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Online College Courses: Advantages and Disadvantages


Christine S. Baker
April 23rd, 2009


Online College Courses

In the recent past educational programs and the medium of learning has seen a sea change. Distance learning which once meant for students who really could not make it to the campus colleges is now the hub for all specialized courses. Past decade has seen education in its new form. Education for all and education at any cost has become a reality today. You can break free and cross the hurdles which restrained you from reaching your goal of higher education.

The Tech Era

Technological invasion is at its high. Online education, virtual class rooms, lectures through tele-conferencing, submitting assignments online, discussions through interactive platforms, you go to a college not by stepping out of your house but at the click of your mouse. I am sure most of what is happing today would not have been even imagined a couple of decades ago.

The era of face to face interaction with professor and students is slowly fading. Given the popularity and wide reach of Online Degrees, it sometimes makes me wonder about the effectiveness and the adaptability of the students to this new way of learning. There is no external support that keeps you driving to go ahead with your educational curriculum. A completely self motivated and self disciplined effort is required to succeed in an e-learning environment which makes the education online great for few, while not so great for those who cannot adapt to a self motivated exercise.

As students it is important that you understand the advantages and the disadvantages of online college courses, to better analyze the possibility and your adaptability.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online College Courses

Let us now sit and discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of pursing online college course.

Advantages

  • No restriction on the place of study – Online education offers great opportunity for people who live in remote areas, those who live far away from the college or school offering the desired course of study, those who are not in a position to commute due to health or other reasons. You have the flexibility of attending online classes from any corner of the world. This flexibility helps individuals to overcome a major hurdle in the path of attaining academic success.
  • Any time study – You have no restriction on the class timings. The classes are available on online at any time of the day and it is wonderful for both who wish to stick to fixed timings and for those who opt for such online courses mainly because they have other commitments which hardly gives them the time to study. Are you somebody who has trouble getting ready for morning classes? Are you new mom and your baby sitting schedule just does not allow you step out of the house? Are you a busy professional trying to squeeze up time for studies? Does your employment leave you with an hour or so during night to make up for your studies? Then online studies or education is just made for you.
  • No notes please! – You are saved from taking down notes when you hear online lectures. If you cannot write fast or you are used to a slow pace of learning or you need to hear atleast a couple of times to understand what is being told, online classes has the facility of repeating lectures pausing them for a while and ever availability of lectures that helps you overcome all troubles in learning.
  • Technology – The very fact that you are enrolled for an online course is a gift of technological advancement. Multimedia Learning Aids become part of course curriculum that enables the lecturer or the instructor to help students experience livelier version of online classes.
  • Dress code necessary? – No not at all! You either sit at your home or office, it is upto you whether you wish to wear a pant or skirt or sit with pajamas for your classes. No dress code is required as you don’t attend classes in public.
  • Flexible pace of learning – Online courses normally don’t generally restrict students and offers them a flexible time frame for them to complete their course. Whether you are a slow learner or a fast grasper your individual personalities are complimented in an online course of study. Whether you take one year or three years, all you are expected to do is to complete your course.
  • Wide range of course options – Unlike traditional colleges, online colleges offer wide range of studies that enables them provide their students specialized courses and cater to their educational needs from any corner of the world with no restriction on admission deadlines. You can get into such courses at any time of a year unlike traditional colleges you have limited number of seats.

Disadvantages

  • No face to face interaction – Students pursing online courses do not get an opportunity of having face to face interaction with their instructors or professors. Face to face interaction has many advantages, helping students overcome both academic and non academic hurdles.
  • Self discipline and time management – a compulsory requirement. Online course is mainly for those who can manage their time well. Self motivated effort is an essential part of online study. Once you log on, it is clear that the online college ensures to take you through the course curriculum in phased manner. But it takes a lot from an individual to sit down and follow what is instructed. Absolute determination to study alone can help you to succeed in an online course study.
  • You are alone – If you are a very outgoing person who loves to be in the company of friends then online course of education is not your cup of tea. In reality people find an online environment really boring and rather lonely. But if you are a kind of a person who loves interacting online and enjoying the same then probably online course suits you much better than a traditional class room atmosphere.
  • Technological knowhow – Being a computer literate and handling a computer based operation comfortably is a pre requisite for an online course of study. The benefits of online degree come with the precondition of owning or an access to a decent computer system with a high speed internet connection. If you find this impossible then please be aware online education is not within your reach.
  • Transfer of credits difficult – It is important that you know in advance about the possibility of transferring your existing course of study to a future program. Many colleges do not facilitate the students and there by they end up doing a lot of work. Getting Online Courses from accredited colleges normally allow students to transfer the credit points earned for further educational requirements. Ensure the possibility and then proceed.


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Posted in Online Courses, Online Degree | 31 Comments »

26 Comments

  1. maverick guitar April 30, 2009

    Engaging points: Will come back again soon=D

    Reply

  2. JessicaTiz May 10, 2009

    I really liked this post. Can I copy it to my site? Thank you in advance.

    Reply

  3. Christine S. Baker May 13, 2009

    @ JessicaTiz: Thanks for liking the post. I would appreciate you backlink my post when using the content.

    Reply

  4. ArianaNago May 13, 2009

    I love it! That is way cool man! The steps weren’t that complicated too, which is great.

    Reply

  5. Affordable Web Design May 16, 2009

    This is very interesting information. I am doing some research for a class in school. and i liked the post. do you know where I can find other information regarding this? I am finding other information on this but nothing that I can use really in my paper for my final. do you have any suggestions?

    Reply

  6. PamelaCype May 23, 2009

    Amazing! Not clear for me, how offen you updating your aboutonlinedegrees.org. Thank you

    Reply

  7. ApplyCreditCards May 29, 2009

    Hi, good post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting.

    Reply

  8. Christine S. Baker October 6, 2009

    @ Affordable Web Design: Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. Well you can find lot of info on Online College Courses from internet. If you want something in specific, you can write to me at: onlinedegreeblog@yahoo.com.

    Reply

  9. Christine S. Baker October 6, 2009

    @ waldennancy: Yes I completely agree with you about cost saving and Online Degrees. Also the time students usually spend in traveling to and fro to colleges is also being saved for online scholars.

    Reply

  10. I am agree with you on this way that as an electrical engineer I can say that online may show you how to make high voltage maintenance but totally unable to experience an electric shock

    Reply

  11. Earn Online Degrees December 20, 2009

    Thank you very much for sharing such a great information with us. Yes i agree that earning online degrees is a smart move these days for people who do jobs. After reading your post here on this website, i will surely go for online degree because why not to earn online degrees when it has become very easy these days through internet :)

    Reply

  12. Dave Suto December 22, 2009

    This is an spectacular entry. Thank you very much for the outstanding post provided! I was looking for this entry for a long time, but I wasn’t able to find a authentic source.

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  13. Tutor Jobs April 19, 2010

    I am agree with you on this way that as an electrical engineer I can say that online may show you how to make high voltage maintenance but totally unable to experience an electric shock

    Reply

  14. steve April 21, 2010

    Simple and well written article. I like the way you have put together simple things yet in a very interesting way. I have been browsing a lot these days regarding online degrees and this site sure need to be bookmarked. Thanks

    Reply

  15. mixcat June 3, 2010

    Great! This post is very helpful.

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  16. Auto Insurance Warren June 21, 2010

    Extremely Good Blogpost. Would you mind if I take a little snippets of your write-up and of course link it for your blogposts??

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  17. texas web design September 14, 2010

    Thanks for a very informative post. Now a days people use the internet just to learn a new things, and I guess this is normal because of the latest technologies that we have.

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  18. I love online learning, especially for professional training. It’s tough trying to squeeze in training and full time work. With online options it makes it manageable.

    Reply

  19. Distance university online October 9, 2010

    Distance learning which once meant for students who really could not make it to the campus colleges is now the hub for all specialized courses. Past decade has seen education in its new form.

    Reply

    Christine S. Baker Reply:

    Absolutely correct Distance University Online, the advent of e-learning is like a revolution in itself. People who have left studies for any reasons are now finding more reasons to get a degree they always wanted to acquire.

    Reply

  20. Software Jobs India October 30, 2010

    According to me there are more disadvantages than advantages of online college course.
    Candidates having online degrees are not as competent as regular candidates.

    Reply

    DrJDG Reply:

    With so many traditional schools that are considered prestigious now offering courses online, I cannot disagree with you more.

    Do you want a doctor or dentist who graduated with their professional degree from an online school? No, but there is nothing wrong with the education received for most arts, business and sciences programs. In many cases, the material and the curriculum is the same; the only difference is attending the class in person or virtually.

    Reply

    Christine S. Baker Reply:

    Friends, online degree brings the ease and flexibility we have never thought of before. Imagine taking classes from the convenience of your home & while still on job, this is something impossible with campus college. It’s just an alternate form of education for anyone who is interested.

    Reply

  21. Chicago Health January 17, 2011

    I like your writing style truly loving this site.

    Reply

  22. Estetik April 7, 2011

    Simple and well written article. I like the way you have put together simple things yet in a very interesting way. I have been browsing a lot these days regarding online degrees and this site sure need to be bookmarked. Thanks

    Reply

  23. Alexa Mason June 7, 2011

    I completed a Human Resources Degree online and it was great. It Conformed to my schedule, not the other way around.

    Reply

  24. CollegeComplete August 11, 2011

    There are a lot of choices out there for online colleges many are good and some are not.

    Reply

    Christine S. Baker Reply:

    Always ensure to choose accredited online college to pursue the degree of your choice.

    Reply

  25. John May 1, 2012

    good source for school and nursing school online info

    Reply

  26. Alonson @online degrees May 4, 2012

    @Estetik:”I completed a Human Resources Degree online and it was great. It Conformed to my schedule, not the other way around.”

    Did you find any difficulty while interviews regarding online degrees.

    Reply

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