Thirty or even twenty years ago, online digital education seemed ridiculous. Today, it is not only possible but increasingly commonplace, revolutionizing our perception of what makes a classroom. It doesn’t matter if you like the internet or not, online learning platforms are undeniable. In fact, in 2016, over 6.3 million students enrolled in online courses. There are even colleges now that are run entirely online.
How Digital Platforms are Transforming the Education
Whether you think this is a sign of progress or more isolation is up to you, it has certainly changed the way education is offered and the way students learn. Here are some of the changes that have taken place in recent years.
General Availability of Digital Education
College students are familiar with the problem of registering for a course they know is already full. These classroom restrictions are potentially a catalyst for the popularity of online learning platforms. Today, with so many online classes opening up and the ability to work independently in them, with less fear of filling up the class, you have more opportunities to take relevant courses. You can try a wide range of open online courses for free. Also note that online courses often renew monthly rather than by semester, so if you miss the registration time, you can register next month. Read the reviews to learn more about how online courses work.
Open Scheduling
Student life is a busy life. In fact, adult lives are way busier. So, especially if you already have a family and decide to go back to college, scheduling can be done with dread. This is another problem that digital learning platforms have overcome. With digital learning, you can work flexibly, at your own pace and on your own schedule. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays will no longer be blocked and class times will no longer be tied to the teacher. There will be no more snow. You create your own schedule with digital platforms. And with online learning platforms, you will get the credit you need in half the time. Many online courses are less than eight weeks long but offer full credit.
From Books to eBooks
Books are another problem with the traditional classroom. Even for high school students, walking around with heavy books every day can be a strain on the shoulders. When you get to middle school or elementary school, the textbook problem becomes very different and expensive. College textbooks are very expensive. The College Board estimates that the average student pays about $1,300 for textbooks during their four years of undergraduate study.
But digital learning platforms are also abolishing physical textbooks in traditional classrooms. E-books are much cheaper, lighter and more environmentally friendly. No cutting down trees in the making of digital textbooks!
Remote Access
Can’t afford to live on campus and don’t want to travel to your college campus for half an hour each day for classes? Maybe you have two jobs at home or twins who need your attention. In the past, this might have kept people from pursuing higher education. Not anymore. These online learning platforms are accessible not only from home but also from any mobile device: laptops, phones, tablets, etc. You can go to your favorite coffee shop after work to take your class all day, or grab your tablet and do your coursework on the subway. It’s another way for digital learning to fill your life, rather than the other way around.
Low cost
As we highlighted in the last two points, digital learning platforms are much cheaper. The expenses of learning are significantly reduced. Travel costs are eliminated. Although, these are only a fraction of the total cost of education. The cost of courses in a traditional classroom is unaffordable for many. The cost of online courses becomes very affordable when you use online learning coupons. The average student spends about $100 to $400 per credit hour for online courses, compared to tens of thousands of dollars for tuition in a traditional learning environment.
Free Reading
Some critics generally argue that digital learning platforms are leading the world to become more isolated and less connected. Nonetheless, online learning platforms are ideal for those students who thrive on independent study. You are permitted to work at your own pace, be it slow or fast, without affecting the rest of the class. After all, everyone learns at a different pace. This allows you to play to your academic strengths for greater success.
There are always useless people who say that the world is becoming too digital, or that “computers are going to take over.” And it’s a safe bet that there will always be students who thrive in traditional classrooms. However, the widespread availability and accessibility of digital platforms have redefined education in most parts of the world, and as it progresses, the traditional learning environment should evolve as well.
