The number of people currently taking online classes in
America alone is over 3 million. This
has become such a popular way of obtaining a degree that over 50% of schools
now offer this type of learning.
However, when considering online classes, there are a few things to
consider. The pros and cons of online learning are as follows:
PROS
Taking
online classes is a great option for someone who works full-time, has children
or a family to take care of, or has any other obligations that may keep them
from being able to attend classes during traditional class meeting hours. By taking courses online people who fit into
these categories are able to fit classes into their schedule at a time that is
convenient for them. They offer more
flexibility than traditional in-person classes.
Online
learning also allows students to be able to take courses at schools that are in
other states or even other countries.
You can take classes half way around the world without even getting out
of bed.
You will
also save money by taking online classes.
You will not have to pay for parking, in-class instructor time or the many
other fees incurred when going to school on campus.
People
learn at different paces. Online classes
will allow a person to take a course at his or her own pace. Some people will be able to finish their
degree a lot sooner because of this.
Similarly, other students may finish with a higher GPA because they are
able to slow the material down, if necessary, to make sure they fully
understand what they are learning.
CONS
Everyone learns differently. A person’s learning style will greatly
influence their success in taking online courses. Learning online from the comfort of your own
home requires self-discipline and self-motivation. People who do not possess these qualities may
not benefit from this method of learning.
Some companies will not accept
degrees from online schools. It is
important to make sure the online school is accredited.
Learning online requires a reliable
internet connection and computer skills.
If you are not comfortable with technology and the computer, this may
actually hurt your chances of being successful.
Also, with online learning there is always the risk of your technology
not working properly, which could make your learning experience that much more
difficult.
Do you think that UNCC should offer more online classes?
It would be great to be able to "attend" every class from home. But I think it would be more difficult for me, especially being an accounting major. I am mostly a visual learner, so I need to see the steps when solving a problem. Also, I tend to procrastinate quite a bit now, I can't imagine how bad it would be if I were going at my own pace.
ReplyDeleteI think online classes are just okay. I took 3 (one was a hybrid. I personally prefer to look at my teacher and listen to them talk. ( but I'm kind of outdated because I still use wood pencils to take my notes LOL). Online classes have it's ups and down. I think it (can sometimes) depend on the teacher as to how smoothly it works , because in one of my classes the professor was not efficient at using the software. But in another class it was pleasant and allowed me to work on assignments when I felt like it. So it can vary but I still prefer the traditional classroom. I agree with @JayCook I think it would BE difficult to take an accounting class online. Some classes are more suitable for online vs others.
ReplyDeleteThe online classes will be good for the students who have to work full time or have a baby. Those students really do not have time to go to school. However, some classes are hard to take on online, because we cannot understand entire the Chapters even we have read them; so we need an explanation from the Teachers(an accounting class is an example that Jay Cook said above). Therefore, the students have a baby or work full time should consider before take online classes.
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ReplyDeleteOnline courses are a great way for full-time workers, stay-at-home moms/dads, and other scenarios. I have always enjoyed online courses as I feel that I am disciplined enough to complete my assignments on time and tend to study better independently. In large classes, such as night classes at UNCC, I tend to get distracted by students looking at Facebook, playing games, etc. I wish UNCC would offer more online courses. This would better fit my demanding schedule and possibly help me graduate early.
ReplyDeleteDo you think recruiters look down upon degrees that were obtained fully online? Do you think some look at these degrees as an easy degree or less credible?
I work full-time and attend school full-time at night. While it is very convenient, I think some classes are much harder when taken online. I had a hard time taking online computer related classes, as dealing with the different software is always a pain. However, classes that are more reading/writing based were easier for me to follow.
ReplyDeleteI think online classes have so many pros and I have one more idea about that: With online classes, a student is able to review all the lectures and information as many times as they want. This is a huge advantage for students who cannot always focus on the instructors or who have language issues, etc. There is always one standard edition of the material, which can help the user learn or train better.
ReplyDeleteEmily, to answer your question, I also think there are "some" assume that online-degree will be less credible, but i think it is really depending (for example: with the company who are using more technical tools, they really don't care if you had online-degree or not, but your knowledge). More than that, usually reality is beyonce theory as you can see that you still have to be trained even though you have the certain degree.
ReplyDeleteOnline Classes are a great way of the Future, However there is certain degree I believe should not be allow online. One such degree I believe is in the Medical Field, for Operating Doctors. I will really like to know before any medical personal work on me on a process that can not be reverse. Beside that, I am all for it.
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