List of Pros and Cons of Online Schooling
As more and more students turn to online schooling in order to complete their secondary education, a number of questions have been raised about the effectiveness of this academic practice. While many students have begun to tout the virtues of online schooling, there are critics who judge the process much more harshly, believing it to be inferior to more traditional forms of education.
Before deciding to partake in online schooling, it is important for prospective students to be fully aware of the pros and cons. This list serves as a closer investigation of the benefits and drawbacks to this academic approach:
List of Pros of Online Schooling
1. Increased Time Flexibility.
It’s a new day and age and many students have children of their own to worry about, as well as their day job. Online schooling gives students in situations like these the chance to pursue an education without compromising their ability to support themselves and take care of their loved ones.
Students who use online schooling to receive their secondary education have the advantage of being able to log into the academic system whenever they have the time and complete their assignments around their daily schedule. This allows students from a number of backgrounds to obtain an education who have not always been able to.
2. Ability To Attend From Afar.
Students do not always happen to live in close proximity to the institution that they wish to attend. With online schooling, they are able to attend schools that are not close by and receive the same quality of education as students who are using more traditional learning methods.
No matter where in the world you reside, online schooling gives you access to the education you deserve. Proximity should never be a determining in someone’s success or lack thereof and online schooling finally levels the playing field.
3. Rewards The Self Motivated.
For those among us who can wake up each day, make our own to do lists and complete every item on our personal checklist, online schooling is the way to go. Every students learns at their own pace of speed and attending school online is a great way to set the pace you desire and stick to it.
Having the ability to decide when and how you will get your own work done is huge for some students. While some may need the traditional environment in order to stay focused, students who can learn on their own will truly enjoy online schooling.
4. Cuts Down On Commute Time.
Students with jobs and children cannot always make it to class on time or be able to properly focus once they have arrived. Thanks to online schooling, lengthy commute times are a thing of the past. Unless you know that your schedule is open enough to handle the commute times necessary, traditional schooling may not be for you.
When you can take the time you spend commuting and spend it on more important pursuits, as well as your homework/study sessions, you are able to reap the full benefits of online schooling.
List of Cons of Online Schooling
1. Very Little One on One Time With Professors.
Some students need to have regular powwows with their professors, in order to make sure that they are up to date on the latest materials and grasping the information correctly. Online schooling does not provide those kinds of luxuries.
An online student is expected to handle more of their own educational concerns and while a professor is there to help if needed, they are not always going to be reachable and their schedule is likely much different from yours. This format is not recommended for students who need one on one time with an instructor to be at their best.
2. Everyone Does Not Possess The Technology.
While computers can be found in the majority of homes, not everyone has access to the same levels of technology. Even in instances where a student already has a home network established, the quality of their Internet provider could be in question. Technology is far from infallible, so what happens when your network goes down the same night that an assignment is due?
Depending on the nature of your particular instructor, they may or may not have much sympathy for your situation. Some may be able to look the other way, while others are sticklers for submitting assignments on time, regardless of personal circumstances.
3. No Bonding With Fellow Students.
One of the best parts about pursing secondary schooling is the ability to meet like minded individuals and develop lifelong friendships. With online schooling, your interactions with fellow students are typically limited. Instead of being able to form study groups before big tests, you are now forced to handle these tasks on your own.
Students who enter online schools following their high school graduation often find that they miss the camaraderie of traditional campus learning and struggle to make the transition.
4. Credit Transfer Difficulties.
As anyone who has ever had to transfer credits from one institution to another can tell you, it can be hard enough to move credits from one traditional institution to the next.
This problem is only exacerbated when you attend online schools. Before enrolling, be sure to properly investigate their specific credit transfer practices, especially as they relate to the institution that you plan on attending after your online school has been completed.