For several decades, students around the world had no option but to study in classrooms. Assignment and thesis writing has been essential steps for attaining a degree and advancing a student’s career. However, in recent years, online learning has emerged as a credible alternative to traditional classroom learning. By making use of online learning modules, students are able to get access to the topic of their choice whenever and wherever they want. Such flexibility is just one of the reasons why online learning has been gaining popularity.
There are several other reasons due to which online learning is becoming the chosen method for students. So, here are the top five reasons why online learning is the future:
1. It allows students to save time
The biggest reason why online learning is likely to continue on a growth path in the future is that it helps students in saving time. Due to the advancements in technology, students can easily access educational content from the comfort of their homes.
In addition, if a student wants to access such content while traveling, they could also do so. Online learning modules are available in many forms, including mobile apps, web content, and even webinars. Students no longer have to travel to the classroom and keep sitting in a monotonous environment. Another way that online learning can help students is that they are able to obtain answers to their queries at the click of a button. This gives them extra time to spend on other important activities.
Online learning also provides flexibility to students in terms of their schedule. There are several mobile apps that allow students to create a daily schedule for themselves. By using online learning, students can ensure that they get enough sleep, spend sufficient time with their friends, and also invest time in developing their hobbies. All these aspects are facilitated by making use of online learning modules. Because they can be used at any time.
Further, online learning can help students in focusing on their education without any distractions from their classmates. Online learning presents students with a personalized experience, where there are no disruptive elements. In the future, students are likely to have even tighter schedules as life will get busier.
Online learning is something that could help them in organizing their lives in a much better manner. Most students are already short of time in their daily lives, and online learning could help them in saving travel time and focusing on what is important.
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2. Assessments can be conducted more frequently
Another major reason why online learning is likely to penetrate the market is that assessments and tests can be conducted on a much more frequent basis. Online learning apps allow students to enroll in assessments on an ongoing basis. Most online learning apps give their users an option to take short tests once a module has been completed. This is a great way to check how much a student has learned from a particular module.
Also, because these assessments are conducted via the internet, the results can be provided to the students almost instantly. Quicker results mean that students are able to assess their weaknesses right after they have learned something new. This also helps in engaging the students better, as well as improving their retention abilities. Further, by using online learning mechanisms, tutors and teachers can keep track of their progress in a much more effective manner.
Apart from tracking, online learning can also inform tutors about when to intervene. Whenever a student is going off track, it becomes easier for the tutors to help them in regaining their focus. Regular assessments after each chapter can mean that students are managing their schedule in a better way. Online learning allows students to spend a lot of time on their own. This makes them more adept at managing time.
Also, more frequent assessments can make students more responsible. Students are likely to be prepared for the assessment at the end of each module. These kinds of planned assessments can prove to be invaluable for students. Thus, in the future, online learning is likely to become even more widespread. It will help students in assessing their abilities from time to time, while also presenting a chance to the tutors to keep tracking their progress.
3. Advancements in technology can be exploited
Online learning is not limited to reading text off a digital device. There are several technological advancements that go well beyond conventional text-based learning.
Firstly, online learning modules typically involve a lot of interactive learning. This includes the use of pictures and videos in order to engage the students better.
Secondly, in recent years, learning has gone one step further by making use of advanced technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). VR allows students to have an immersive experience. VR-based modules also provide students with a chance to learn something new in an interactive manner. These modules are designed in such a manner that the students can experience a multi-dimensional view of a topic and related videos.
On the other hand, AR can help in making any topic interesting by ensuring that students can relate the theory with the objects around them. This makes for a highly engaging way to learn new things in the comfort of their home.
Thirdly, it is likely that other technologies will improve the online learning experience even more. For instance, technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning mean that computers are getting smarter. This also implies a better learning experience for the students. Online learning apps are slowly acquiring the ability to learn from the progress made by the student. Based on these learnings, the apps are able to suggest relevant content, help students in building core competencies, and ensure that their ability to retain is improved.
Further, machine learning can help a student in remaining highly motivated. Machine learning would help in suggesting content that is not only related to the topic. But is also of interest to the student. In the future, this could be a game-changer in the industry. It would help in customer retention as well as better standards of learning.
4. Lower costs involved
The costs involved in online learning are also much lower compared to traditional learning mechanisms. A student simply needs to download an app and pay for the modules of his/her interest. Alternatively, they could simply log on to a website and purchase the modules that they want to access. This helps them in cutting their annual education expenses.
In addition to this, several online learning apps and websites offer bundled prices. These prices are lower than the traditional charges levied for each module. This helps the students in availing discounts and paying only for specific content. Bundling also presents an option to the students who are looking to learn only specific topics rather than enrolling themselves in an entire course. This also helps them in saving time and resources.
Another aspect is the extremely low cost of online learning compared with traditional classroom-based education. School and college degrees around the world tend to be very expensive. In comparison, the cost of online learning is fractional. This means that the students, as well as their parents, are able to save money to a great extent. Lower costs mean that students can spend more on other important things.
Online learning also helps in reducing student debt. This happens due to the reduction in book supplies, tuition fees, application fees, as well as accommodation costs. Online learning modules can be accessed from anywhere, thereby helping the students in reducing their travel costs as well. More and more students are looking to spend their time and resources in an effective manner. Online learning presents them with this opportunity. This is the primary reason why it is likely to gain even more traction in the future.
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5. Variety of choices
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of online learning is that it offers a lot of choices to students. A student can choose from a wide range of topics and then decide what he/she would like to pursue. This is not the case with traditional classrooms, because not all colleges and universities offer all courses. Once students have made the decision to move to a particular city and enroll in a university, their choices become limited. They cannot really change their mind and choose what is right for them. Online learning presents them with the opportunity to pick and choose their subjects. By studying online according to their convenience, they are able to make the right choices.
Another reason why online learning is expected to grow in the future is that students can learn more than traditional courses. This is because it is easier to upgrade the content according to the latest market developments. In a traditional classroom environment, modules that have been designed are typically upgraded once every few years.
However, online learning mechanisms are very different. Because all of the content is online, it becomes much easier for companies and content creators to upgrade modules as and when the need arises. This also helps the students in keeping up to date with the latest happenings in their field of study.
Online learning also presents students with the ability to learn at their own pace. If they are having difficulties with a topic or a module, they can choose to spend more time on it, unlike regular classrooms. Thus, it is clear that online learning offers a lot of benefits to students; its penetration is likely to improve in the future. The range of benefits offered by online learning is tremendous, and the possibilities to grow are high.
This article is written by Ellie Richards. She is an Online Marketing Manager for Ph.D. Writing company Original Ph.D. She specializes in research, content, and article writing on various topics, including Education, Marketing, and Technology.
