Online Courses – Are They Effective?
The word ‘effective’ has several different connotations depending on the context it is applied to. We are going to look at how successful online courses are at producing the desired result; a pass, and a qualification that you are proud of.
Whatever your reason for studying, the outcome is the same. The main benefit of online learning is the flexibility that it provides. You may be in a position where you are working full-time and are unable to attend classes, or you have children and are unable to find the time for an evening class. Online courses give you the opportunity to study at a time and pace that suits you, to fit around your busy schedule. Do online courses produce the same results as physical courses though? Let’s take a look into this.
Success Rates
Being short on time should not be a reason to prevent you from taking your studying further and completing an online course. Distance learning provides the solution, allowing you to fill your extra hours in the day with studying. Research has been carried out that indicates interactive content helps children to engage with their learning. Allowing them to gain a better understanding into the subject matter. The higher rate of engagement helps the students to retain more knowledge, and it has been found this is also the case in adults.
As a result of this research, there has been an increase in the number of students who have opted to take their higher education studies online. Over 85% of students felt their online experience was either the same or better than traditional classes, which is a significant statistic.
Structure Of Learning
It is important to take the time to understand how exactly you will learn. Is the course that you are signing up for completely online? Or is it blended learning like the courses here at Brooks and Kirk? Blended learning is an even better alternative as this gives you some face-to-face time with your tutors too.
Going back to traditional methods of learning, you are likely to be following some sort of curriculum. You will therefore be expected to learn a certain number of modules within a specified timeframe. This can leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed. With an online learning course, you are in complete control. You can learn at your own pace, and go back to revisit sections if you need to brush up on certain skills or knowledge.
Completing The Course
The one overarching benefit of traditional learning is that you will have a set deadline to work towards. This is sometimes applicable for training providers that are money-motivated as well though. They set deadlines for an online course, which means if you miss them you will start racking up extension fees. If you need a deadline to keep you motivated, then this type of online course may work well for you. However, we would always advise choosing a person-centred training provider who is focused on helping you through the course at your own pace.
We have already put some tips together on how to prepare yourself for distance learning, but in order to stay on track with your course make sure you allocate certain hours each day for studying. If you stay focused and put in the hard work, online learning can be a very effective method of studying.
If you would like any information on the courses that we offer, please contact the team at Brooks and Kirk today on 01205 805 155.