The pandemic has changed a lot of things about how we live; some good and some bad. People’s perception of online learning has certainly changed, and more students have chosen this option.
Will more people choose this in the future, even as their options open up for learning in a conventional teaching environment?
Realizing How Online Learning Is No Less Valuable
With many people turning to online learning, they have discovered that all levels of qualifications, from certificates to degrees, can be studied online.
These have the same accreditation as they would if they were gained at a college. All subjects and courses are covered too, like rn PhD.
With so many options to choose from, individual perceptions are likely to have changed about gaining a degree or other qualification online.
There will always be people who choose the offline learning option wherever it is offered.
They feel they will enjoy the social aspect of learning with others, are reluctant to rely on technology, or still think online learning isn’t as good.
However, many are now realizing the benefits of studying online with organizations like Wilkes University that provides excellent education and support for its students.
The Convenience
As more people have had to work and study from home, they may have missed the bustle and interaction of bouncing ideas off each other and getting an instant reaction to their questions or observations.
However, it’s shown them they can do a lot from the comfort of their home, and this makes it more likely they will have a new perception of online learning.
The convenience of learning at a time to suit you, while wearing pajamas, or in between working and taking care of family, opens up the world of learning to people who might have struggled to keep up before.
They may have had the required number of hours available to study, but these were scattered throughout the day and it was impossible to commit to a regular time like they would be expected to if learning offline.
Time and Cost
Because there is no physical place of learning and the tutor is able to teach larger groups of people, this allows online learning to be cheaper. Not having to travel also cuts costs and saves time.
This means you can spend more time learning or on other responsibilities you have to meet.
While people may not have considered online learning before the pandemic, it has certainly pushed them toward the online study.
It’s likely that some of them will continue to learn this way. Others will choose to return to offline learning, but the overall perception people have of online qualifications will have improved.
Learning New Skills
Before the pandemic, individuals might have described themselves as motivated and having good time management skills.
These skills are gained through attending work or study at a set time each day. However, they have to be adapted when studying from home.
When left to our own devices, without a set structure like what offline learning offers, we can be distracted.
Our homes are the places we tend to relax in, so getting into the mindset of learning and setting out a certain amount of study hours per week, takes a different level of motivation.
Technical Skills
Although online learning requires some technical knowledge and is a reason those who lack those skills may be put off, it’s an opportunity to learn many new and useful technology skills.
When offline learning wasn’t an option, potential students had to decide whether to wait or to learn IT skills so they could progress with learning.
No matter what the course happens to be, these skills are always important. Even if pursuing a career such as nursing, you will have to deal with technology.
Patient records are now stored on computer and new treatments and ways of diagnosing patients who rely heavily on technology are being introduced.
The students who have embraced technology and used it to gain their qualifications will have opened up their capacity for learning to use it in other beneficial ways.
Offline learning will always have its supporters because some people prefer to study in person, be around other students and have instant access to a teacher.
However, perceptions of online learning have changed.
That might be because it was the only option for many, but now, having had the chance to try out online learning, they have discovered its value and convenience.
Most importantly, they have realized that the qualification gained is worth just the same as it would be if they gained it at a conventional college.
