After the COVID-19 pandemic, online education became the new norm. However, experts with MBA in the education field assert that online education was already growing before the lockdown. According to the data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, in the fall of 2018 about 5.7 million undergraduates were taking some kind of distance course. For the next years, this will only continue to grow.
But this popularity did not come only because of the comfort of studying at home. In this article, we explain the many advantages of choosing to enroll in an online program.
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Innovation
The use of technology in education has helped to innovate the way we understand it and the delivery of information. Nonetheless, online education provides even more tools for educators and students to explore.
Recently, the NBA has allied with TECH technology University to offer original postgraduate programs in business and management in the sports industry. Players, ex-players, and executives of the basketball league will give conferences explaining the inner workings of the field for those interested in sports management. With this, the students will get different perspectives from experienced teachers, entrepreneurs, and athletes, but the great thing is that these programs are designed for people all over the world, not only the US.
In addition, the use of different platforms, interactive lectures, and the possibility of connecting with experts all around the world at the drop of a pin is the kind of flexibility and transformation online education allows.
There has even been research done on the possibility of using big data and artificial intelligence to analyze the way the students assimilate the information and improve not only online programs but traditional courses too. With so much progress in the field of artificial intelligence, there are even programs without the need for teachers.
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Flexibility
Frequently, people cannot study and advance in their careers whether it be for money or time. Maybe they have to work at odd hours or they have families they need to take care of. Online education, especially asynchronous programs allow students to organize their life around their courses, not only that but they can access the information at any moment from any device.
This also lets students’ progress according to their pace and understanding of the material, ensuring they get the most out of their courses. It can even reduce costs for people who have to use transportation to get to classes.
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Globalization
When universities, academies, and others integrate online programs to their offer they allow people from all over the world to sign up. This is a great way to access quality courses no matter where one is.
Furthermore, students can create connections and a network with peers worldwide. Online education permits a cultural exchange which can be extremely valuable at work.
Another advantage is that people with disabilities also can enroll in any university they want without a problem. This has been pointed out by several education experts because it gives elite schools accessibility.
This does not mean online education can or should not be improved nor does it mean it will replace traditional education. It is just an alternative that is gaining traction, and it is not the only one: after the pandemic, more and more universities are offering hybrid programs, where the student has to go only sometimes to the campus, which has been especially useful for medical or similar careers who need laboratories.
At the end of the day, each individual has to decide which type of program adapts better to them and their learning style; online education needs time management skills and a sense of responsibility that not everyone has.
