Online learning has its roots in the standard type of classroom teaching, which dates back to more than 100 years. The introduction of the internet spiraled an evolutionary system of learning which doesn’t require people to be physically present in other to learn.
Today’s internet learning offers a wide range of both medium and media in abundant educational resources and the flexibility to support both real-time and asynchronous communication between teacher and student, as well as other different learners.
Multiple technology applications are most often used to support different models of online teaching. A group of online learning models might choose to use asynchronous communication tools (e.g., email, newsgroups, threaded discussion boards) which enables users to contribute at their convenience.
While some others might ply the route of Synchronous technologies (e.g., chat rooms, desktop audio/video technology, and webcasting) whereby approximating a face to face teaching strategy such as delivering lectures and holding meetings with a group of students.
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Online learning has become popular because of its potential for providing more flexible access to content and instruction at any time, and from any place. Moreso, this online learning medium focuses more on increasing the availability of learning experiences for students who can not—or choose not to attend a traditional face to face offerings.
These reasons and more are why popular programs like JCU online are at the zenith when it comes to online programs. Going by a recent survey of 1,021 experts, 60% agreed that by 2020 that “there will be mass adoption of teleconferencing and distant learning.”
Following a publication made by the New York Times, in 2009. By (Steve Lohr) that states that “on average, Students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face to face instruction.” only goes to bolster the already prevailing popularity of online learning.
With distant online learning being on the uprise, there is a question as to why it is becoming overwhelmingly popular.
We are going to try to explore why this option seems to be better than the traditional classroom approach that was the foundation of education.
Enhances Online and Computer skills
There is no denying the fact that some of us don’t have the flare for anything tech or computers and as such don’t and won’t fancy the option of learning to be computer literate. But because to be able to study via online mediums and portals, there becomes a pressing need for the acquisitions of primary computer skills.
Apart from the fact that online studies force us to learn some necessary tech skills, It is an excellent skill to have—why?—because technology is dominating the world at large and almost every business is using one form of technology or another that warrants at least basic knowledge of computing.
Reduces Travel time
We can get and lose many things in life like cars, houses, or even money. But there is one thing we can never get back when gone, and that is TIME.
Time is of crucial importance, and when you begin to analyze and estimate the amount of time it takes you to commute to and from a traditional institution’s site, It becomes apparent that such time can serve a better purpose rather than it being a waste.
Not only that, if you are a person with a personal means of transportation, sit back and make a little estimate of how much you spend on gas or maintenance of your vehicle.
You may argue that in retrospect, that a traditional degree involves living on campus, which is a fair point, but the fact remains that you at many times leave the environs of the university and will still spend money moving around—and trust me when I say this—those little expenses do stack up.
Evaluability Assessment
There is a common problem that young individuals face early on when about going into college, and that is, the uncertainty of whether or not a program will be a suitable career path.
It is no fiddle that a lot of top flying achievers in various industries around the world switched careers or are not in the industry for which they originally attended college.
One of the beauties of online learning is that because of its cost-effective nature, it easy for one to decide to try out a program to see if its a study-program that they will develop an affinity for, in terms of the individual’s temperament and psychological disposition.
In conclusion
Perhaps what we have talked about so far might be some of the contributing factors to the widespread of online learning, or maybe it could also be linked to the fact that studies have shown that online learning helps to build self-knowledge and self-confidence. Not only that, but it also encourages students responsibility. In the spirit of honesty—for a person to engage in an online study program and complete it successfully, will require a healthy mental attitude with a fitting sense of responsibility.
