Why Online Classes are Great for Life and Your CV

Why Online Classes are Great for Life and Your CV via Pexels.com But in other ways, online classes can be the best use of time for those of us who are interested in learning more about a variety of topics, or who have the option to take a class online for college credit. Working towards finishing a degree is tough, especially if school isnt the only thing in your life that youre trying to keep afloat. Its much easier to take care of a family and work a full-time job while getting a degree through online classes than having to take off of work or attend night classes. Universities are trying to capitalize on the fact that society is all about taking advantage of the number of hours in a day. People are constantly rushing from place to place. Its all about having more. More money, more degrees, more opportunities. So online classes are a way to offer the perfect solution to wanting to learn while not having to compromise too much. Instead of calling it online courses, or an online program, universities are now using the phrase distance learning. So many of our college campuses are expanding themselves to make their resources available to students who dont live within a reasonable distance to drive every day. Instead, offering courses online gives universities more leeway when it comes to rolling in the tuition money while educating the community. According to the National Center for Education Statistics,  almost 29% of students at postsecondary institutions enroll in online courses or are a part of a distance learning program. That statistic will most certainly keep increasing over the next decade. Over the past several years, universities have started offering more and more courses in an online format for a few different reasons: - convenience for students - convenience for professors - lower total cost for students - logistic relief for universities Not only do professors appreciate teaching a course contained entirely online, but students seem to enjoy it more as well. While online courses are much more convenient for both parties, they also allow students who tend to be more shy in a classroom setting to really open up in course discussions. Online classes typically solicit student participation through weekly discussion board posts. Discussion boards exist for the sake of exchanging ideas without the intimidation that can come from face-to-face confrontation in a classroom. Students with personalities that tend to withdraw, or students who get distracted in classroom settings, seem to opt for online courses as opposed to in-person classes. Explaining gaps in employment Taking an online course can also benefit those who are between jobs. Oftentimes, employers expect reasons for gaps in employment. Seeking a degree or furthering your education are great examples of answers employers are looking for when it comes to these gaps. It shows the employer that youre willing to stay on top of recent developments in the field; youre ambitious; youre curious. infographic by Lorena Roberts via Piktochart.com Youre in charge It also shows that youve improved your own self-discipline. Showing up to a class and acting like youre engaged with the material will get you full attendance points. But with an online class,  you  have to be the one to hold yourself accountable. You dont get a grade for showing up to your online class. You have to develop the self-discipline to complete your assignments and learn the material without a participation grade to bump your final score. Additionally, transferring online course credit can be a simple solution to a problem. If a university doesnt have quite enough seats in a course, taking the class online at another university and transferring the credits will allow you to avoid falling behind in your academic plan. Similarly, its not too inconvenient to take an online class during the summer while still holding a job, going on vacations, or traveling to visit family.  A variety of options Oftentimes, the reason students choose to enroll in an online course (or two!) is because there are so many possibilities when it comes to online classes. No longer do students have to settle for whats being offered in person (like Philosophy 101), but they can now fulfill the same credits with courses that are seemingly more interesting! Universities have the ability to offer a better variety of courses when it comes to online classes. The Information Age definitely has its perks. So if youre a student looking for a class in something pretty specific, theres a chance your university will offer the course online. Technically speaking Because the Information Age is upon us, the ability to use technology and easily maneuver through technologically challenging tasks is a  huge  plus when employers are looking to hire. Sometimes, taking an online class is the only way to push the boundaries of your technical knowledge, allowing you to learn through experience. Not leaving home One of the first benefits people will chalk up to online classes is that you get to  do it in your pajamas.  Think about all the commercials for online learning: Theres always a girl in her pajamas, on her bed, smiling and enjoying the fact that shes at home  and  shes going to college! Theres a little more to be said about convenient online classes. Its really about the comfort levels of college students. We tend to be comfortable in our own homes, not to mention the pajamas we get to stay in all day. At your own pace Arguably, one of the greatest parts about taking a class online is that you can get as much (or as little!) done on a daily basis as you would like. Once the syllabus is released at the beginning of the semester, marking your calendar and planning out the days becomes  up to you.  To some degree, taking classes online allows you to set your own deadlines. It is often a possibility to finish the coursework before the semester is over. This can be relieving for students who work full-time, have families, or are enrolled in heavier coursework additionally. Textbooks are more accessible Online classes will probably still require a textbook. However, it is likely that the textbook is accessible online, for little or no charge. So while taking a class online is usually cheaper, its even more financially ideal because oftentimes you can access the textbook electronically without having to buy a hard copy. Youll still have to spend time researching information, and it is likely that youll be writing at least one paper, but its much easier to maneuver through an online course without purchasing a textbook rather than having to fake it through an entire semester of in-person classes. via Pexels.com Pursuing an online Bachelors degree While taking online classes are an option at almost every university in the country, there are several schools that offer online degree programs, where the entirety of your schooling takes place online. Whether or not you choose to opt into a program like this, its obvious that this is the most convenient way of earning a Bachelors degree. However, theres always a conversation happening about whether or not online degrees are credible. Will an employer think this is a joke? Will they respect what youve learned through the power of technology and the internet? Thanks to US News and World Report, the best online Bachelors degree programs have been ranked. Topping the list is none other than The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. US News and World Report indicates that earning a Bachelors degree entirely online is optimal for students who are non-traditional. Whether youre older than the typical college student or some of your Bachelors degree is already completed, enrolling in an entirely online degree program can be ideal. Improving your current CV with online resources If youre looking for ways to improve your curriculum vitae, seek out online courses that are offered through various institutions. One of the most widely known online learning course selections is offered by Harvard. You can find a list of courses they offer here. Whether youre interested in furthering your data science knowledge, or your educational instruction skills, Harvards online resources are quite extensive. Some of the courses are offered for free, while others require payment. However, after completing the course, you will receive a certificate worth a certain number of hours. This is the perfect thing to add to your CV under certifications or professional development. There are a number of ways to learn more about what youre interested in or the field in which youre working. Simply search for online courses provided on that topic and indulge yourself in soaking up all kinds of new information. Your employer will be impressed that youre staying on top of your game by continuing to educate yourself! The internet gives us all access to a database of endless information at the touch of just a few buttons. Is it worth it If youre wondering whether investing your time into an online course is worth it or not, Business Insider has created a list of the 15 best online courses that will be worth your time. Most of these courses require little, if any, background knowledge on the subject. Theyre designed specifically for people who want to learn more about new subjects. So while this may not be the perfect opportunity to impress your boss, its definitely a way for you to spend your free time wisely, making yourself a better person. If youre wanting to begin dabbling in a new area, this is definitely where you should start. Take advantage of what the online world has to offer You should never feel bad about taking a class online. There were times in college when I was taking online classes and was afraid to admit it to anyone. I didnt want people to think I was taking the easy way out. You should never be ashamed of taking advantage of what technology and the internet has to offer. If it makes your life easier to take an online class, you should absolutely do it. If you can earn some of your college credits through listening to lectures and responding to discussion posts, you should jump on the opportunity. The world is progressing in a way that makes it possible to accomplish one hundred times more things every day than we did, as a civilization, two hundred years ago. Weve come eons and eons from where we used to be. Living in the Technology Age means you can advance your life in any way you want. You can learn about anything you want. Take the time to discover whats out there and whats offered.