Over the last couple of years, the popularity of online learning has witnessed a boom, and the worldwide pandemic has accelerated its development, making e-learning the best and safest form of education. The Internet has allowed us to have access to quality education without setting foot outside our homes. The practicality of this modern invention is what accounts for its rapid growth and the high number of users, including schools, universities, and other institutions. Numerous e-learning platforms keep popping up—each one offering a wide range of different courses to fit everyone’s needs.
Still, many people are hesitant to dive deep into this new-age learning method as they are held back by the common prejudice that nothing can beat the traditional classroom and face-to-face teaching. Since the conventional type of learning has been around for centuries, it’s difficult for some to convert to online learners. If you’re one of these people, keep reading the article as we shed some light on the benefits of e-learning.
The easy access
The number one advantage of online learning is its accessibility, meaning that you only need a stable Internet connection and a laptop—it’s as simple as that. This aspect of e-learning is most valuable for students with physical disabilities as it’s easier for them to understand and interact in the online environment. That’s why a high number of popular platforms such as Moodle put in the extra time and effort to ensure their course content is easy to use and available to everyone.
That also means your physical presence in a classroom is not required. You can study no matter your location, which has proven a convenient feature in the pandemic age. Even the reputable universities of Harvard and Stanford have seen the benefits of digitized learning, making most of their courses and materials available online for their students to follow easily.
More motivation for learners
When you allow people to select courses based on their interests, they’ll be more motivated to finish all their due obligations on time. How many times have you forced yourself to go through an academic book just because you had to? We’ve all experienced that feeling of being fed up with a course subject because we were pressured into it. Luckily, this isn’t an issue in e-learning as you determine the pace, and you’re free to take a break whenever you feel it’s necessary. Learners need to have a higher degree of freedom to advance faster.
Plus, the online learning platforms let you connect with other people taking the same course, which means you can communicate with other members and draw inspiration from their progress.
A diverse curriculum
Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a Math prodigy, or passionate about languages, there’s a special place for you in the e-learning universe. As mentioned, many universities have opened their doors to digital learning and have uploaded their courses and the accompanying literature online. Additionally, many learning platforms such as Coursera allow you to improve your knowledge in any area you can think of, ranging from marketing to business analytics. These courses are also beneficial for people who want to expand their skillset and acquire new qualifications. For instance, if you’re in the medical field, you can take online courses to obtain a certification in PALS and become one step closer to the promotion or bonus you’ve always wanted.
The courses are becoming more diverse by the day, and all you need is the will to learn. Use the available material to advance in your career or to master a subject you’re enthusiastic about.
An environmentally-friendly way to learn
Since an Internet connection is the only prerequisite for e-learning to happen, distance courses consume significantly less energy than traditional lessons. As there is no need for papers to be copied and administered around the classroom, trees aren’t cut down for paper production. Also, if students don’t have to commute to school daily, there isn’t as much traffic and air pollution.
Online learning enables the student to stay at home, leaving their vehicle parked in the garage. Plus, e-learning has a positive impact on saving power and electricity. If it’s no longer necessary to heat and air-condition classrooms, the power usage will be reduced.
Key takeaways
Hopefully, the article has encouraged you to part ways with the misconceptions you might have about e-learning. It’s a practical way of expanding your qualifications, not to mention that you’re helping save the planet. E-learning is here to stay, so don’t hesitate and take your first course now.