The Debate Over Online Education

These days you’ll find that more and more students are opting to take online courses instead of showing up to lectures in person. There are many reasons why a student might choose to receive an online education rather than an in-person. Perhaps an online curriculum fits in better with the schedule of a busy student who has to work full-time as well to support himself. Maybe the student wants an accelerated, enriched educational experience that his school doesn’t offer. Or perhaps the student is taking this online course as a small supplement, or it could be that taking courses online is simply more convenient to the mainstream way of learning. Whatever the reason may be, online education is a booming field that is increasing in popularity and acceptance. More and more students are enrolling in online course, and many more students will continue to in the future.

There are pros and cons to seeking an online education which also depend on the degree to which one immerses himself in online learning. For example, simply taking one online course is different from pursuing a whole online K-12 education. One of the main arguments against online education is the loss of “real” human interaction, which is a widespread concern pertaining to any kind of online communication. What happened to making friends in class or being able to ask your teachers questions directly, some may protest. On the other hand, online courses offer increased convenience. If a student can’t attend a class that is offered at 1 in the afternoon, why shouldn’t he be able to “attend” an online class that offers the same material at 7 in the evening? These are both common arguments that have varying degrees of validity depending on the situation they are applied to.

But whether online courses are for the better or for the worse, it remains a fact that they will continue to prosper. If you are planning to or have ever taken an online course, you may have considered the benefits and disadvantages. Do you think that learning online helped you or did it fail to measure up to a “real” classroom? Different online students are likely to have different opinions, but one important factor remains—the commitment of the students themselves. How much are they willing to apply themselves to learning? Regardless of the learning environment, the dedication of a student endures as the key to whether a student succeeds or fails. Perhaps the question isn’t what type of environment our students should learn in, but how we can motivate them to learn, period. After all, the education system depends on the students and how willing they are to be educated.

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