Is an online course the same as an on-campus course? In many cases yes.
In fact, there’s good evidence that online education has some significant benefits for the classroom experience – some of which may surprise you.
1. You are not bound by geography
Tremendous advancements in technology have made college education more accessible than ever. With a computer and internet access, the entire educational world can be yours as long as you have internet access wherever you live.
That’s hardly an exaggeration when you consider that highly prestigious schools, such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford, have in recent years offered free, full-course, zero-credit courses online through so-called MOOCs (which stands for Massive Open Online Course). MOOCs generally have the same professors and study materials that you would get if you visited the university in person.
It was probably inevitable that schools would want to monetize all the materials they offered online. In 2013, Georgia Tech became the first school to set up a MOOC program. The University of Illinois followed two years later. Now more than 30 brick-and-mortar schools offer MOOC-based degrees, through partnerships with tech companies like Coursera, edX, and Udacity.
But MOOCs are just the tip of the iceberg for online learning. Digital and traditional institutions are also perfecting more intimate online learning opportunities, with smaller class sizes and more one-on-one professor-to-student interactions. Online degree options are plentiful, and if you can’t find the offering you’re looking for at a local university, you can probably find it at another school.
So whether you’re looking to graduate to earn a 9-to-5, or study the stars with the world’s top astronomers, you can probably find what you’re looking for online.
2. Online learning can be more engaging than classroom learning
A recent article in Forbes offers some insight into the state of online learning. Researchers have begun to investigate how efficient online learning compares to classroom teaching. So far the results are promising.
A study from California State University in San Bernadino found that two different groups of students — one who studied online and the other who went to class — who received the same instruction from the same professor did equally well in terms of performance. However, the study found that online students were less intimidated to participate and there was better interaction between students and the professor.
In addition, the Forbes article notes that online classes are more likely to present material in eye-catching, multimedia formats that may be better suited to today’s students.
The result: Educators have long known that different people absorb information in different ways, but teaching methods struggle to adapt. If you’re someone whose eyes glaze over during a lecture, you’ll find that you respond better to online learning approaches.
3. Feedback is faster and more frequent
Believe it or not, online learners may interact more with their educators than classroom learners.
Online students are generally asked to take assessments more often so that professors can check their competence. This allows learning gaps to be identified and addressed more quickly, rather than letting a struggling student slip through the cracks until exam time.
Remember, this isn’t just about GPAs. When you pay thousands of dollars for an education, you don’t want to hide in the back corner of the classroom. You want to make sure you understand the course material so you can apply it later.
4. Online college can be a cheaper way to get your bachelor’s or master’s degree
What is the main difference between online and traditional school? The campus, of course. If you go to a regular college, you’re probably going to spend several thousand dollars a year on room and board, as well as transportation.
Online college takes all that spending out of the equation, essentially giving you a five-figure discount while you study. To score!
5. You may get a lot less student debt
Besides not having to pay for room and board and commuting, studying online can reduce your costs in another very important way.
Most online programs are structured around the idea of students being salaried, and possibly full-time. By being able to continue working while you go to school, you may have to take on less student debt.
Smaller student loans mean you pay less interest on student loans. Considering that it takes most people nearly 20 years to pay off their student debt, reducing your overall debt burden is one of the most important strategies you can adopt. Your future self will thank you.
6. You have more control over your schedule
Absenteeism and scheduling conflicts have virtually been removed from the online learning equation. While some programs require participation in online lectures at certain times, those same lectures are generally archived for later use.
Because online learning is more flexible than classroom learning, students can work through the material at their own pace. People who need more time to understand a concept can take it. People who want to work faster can do so.
Schedule flexibility is also a huge asset for those who work full-time or have childcare responsibilities that would interfere with regular campus attendance. Just think about it: the single mom whose babysitter canceled at the last minute would be out of luck with traditional learning. With online education, she can still go to class with the assurance that her child will be taken care of.
7. The online classroom is a good preparation for a changing workforce
Becoming familiar with technology is an excellent added benefit of online education.
As technology advances, the workforce becomes increasingly distributed. Whether you work with someone across the state or around the world, becoming proficient in video conferencing technology, messaging, gathering information and collaborating is a skill you will likely need.
8. Online learning is getting a good reputation
Academics have long recognized the value of online education. A 2012 Babson/College Board study found that 77% of academic leaders believed that online education was just as good, if not better, than classroom education.
Employers get that message too. A recent article in the US News & World Report shows that more and more hiring managers are recognizing the value of online degrees, as long as they come from well-accredited institutions.
Our prediction about the future of online college
Online college options will continue to grow in popularity as costs get lower (thanks to better technology) and the quality of instruction continues to evolve and improve. Within the next generation, online learning will become more of a norm and less of a novelty.