From K-12 classes to higher education departments in colleges and universities, everyone seems to be embracing online teaching and learning. Schools, colleges, and other educational institutions are rapidly introducing online distant education to increase enrollment to their classes and courses.
The major advantage of introducing online education is to allow prospective students from remote locations to attend a class using a PC. This type of teaching offers a more enhanced learning experience and enables a student to interact with his/her teachers anytime, from their home or any other place.
In the United States, federal laws have being implemented in favor of online education. The ITC survey has found 8.2 percent increase in online class enrollments from Fall 2010 to next year’s Fall, showing a considerable rise compared to the overall increase in U.S. campus enrollments. Several studies have also revealed colleges and especially higher education institutions trying to implement a long term strategy for online teaching and learning.
Now, let see why so many students are demanding the start of online classes in various educational organizations.
Convenient for Anyone
From a child to a working professional, anyone and everyone can enroll for an online course from any place that is convenient for them. Since the registration process takes place online, a student can comfortably register his/her name as well as pay the course fees over the internet from their home or workplace.
View and Access the Course Materials, 24×7
You don’t have to travel all the way to the institution campus to get a catalog of the upcoming classes/courses. Catalogs and all other important school materials can be directly viewed and downloaded online by logging onto the institute’s website.
Online distant learning is low cost compared to attending regular classrooms. Students don’t have to pay student activity fees, library fees, administration fees, and so on. Besides, there is no need to buy text books as ebooks can be easily download for free on the internet.
There is no fixed schedule for enrolling into online classes. Every institute provides the student semester start and end dates within which period they have to complete a list of assignments and give exams. Now, it is up to the students to adjust and allocate time to complete their learning process and obtain a certificate after the successful completion of the degree program or diploma.
Teachers/instructors also find the online virtual environment quite legitimate and valuable in imparting quality education to students. They can offer guidance to students at their convenience, provide answers to student questions via online forums/communities, and connect and interact with the students, 24 hours a day.