Two Benefits of Online Learning you Might Not Have Thought Of

Since it was first invented, online learning has exploded at colleges and universities across the country and around the world. According to U.S. News & World Report, more than 6.3 million U.S. students took at least one online course in 2016--and that number has only continued to grow.

Online learning isn't just another option in the academic world, it's a popular option that's every bit as rigorous and rewarding as traditional face-to-face courses.

Moreover, it's easy to see why.

There's a lot to love about online learning. It allows you more to learn at your own pace. You're not stuck sitting in a classroom two, three, or four days a week. You can put the learning material--classroom lectures, reading materials, homework--on "hold" and come back to it when it's more convenient. These are all things students love about online learning.

But there are two other benefits that aren't always mentioned but are every bit as important: the ability to work and access to instructors. Of all the wonderful benefits online learning has to offer, these may be the two that are most important. Here's why:

Work is your reward

Going to college is an investment in your future. As with any investment, it's your job to make it pay off as quickly as possible--and that means limiting the amount of student loan debt you incur.

Taking online college classes allows you to work, which allows you to make money to pay for everything from living expenses to study materials to tuition. When you create your online learning schedule, you'll have the flexibility to study, watch lectures online, do homework, and take exams when it works for you. This leaves you time to work, take care of family, or pursue other projects.

Even having a part-time job can help offset the cost of earning your degree. A full-time job is even better. And if you're lucky enough to have a full-time job that's related to the field in which you're earning your degree, you're going to be in even better shape.

As Forbes points out, there are a lot of ways to pay off your student loan debt faster. But the best way is to limit the amount of debt you take on in the first place.

Working while you're in college allows you to do that--and taking advantage of online learning allows you to work while you're in college. In a sense, being able to work while you're in school is a reward unto itself.

Access can be easier online

Imagine yourself sitting in a traditional classroom with 499 of your closest on-campus friends.

You're all studying the same subject, listening to the same lectures, and lining up to speak to your professor during her limited office hours. Sound simple? Far from it!

This is a scene that takes place on college campuses across the country almost every day. Students enroll, get herded into large auditoriums, sit idly by and listen to lectures, and then never have an opportunity to interact with the professor.

The students may send emails and hope to get a response. They could wait outside the lecture hall and try to get the professor's attention as she makes her way to her next appointment. If they're lucky, they may be able to get some face time with a teaching assistant.

But the chances aren't great, especially when some on-campus courses have as many as 2,700 students in them, according to Inside Higher Ed.

This doesn't happen when you take advantage of online learning opportunities.

When you take an online college course, you and the instructor understand the way it's supposed to work. The instructor posts the materials online, you work through them at your own pace, and when you need something, you get access. Period.

Professors and instructors who teach online courses understand that they have a responsibility to be available to students. Otherwise, their students could feel isolated, as if they're on some sort of digital island.

That's why they commit to responding promptly to emails, using videoconferencing to "meet" with students face-to-face, leveraging the power of social media, and even making themselves available in-person whenever possible.

As U.S. News & World Report points out, there are many ways to for online students and their instructors to connect. And, it may sound counterintuitive, but it's often easier to connect with instructors when you take online courses than it is when you take traditional courses.

Enjoy the benefits of online learning

Are you thinking about earning a degree online? Your timing could be perfect! ECPI University offers 100% online degrees in fields such as business, technology, criminal justice, and more. For more information about these exciting opportunities, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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