Will Online Education be the Way of the Future?

We’re in the midst of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. It’s a new virus with flu-like symptoms affecting people all over the world. It has led to schools and universities closing and has placed all emphasis on online education.

We always had online education, but this is the first time we’ve, as a world, depended on it. The global crisis has made us value the importance of online education. Without it, catching up on schoolwork and assignments while schools and universities are closed would be impossible.

Several schools across the world have implemented online education to ensure students don’t fall behind.

Is online education the way of the future?
Knowing how quickly it was introduced into our lives when this pandemic hit is proof that online education is the future if needed.

But can it replace traditional education? No, it can’t.

Most people will still prefer sending their children to school when the situation normalizes, but at the time when we needed it the most, it came to our rescue.

It’ll still be mainly used for long-distance learning for home-schooled children and working people who don’t have time to attend classes at a university.

Let’s look at a few reasons that further reinforce the idea that online education will continue to flourish in the future.

1. Offers a More Flexible Learning Environment
If you’re interested in taking a course not available in your country, you’ll find universities offering several online courses. You can enroll in the university as a student without traveling to the country. This removes the hassle of applying for visas, travel documents, finding accommodation, and more.

Most importantly, you can learn from your home, a coffee shop, library, or wherever you feel comfortable. You can schedule lessons around your free time. Online education is perfect for single parents and working parents. Learn at your own pace at your own time.

2. Interact with the Teacher on Video
Some universities have incorporated a live video system to allow students to take an online course to learn and interact with the teacher in real-time. The teacher can teach from his or her home and interact with several students, using miles and oceans apart from each other, with ease. As long as both the teacher and student have an active and reliable internet connection, long-distance learning and teaching are possible and extremely convenient for both.

3. Costs Less than Traditional Education
Whether you go to a university in another country or within your country or city, it won’t be cheap. You’ll be taking student loans out or paying for visas and making travel arrangements if traveling to another country – all which will put a dent in your bank account.

With online education, you just pay for the course and other related fees, which costs way less than conventional modes of education. Moreover, you can even enroll in several free online courses to discover what interests you before you opt for the paid online course.

4. Seats Are Always Available
With online education, seats never run out. An unlimited number of students can enroll in the online course. universities automate the lessons to allow students to study on their own and when it’s convenient for them. It also reduces the work of the teacher because they only have to prepare the lessons and place them online, followed by marking the checking the students’ progress.

Is online education the way of the future? Yes, it is, and it will come to the aid when needed as well. Will traditional education always triumph? Yes, it always will be the preferred method, but no one ever said they couldn’t exist side by side.