f you are going to ask your parents or your grandparents about their education, chances are they will describe the traditional school setting. Wake up early,
pack their bags, and head to school. Teachers stood as the central figure in the classroom and lectured for hours while they took notes and raised their hands whenever they wanted to speak.
In fact, this is how it’s been since Ancient Rome. This school environment was the norm when it came to education – and the only way, for that matter. And truth be told, it still is. But it’s no longer the only way.
The advancements in new technology have influenced education as well. Now, we have access to new forms of education – one of them being online learning platforms.
New technology provided us with platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and so on have been around for quite some time. They provide access to courses and lectures from renowned universities and experts in various fields. From coding to marketing to tattoo training and even medical courses. Just at the tip of our fingers, we are able to find a course that will improve our work or personal skills or even fulfill a hobby. It doesn’t matter why you use online learning platforms, as long as it gives you the well-sought benefits.
However, they have started gaining popularity in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. As we all know, the lockdown brought a significant shift in the education system and in the way we embrace learning. With schools and universities shutting down and having to adapt to a new normal, many of us have also resorted to online learning platforms.
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Even more so, since we were all stuck in the house with so much free time on our hands, many of us have finally had the opportunity to learn a new language, a new skill, or even a new instrument. And where else could we have done this, none other than on online learning platforms? I have learned how to play guitar by following an Udemy course. It is possible! This way, online learning platforms have become our go-to option when it comes to learning something new or even mastering a skill.
But hey - as with everything in life, nothing is perfect. Therefore, online learning has its downsides. But we believe that the pros far outweigh them. That’s our opinion, though, so we are interested to see where you stand in this matter.
Flexibility is a huge benefit that we all seek, especially in our learning initiatives.
Here’s the thing. New technology and online learning systems allow us to attend lessons whenever it is convenient for us. There are no scheduling or obligatory attendance requirements, unlike typical physical schools or universities. With online learning platforms, we can begin and end a lesson anytime, as long as it is allowed. So yes - it’s not only the time we lose by driving to a location, but we also have more freedom in choosing the best time to study.
And that’s not all! As university students or even high school students, many of us have side jobs. However, a tight timetable does not allow us to juggle both schools and work at the same time. So, because some of us need that job to sustain ourselves, we end up following back on the activities from school and not performing that well. Even though we might be passionate about the respective subject.
With online learning platforms, we have access to a greater amount of educational resources.
We’ve all been there. Not able to find resources in order to construct our paper. It can get pretty annoying, but fortunately, online classes are here to help. Students who are unable to locate the books they need at their local bookstores will benefit the most from this. Why? Because online learning courses are usually up-to-date with the newest information that books and other physical materials are not able to bring. And a lot of teachers do not update their course materials year after year, and it can become pretty confusing for students.
In fact, when I was doing my master’s a couple of years ago, I took a course on Online Market Research that I was super excited about. I mean, come on – social media, Google Analytics, and market research all in one class? I was super pumped about it. However, it was not quite as I imagined it. Little did I know back then that the lecturer would focus on the history of online market research and how it came together.
Of course, I was disappointed. But this doesn’t happen to online learning platforms. When it comes to this, we have more control over what we want to learn. We can choose from a vast array of courses and pick the ones that we will find most interesting. And we also get to choose reviews, so we don’t end up with a teacher that we don’t like the way they speak. Yes, I’m talking from personal experiences.
However, online courses vary in quality, and it can get complicated to choose one that will bring value to you.
Yes, we can choose which course we want to follow. But the reality is that we don’t know if that course is actually good. And in most cases, we won’t find out until we have invested time and money into it.
Ever wonder why that happens? Because anyone can post an online course! Even students. A word of caution: do your homework before enrolling in an online course. Make sure you get your money’s worth! Read reviews, seek testimonials from relevant experts, and anything that can prove the course you are about to take is legit and can deliver you the knowledge you seek.
Do not panic, though! Many platforms let you seek courses that have high reviews and are accredited by educational institutions. A lot of them collaborate with major universities to issue certificates for the students or even give them credits for completing the courses!
We are not through yet, as online learning comes with limited live interactions and fewer networking opportunities.
Let’s face it – this is damaging for young adults and students. Networking is crucial at our age (or at any age) as it can provide us with work opportunities and mentorship programs that we cannot find online that easily! Courses do not compare with on-site applications of the theoretical part.
And let’s be honest - when it comes to learning, there’s nothing quite like being in a classroom. When you are at home, you can get easily distracted and abandon a course. In the classroom, even if you want to or not, you will still learn something. Talking before class with your friends and engaging in debates with the teacher is critical for developing relationships and forging connections that are not possible with online learning.
While there are methods to incorporate social interaction into online classes, it is not the same! Some of us flourish in solo learning situations, but others feel like they are losing out on the possibility of engaging with other fellow students. This happens on a case-by-case basis, and you should see which one works best for you!
Even more so, besides the sense of isolation that comes with online courses, they require self-motivation, self-discipline, and time-management skills. And unfortunately, the reality is that a lot of us struggle with this. With traditional classes, we have a set schedule and in-person accountability. But with online courses, it’s up to us to push ourselves to finish them. And sometimes, we only start a course when we have a boost of motivation to change our lives, only later to come back to our regular life.
Yes, online learning platforms have proved to be extremely helpful. In fact, we might even learn a lot more from those courses rather than our traditional courses from university or school. But let’s face it – conventional education will never be replaced. These courses can be complementary, but at the end of the day, we might get a lot more valuable skills when going to school. After all, it’s not just about knowledge but rather the experience of learning.
Now, it's up to you to decide whether this is the path you want to take. If not, there’s no problem. Traditional education has worked for millennia now, and it will continue to work!
