning online. Among the many benefits of online learning, you’ll find that virtual education allows you to enjoy a more flexible schedule, can reduce the cost of your degree, and can allow you to more easily develop your career alongside furthering your education.
While there are many pros to online learning, there are cons to consider.Staying on task and being self-motivated can be challenging in its own way; which is part of the reason why online learning isn’t right for everyone. By understanding more about the advantages and disadvantages of online learning, you can get a better idea of whether it might be suitable for you and your educational and career goals.
If you’re interested in learning more about online education with Drexel School of Education, request more information.
Advantages of Online Learning
1. Flexibility
Among the many benefits of an online learning, you’ll find virtual classrooms are great for people who are advancing their education while working. In a traditional classroom, lectures will be scheduled at a specific time of day and your schedule will be formed around the availability of classes. If you’re currently employed and courses aren’t available after your working hours, it can be difficult to juggle a course load in addition to your work duties.
When attending a virtual campus, online learning allows for far more autonomy in deciding your own schedule. That means you can study whenever it’s convenient for you. Live with some noisy roommates? Having more control over your schedule also means you can avoid distractions easier.
2. Reduced Costs
Education can be expensive, but virtual learning can provide a number of ways for students to save. Not having to commute to campus can help you save on transportation costs.
Every year, the average student spends more than a thousand dollars on textbooks and course materials. Virtual coursework often takes advantage of virtual resources, which translates into less money spent on textbooks.
Tuition costs can also vary between online and on-campus programs. For instance, at Drexel University, students enrolled in online programs in the School of Education receive a 25% discount off the price of regular tuition. Most online programs offered by the school are also financial aid eligible.
Between all these sources of savings, cost-cutting can be an enormous benefit of online classes.
3. More Free Time
Because your schedule isn’t dictated by classes, you can spend more time doing the things you want. Plus, in addition to saving money, not having to commute also means saving time because you don’t need to travel to-and-from campus.
That extra time can be used in any way you want, such as focusing on your career or spending time with your family. All you need is a digital device and an internet connection, and you have access to the necessary tools to further your education and earn your degree on your own time.
4. Increased Course Variety
Another reason why online school is better for some is the increased variety of education options. Since students are not required to travel to campus for courses schedule on specific days and times, students can enroll in the courses they are most interested in. There’s no need to rearrange schedules, students in an online program can take the course they want and complete the coursework at a time that is most convenient for them. Through online courses, students can gain the knowledge they need to earn their degree or grow in their profession.
Online courses allow you to earn essentially the same range of different degrees that can be earned from a traditional educational environment. That includes learning certificates and professional certifications to master’s degrees or doctoral degrees.
5. Career Advancement Opportunities
Just like courses taken in a traditional classroom setting, virtual learning can provide you with a number of career advancement opportunities.
Because you’re the master of your own schedule, students of virtual learning are better prepared to continue working while pursuing academic credentials. And for students who aren’t employed, academic work can serve to explain any discontinuity or gaps in a resume. In either case, the advantages of virtual learning can be clearly seen on a resume.
6. Increased Collaboration
Online students have better opportunities to collaborate with classmates through virtual group work and meetings. One of the benefits of online courses are the message boards and grouping tools that allow students to post their feedback on readings and other assignments and respond to their classmates.
Students may also receive more one-on-one time with their professor with virtual learning, which is beneficial for both learning and networking. Students can communicate director with their professor and upload assignments for review.
7. Personalized Education
Students who find their focus suffers from classroom activity may benefit from online classes. Students who aren’t as assertive may have better opportunities to participate in class discussions when communicating online. Working from your own choice of environment, with self-paced learning, the result can be a more personalized learning experience.
In online courses, students to choose the time that works best for them to complete readings and assignments. Since the coursework is online, courses can be completed anywhere there is an internet connection.
8. Enhanced Time Management Skills
While the benefits of online learning include the flexibility to complete assignments at a time that is most convenient to the student, the student still needs to manage their time wisely to ensure they complete their assignments by the deadlines set by the professor. Online courses teach students how to manage their time better since the student bears the responsibility of engaging with the course instead of simply showing up to class on an assigned day and time. As a result, students not only gain knowledge from the coursework, but they also sharpen their time management skills.
9. Immediate Feedback
Integrating coursework with technology provides a number of advantages. Rather than waiting days or weeks after exams, you can often get immediate feedback. In online courses, students upload assignments digitally for review by their professor. Professors review student work online and submit feedback electronically. As a result, students receive feedback right away. In a traditional classroom setting, students may need to wait a week or two to receive feedback on their assignments. By receiving feedback sooner, students can learn faster and make adjustments for future assignments.
10. Repeated Access to Course Materials
Where a traditional lecturing leaves you at the mercy of your best note-taking skills, video presentations can be watched and revisited as necessary. If a student didn’t quite understand some of the content covered in a video lecture, they can go back and listen to it again. Students can use lecture videos as a supplemental tool to help with competing assignments.
Deciding if an Online Degree is Right for You
In order to decide if an online degree is right for you, it would be best to evaluate the pros and cons of online learning. Students who don’t mind setting their own schedule for learning and completing assignments and are okay collaborating with their classmates remotely, will likely do well in an online program. What students should understand most is that the same content covered in an in-person class is also covered in an online course and there is no difference between a degree earned online and a degree earned in-person.
If you are intrigued by the benefits of online learning and feel that an online degree is a good fit for you, we encourage you to browse our graduate programsto learn more about how Drexel's online programs can help you.
FAQs
What are the 10 benefits of online classes? ›
- The “Home” Advantage. Digital learning has made learning interesting and fun for students. ...
- Escape the Traffic. ...
- Saves your Time and Money. ...
- Best Online Guidance. ...
- Instant Doubt Resolution. ...
- Increased Convenience and Flexibility. ...
- Enhances Self-Discipline. ...
- Optimises focus.
- Flexibility. Students have the freedom to juggle their careers and school because they aren't tied down to a fixed schedule. ...
- Reduced Costs. Online education can cost less due to a variety of reasons. ...
- Networking Opportunities. ...
- Documentation. ...
- Increased Instructor - Student Time. ...
- Access to Expertise.
Risk of Social Isolation
In e-learning, educators and students spend most of their time online, which inevitably leads to social isolation. Social isolation, along with lack of physical interaction may lead to several mental health problems like increased stress levels and anxiety.
Ten Lines on Advantages and Disadvantages of Offline Study
4) It facilitates good classroom communication that helps in understanding the concepts easily. 5) Teachers can pay equal attention to every student in the class. 6) Extra-curricular activities in offline mode help in the overall development of students.
Online courses teach students how to manage their time better since the student bears the responsibility of engaging with the course instead of simply showing up to class on an assigned day and time. As a result, students not only gain knowledge from the coursework, but they also sharpen their time management skills.
What are the benefits of online learning to students and teachers? ›- Connects students and teachers internationally. ...
- Offers flexible learning hours. ...
- Considers individual learning patterns. ...
- Allows children to create their own learning environment. ...
- Provides students with more control over their learning.
20 advantages of online learning
Comfort of learning from your own home. Ability to work a job while you study. They offer ultimate convenience and flexibility. Earn bonus points for your resumé
It promotes active and independent learning; Efficient way of delivering courses as the resources are available from anywhere and at any time; Students can interact with their peers from all around the world through group discussions and private chats; The studying material can be accessed unlimited number of times.
What are the effects of online learning on students? ›A lack of face-to-face interaction with the instructors or other peers inhibits student feedback, causes social isolation, and may lead to students feeling unmotivated since there is no sense of pressure from the teacher.
Why is online school better than in person? ›Online courses allow students to learn at their own pace on their own schedule, which is an approach to studying known as asynchronous learning. This format empowers students to take notes, review lectures, and go over other course materials in a way that works best for them.
Why online learning is better than face to face? ›
Students Gain More Knowledge Than In Standard Classes
Because online courses provide students with full control over their studies, they can work at their own pace. Pupils, on average, work faster and absorb more information in online courses than they would otherwise.
Online Classes | Offline Classes |
---|---|
Excellent adaptability combined with convenience. | Rigid learning schedules and inconvenience. |
Improved concentration. | High chances of distraction. |
Convenient resolving of doubts. | Inconvenient doubt resolution. |
The biggest advantage of online classes is their flexibility. It gives students the freedom to establish their own learning rate without feeling rushed. Students can simply attend courses whenever it is convenient for them because they have access to recorded videos and online reading material.
What is the meaning of online learning? ›Online learning is education that takes place over the Internet. It is often referred to as “e- learning” among other terms. However, online learning is just one type of “distance learning” - the umbrella term for any learning that takes place across distance and not in a traditional classroom.
Why online education is the future? ›The Advantages Of eLearning
Time flexibility. Easy access to a variety of courses. No commute or transport hassle. Learn at own speed.
- Efficiency. Online learning offers teachers an efficient way to deliver lessons to students. ...
- Accessibility Of Time And Place. ...
- Affordability. ...
- Improved Student Attendance. ...
- Suits A Variety Of Learning Styles.
- It gives you motivation. ...
- It helps beat boredom. ...
- It boosts confidence. ...
- It keeps you healthy. ...
- It helps you be flexible. ...
- It can benefit others. ...
- It can boost your happiness. ...
- Consider your “why.” It doesn't matter if a new skill is for work or play – you'll get benefits either way.
No Need to Travel
This allows parents who are balancing their own studies with a full- or part-time job to save precious time that would otherwise be spent commuting to school. Parents with children too young for school or in their own e-learning classes may be able to stay home to supervise them.
The flexibility allows students more time to pursue hobbies or extracurriculars. With such a flexible schedule, students can join more outside of school. Virtual learning allows students to get one-on-one support from online educators when they need a little extra help in a certain subject area.
Is online school better for the environment? ›Reduces Pollution and Emissions from Transportation
Studies have shown that virtual learning can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 148 pounds each semester! Online learning is a win-win. It reduces transportation, saves time, and helps the planet.
Is online school as good as face to face? ›
2. Higher Retention Rates. Many studies have shown that retention rates for online students are much higher than for traditional, in-person students. Online learning increases access and makes it more likely that a student can finish a course or program when physical limitations are removed.
Are online schools easier? ›For some people, online programs are easier because they offer a flexible schedule. In addition, people with great time management skills and a sense of responsibility can excel in online classes.
What is online distance education? ›Distance learning is an educational process where students receive instruction through online classes, video recordings, video conferencing, or any other audio/visual technology medium. It enables people to receive education without having to be physically present in a classroom.
How do you feel about online classes? ›The responses from students were largely positive overall – 85% said their online courses felt like a “classroom community”, 84% said remote learning environments can be effective and 70% said they would consider taking more virtual classes in the future.
What are the disadvantages of online classes? ›- Online courses require more time than on-campus classes. ...
- Online courses make it easier to procrastinate. ...
- Online courses require good time-management skills. ...
- Online courses may create a sense of isolation. ...
- Online courses allow you to be more independent.
Technical Issues.
Many students are not provided with the high bandwidth or the strong internet connection that online courses require, and thus fail to catch up with their virtual classmates: Their weak monitors make it hard to follow the Course Management System and their learning experience becomes problematic.
Unfortunately, one of the biggest disadvantages of E-Learning continues to be cheating through various methods. Compared to on-campus students, online students can cheat on assessments more easily as they take assessments in their own environment and while using their personal computers.
What is meant by online education? ›“ - Online education is a form of education which is delivered and administered using the Internet. 20 years ago, it would've been difficult to imagine high quality instruction delivered online, but today, in the digital age, it's become a reality. Now online education, or online learning, is a broad term.
How we can improve online education? ›Use physical whiteboards for students to show their thinking. Allow students to share their screen to showcase their work and explain how they solved a problem. Use virtual whiteboards for increased engagement. Make use of stamps, emoticons, drawing tools etc.
What are the positive and negative effects of online classes? ›Student knowledge can be greatly enhanced by using online learning methods. On the other hand, online courses often neglect the development of communication skills among students. Students have no opportunity to communicate face-to-face with their peers, teachers, and classmates.
What is online learning challenges? ›
Distractions Everywhere
Having a time management system is perhaps the most difficult challenge for students to overcome because it depends entirely on self-motivation. Students need to be serious about their education, learn how to manage time, set their daily schedule, and study despite constant distractions.
- #1. Technical Issues.
- #2. Lack of Motivation.
- #3. Feelings of Isolation.
- #4. Effective Time Management.
- #5. Managing Distractions and Staying Focused.
Time management is one of the most common struggles for diverse learners taking class online. Without physical boundaries or physical location changes it can be hard for students to organize their thoughts and time and know when to switch their attention from one subject to another.
Is online teaching good or bad? ›Online education is an efficient and underrated alternative that allows the student to study at their own pace. It also offers flexibility to combine studies and personal life. All of this from the commodity of home. You can even learn while traveling around the world without giving up your education.
Is online education positive or negative? ›94% of the respondents of the Emeritus Impact Survey believe online education positively impacts their careers. In broad terms, it allows students and professors to connect from the comfort of their homes, even if situated hundreds of miles apart. Learners can attend classes while saving time on their commute.