index

chapter I: what is online learning

chapter II: why do we use online learning

chapter III: the advantages of online learning

conclusion: online learning sites worth to visit

Defining Online Learning

There is no single definition for online learning. It includes learning with the assistance of the Internet and a personal computer. The term e-learning, or electronic learning, often is used interchangeably with online learning.

Frostburg’s nursing online learning can consist of both real-time interactions, such as in Elluminate, as well as interactions, which occur over extended periods of time, such as email or an online discussion board. Your courses will be broken up into modules that contain the learning content and activities you will have to complete. Each module usually begins with text readings, PowerPoint, and lectures that provide the information you will need to complete the assignments. The learning activities will vary each module and might include discussions, scenarios, simulations, projects, or papers.

The important benefit of online learning is that it can span time and distance. You do not have to be in the same place as your teacher to obtain course related information. Even if you are attending a traditional course, when the instructor uses Blackboard, you can have anywhere, anytime access to your course documents along with consistent interaction with your classmates and teacher.

Where Does Online Learning Fit in Education?

Customarily, online learning falls under the broader category of distance education. Distance education is defined by the United States Distance Learning Association as an “education program whereby students may complete all or part of an educational program in a geographical location apart from the institution hosting the program; the final award given is equivalent in standard and content to an award program completed on campus.” Typically, students and teachers reside in different locations; a physical classroom is not necessary. Therefore the teaching and learning process relies on the Internet and a personal computer.

Evolution of Distance Learning

Whether you recognize it or not, students and teachers have benefited from the flexibility of distance learning for decades. Many of us may recall our first distance learning experiences involving television as the instructional medium. For instance, Sesame Street® has been a powerful means of teaching us social, mathematical, and speaking skills for over forty years. In the past decade, with increasingly widespread access to computers and the Internet, online learning has become a consistent presence at all levels of education.

As businesses, school districts, colleges and universities have become “wired,” online learning has evolved beyond pure distance learning. The ability for learners to extend communication and access resources outside of their school or work environments, allows them to supplement – and sometimes fully replace – activities once reserved for the traditional classroom or workplace.

5 Good Reasons Why a Distance Learning Degree Could Be the Perfect Fit for You

1. No travelling needed

One of the good things in regards to online institutions is that you may eradicate travelling. You’ll be able to be at home and complete course work while engaging towards your college diploma. Getting in your car to go to a campus college or university is eliminated. With online learning, you can even choose to study abroad from the comfort of your home. So all those prestigious universities from different continents you always dreamed of being a student, are now available.

The condition is you have a very good internet connection so you can attend the online classes, submit your projects and have discussions with your peers and tutors.

2. Study at your own pace

Distance learning provides you with the advantages of an adaptable routine. If you were taking classes at a regular university, you would have a fixed schedule where you would have to be in class. With online education, you’ll be able to get a job or continue focusing on your work and deal with personal issues around your regular schedule.

Most times, you won’t have fixed deadlines for handing in assignments. The only specific dates are the exam dates and the dates you have to pay your fees. For the rest, it is your decision when you want to finish off a part of the work or do the required reading.

This way, you maximise your learning opportunity, so you can take whatever time you need to fully comprehend the learning material. Once you acquire the ability of self-pacing, the result will be a more active learning

For this reason, the option of distance learning is preferred by financially independent people and also by those that have finished their prior studies a while back and didn’t have the time to dedicate to a traditional study degree on campus.

3. Get a degree at a lower price

Internet-based education usually involves more affordable tuition than traditional college or university. However, this is not always the case, as it depends on each university and your chosen study field.

Overall, by choosing an online degree, you will clear the extra costs such as reading and learning materials, travelling bills, housing and other things you would have had to pay if you were to attend classes on campus.

4. Save Your Time

With web-based classes, you’re capable of saving far more. You can actually go to school while still having another life with friends and family. Logging into your personal computer can be achieved at any time and any day so long as you can find internet. Campus educational institutions take more hours away since you are going to school several days per week and several hours on a daily basis.

Increasingly, distance learning classes are designed to work on mobile platforms, allowing students to access the course materials through mobile devices, including tablets and smartphones. You can watch a video lecture on your smartphone while riding the subway, or attend a webinar during your break at work.

5. Begin your career sooner

Many colleges and universities offer sessions, usually called accelerated programmes that enable you to complete your education sooner. Most of these accelerated degrees allow you to focus on intensive study. This means that what would normally take you two years to accomplish, you could finish an online degree in about fourteen months.

There are several online schools which do not offer breaks for holidays for the summer season. This is great since it helps you graduate faster than if you were at a campus school. Campus colleges take breaks between semesters and that means classes last longer.

By completing a degree earlier, you can engage and pursue a career faster as well. This time, you can apply to jobs that fit with your finished degree, meaning greater and higher paid work opportunities.

5 Advantages Of Online Learning: Education Without Leaving Home

There are several problems with the traditional system of education. First of all, you need to pay thousands of dollars per term to attend a prestigious school. With all those budget cuts, busy classrooms, and course shortages, you won’t always get the chance to study exactly what you want.

It’s no wonder why millions of students from all around the world opt for online degree programs or take at least one college course through an online platform. Online learning has to be the greatest revolution in contemporary education. It made a huge change in the system and opened great opportunities for everyone who wants to learn something.

Nevertheless, online education is still related to stereotypes. People often think that online students are not smart enough for a traditional college or university, they are lazy, and they don’t get “real” degrees. These claims discourage many people from taking online courses, so they get stuck in the traditional educational system that consumes a huge deal of money, nerves, and years of their lives.

Allow us to explain why online learning is more awesome than you think. We have 5 advantages of online learning that will make you reconsider your attitude towards this type of education.

Advantages Of Online Learning

1. You can learn whatever you want!

You can pick the program of your dreams in traditional education, too, but that would involve traveling away from home, living in a completely unknown city, and struggling in an extremely competitive learning environment. With online education, you can take any program or course present in traditional four-year universities.

For example, let’s say you’re mostly interested in neuroscience. All it takes is a Google search for such online course, and you’ll easily find the online programs offered by some of the most prestigious universities from all around the world. You can take such a course even if you have no aspirations to apply that knowledge in your future profession, but you’re simply curious to discover new interests and understand how the human brain works. The great variety of online programs and courses is a huge advantage of this type of education. It doesn’t matter where you live and what you want to study – you can always find a suitable course or even a degree program that you can follow from home.

2. Comfort.

Forget about attending classes for hours, sitting in an uncomfortable chair, and suffering from back pain by the end of the day. You will not be bound to physical class session when you opt for online education. All lectures and needed materials are provided via online platforms, so you’ll easily access them from the comfort of your home. You will not take public transport to get to campus, you won’t have to spend money on gas for your car, you won’t have to get up early to get dressed for class… the list of conveniences goes on and on.

Comfort is a strong advantage, but it can go both ways. You mustn’t allow yourself to get too comfortable when studying from home, so it would be best to abandon the couch for few hours a day and set up an inspirational studying environment in your home. All you need is a large desk and a nice, comfortable chair.

3. Online courses look great on a resume.

It doesn’t matter where your career stands at this moment; an online program will always look good on your resume. It will show potential employers that you’re committed to learning and you’re eager to obtain more knowledge and new skills. Hiring managers don’t see online degrees as inferior to traditional ones. A degree is a degree. If you obtain an online degree from a prestigious university, you’ll boost your career with the speed of light. You will certainly become a better candidate for a job promotion, and your resume will look much better when you apply for new positions.

4. Self-paced learning.

When you start browsing through interesting online courses and programs, you’ll notice the Self-Paced label on most of them. What does this mean? Self-paced learning means that the students can start completing the targets at any time, and he can arrange a learning schedule that meets his individual needs. When you enroll in a traditional college program, you’ll have to forget about work, hobbies, and even family. In such setting, studying has to be a priority. That’s why many single parents and people who work decide to forget all about their dreams to get a higher degree.

A self-paced system enables them to make progress with rhythm that suits them. This type of system does not require attending live sessions; you can access the materials at any time that works for you. If you have to work or take care of your home and children during the day, you can study at night. That’s an advantage the traditional educational system cannot beat.

5. Lower costs.

The fact that online programs are cheaper when compared to the ones held in a traditional campus setting is enough to convince you to consider them. The average tuition for online courses depends on multiple factors, so it varies from one program to another. If, for example, you want to enroll in the Big Data Specialization program provided by University California, San Diego through Coursera, you’ll pay $399. You also have an option to pay $49 per course. Financial Aid is available for learners who cannot afford this fee, so that’s something you should always keep in mind.

We saved the best part for last: many online courses are completely free of charge. MIT, for example, offers all course materials online without any charges. Free courses don’t usually come with certificate of completion, but they are still more than useful for anyone who wants to learn from prestigious educators.

Online Education Is Totally Worth The Effort

Online courses and degree programs are more convenient and cheaper than their counterparts in traditional education. Those are the two main advantages of online learning that lead many students to opt for online platforms when they want to earn a degree or certificate.
The best thing about online learning is that you can learn in a relaxed manner even if you don’t want to get certified. You only need passion for learning and a quick online search that will take you to the right course. From that point on, you will be the master of your own education.

To help you get started, here are some amazing places to learn something new:

1. Lynda: Where over 4 million people have already taken courses.

2. Your favorite publications: Make time to read and learn something new every day from your favorite blogs and online magazines.

3. CreativeLive: Get smarter and boost your creativity with free online classes.

4. Hackaday: Learn new skills and facts with bite-sized hacks delivered daily.

5. MindTools: A place to learn leadership skills (see more great places to learn leadership skills online here).

6. Codecademy: Learn Java, PHP, Python, and more from this reputable online coding school.