5 reasons why live & interactive learning gets a heads up in distance & open learning

By Sahil Raza

According to research, online education programs are now part of the agenda in most universities and institutions. The quality of distance learning programs have definitely improved in recent times giving a boost to technology, as both students and educational institutions have become familiar with tech advancements. Also stories of best practices have been shared and duplicated.

Major challenges in higher education faced by traditional colleges and universities include expensive tuition fees and time and industry relevant specializations, which have caused many students to search for alternatives. As per the records, nearly 3 million students are currently enrolled in fully-online degree programs and 6 million are taking at least one online course as part of their degree & skilling programs. Online education has turned out to be one of the most popular higher education pathways. The continual improving reputation of online learning has also fueled its expansion, as people realize that live and interactive learning is just as effective as face-to-face learning.

Virtual classrooms and digital campuses are turning out to be more interactive than traditional classroom arrangements, due to numerous factors which include:

Comfortable Learning Pace

The student gets a lot of opportunities to learn at his own pace. He can discuss his questions in live lectures and can interact with faculty as well.

Repeating Lectures

Classroom learning allows you to attend any class lecture only once. However, with distance education courses, you have the freedom to replay any portion of the audio or video lecture, or re-read a particular module which you are not clear about.

Focus on Tougher Modules

In classroom training, the time spent on a particular module depends on the teacher, which is not the case with distance learning. Here, you can decide how much time you want to spend on any particular module.

Flexible Timings

Distance programs offer you the learning facility to use the time flexibly according to your requirements. You can decide when and what to study irrespective of the class schedule.

Extensive Study Materials

Another added benefit is that you have access to a lot of study material anywhere and at any time without the limitations of time and location of study. It gives you ample time to spend with your family and work.

Opportunity for More Interaction and Greater Ability to Concentrate

While the statistics of participation of online students versus participation in traditional courses is not a fixed thing, online courses give more reticent students the chance to involve themselves in class discussions and chats with more ease than face-to-face class sessions. Online courses are easier to focus on because of fewer distractions, like other students and classroom activity. 

It’s Not a Stop in Your Profession, Rather an Accelerant

Even if you want to complete a degree program, it does not mean that you have to leave your current job, which you love. Nowadays, high college costs make it necessary to continue working while you study. The flexibility of online courses enables you to do so with ease.

Advantages of Online Learning

You can learn whatever you want!

You can pick your academic courses in traditional education too, but many-a-time that involves traveling away from home, living in unknown places, and struggles in a very competitive environment. With online education, you can choose any course that is present in traditional universities.

Comfort

Unlike traditional classes, you will not be bound to uncomfortable physical rooms when you choose online courses. All lectures and materials are given online, so you can easily use them from the comfort of your home. So, you won't need to spend on transport costs, nor do you need to follow inconvenient time tables.

On the other hand, you should not allow yourself to get too comfortable while studying at home, so set up a separate study area in your home and watch yourself gain great results from your efforts.

Online Courses Look Great on a Resume

Contrary to traditional thought, an online program will always look good on your resume. It informs employers about your commitment to learning new knowledge and skills. Online degrees are not inferior to traditional ones. If you get an online degree from a reputed university, you will fire up your career very quickly. You will become a better candidate for promotions and new job opportunities.

Self-paced Learning

Self-paced learning enables students to complete targets at any time, and fix learning schedules that meet their individual needs. When you join traditional colleges, work, hobbies, and even family take a back seat. In such situations, studying has to take priority. This discourages single parents working professionals from getting a higher degree.

A self-paced study system helps them to make progress at a convenient speed. This does not require them to attend live sessions; they can use study materials at any time that is suitable for them. This is something that traditional education cannot give you.

Lower Costs

Most online programs are cheaper in comparison to traditional courses. This is enough for most people to consider online educational options. 

The best factor about online learning is that one can learn ease no matter your situation. You only need passion to gain knowledge and a search engine that will take you to the right course. You can choose what you want to do for your education.

About the Author:

Sahil Raza is a writer and educational counsellor in management studies. Sahil has over 8 years of experience in the education sector and he is Chief Education Officer at Talentedge.