Is Online Learning Effective or Not?
As most of you may have guessed, we sasquatches spend an awful lot of time out in the woods. It might seem reasonable, then, to assume that we have time to waste! While we may take our time on strolls or bathing in whatever body of water we can find, that doesn’t mean that we want to let the time pass by with all of our hobbies. For some things, like learning, we want to make sure that we’re making the most out of our time. I started to ask myself, is online learning effective or not? Is online learning as good as face to face learning? There are plenty of questions to ponder, but thankfully I did have the time to do the research for all of us!
There are lots of ways to learn online. Many traditional schools have changed to virtual learning following the coronavirus pandemic. But not all online learning is based on these typical channels of education. Much of our research relates to the ever-present online learning platform, which is a space to allow anybody to boost their education credentials at a low or free price tag, like with Skillshare.
So, why is online learning more effective? One of its biggest draws in deciphering the
advantages of online learning is that it provides more flexibility for every type of learner. Many of us simply do better when we’re
learning on our own terms. We can set up the space that we’ll be learning in and study and learn at our leisure. This is nearly impossible when you’re stuck with the rigid schedules of face to face learning
Another reason why the case for online learning is so compelling is that it is more likely to provide a blend of materials that are being used. Rather than sitting in a room listening to somebody talk, you’re receiving content through various forms of multimedia. Courses may include videos, audio files, presentations, and text-heavy content. For us sasquatches, we thrive on visual content. Looking at pictures and videos might help me learn more compared to lengthy audio. But for those who didn’t grow up surrounded by colorful forestry, you may prefer another method. The good news is that the opportunities are endless!
It is not all positives when it comes to online learning. Sure, the benefits may make it seem worth your while. But there are cons to keep in mind, too. Why is online learning bad? While it may not be bad for everybody, some may suffer from this type of education. The most common reason why some may answer the question of “Is online learning not effective?” with agreement is when they prefer to learn in social settings. Some research has proven that interacting with others helps with learning, as it provides more opportunities for
collaborative education. If you need to learn by talking things out with your peers or your educators, you may want to look into ways to supplement your online learning with other social elements, like group studying or one-on-one meetings with teachers.
Ultimately, is online learning as good as face to face learning, and how does virtual learning affect students? It might be easy to say that online learning gets all the points. But we’re not just encouraging online learning because it is more accessible! The research has found that it works just as well and sometimes even better than in-person education. This is primarily thanks to the choice of learning environment provided to students.
In addition to ease of access and the variability in how we learn, online learning can be more effective as it caters to the less outgoing learners, such as the ones that would be afraid to ask questions or share their thoughts in a traditional classroom. One interesting study from California State University found that online learning boosted participation, as it took away a common boundary that found in-person learning to come with some intimidation. For this type of student, it’s clear that online learning is better than classroom learning.
Is online learning as good as face to face learning, and is it an effective mode of education? Most of the research points to a clear “yes” for both humans and sasquatches alike. That doesn’t mean it’s for everybody, and the social learners may need to adapt if they want to reap all of the benefits. For those willing to give this interesting new approach to education a try, you can head over to our ratings of all of the best online learning platforms, like Udemy, Coursera, and more!
