Why Do Students Take Online Courses?
Seven Advantages of Online Learning
- Accessibility. Students with learning, physical, or other disabilities can more easily protect their privacy in a virtual learning environment. In fact, students may not even have to disclose their status to the instructor in a well-developed online course.
- More equitable learning environment. Students watch video lectures, review materials for deeper understanding and complete assignments through a learning management system, with no need to fight traffic, leave work early for class, or miss important family time.
- Flexibility. Online courses give students the opportunity to manage their study time around competing life priorities, instead of the other way around. Students can more easily balance work and family commitments with their education.
- More interaction and greater ability to concentrate. Online courses offer shy or more reticent students the opportunity to participate in class discussions more easily than face-to-face class sessions. Some students even report better concentration in online classes due to the lack of classroom activity.
- Career advancement. Students can take online courses while working, while in-between jobs, or while taking time to raise a family. This academic work will explain any discontinuity or gaps in a resume as well. Also, completing online courses can show ambitiousness to prospective employers and a desire to remain informed and prepared for new challenges.
- Improving technical skills. Even the most basic online course requires the development of new computer skills, as students learn to navigate different learning management systems and programs. The participation skills students learn within their online courses translate to many professions, including creating and sharing documents, incorporating audio or video materials into assignments, and completing online training sessions.
- Transfer credits. For college students who want to attend summer classes, but live too far from their colleges and/or work summer jobs, taking online classes from an accredited college and transferring the credits to their primary college can be beneficial. Students can earn college credit while still enjoying their summer vacation or fulfilling the responsibilities of their seasonal employment. Similarly, if a college or university does not offer enough open sections of a required course, students can take the course online at another college and transfer the credits.
Adapted from the Open Education Database Links to an external site.