Are Online Classes Harder than Regular Classes?
When you start considering online education you might wonder just what it’s going to be like. Will it be more difficult than traditional classes? Although every school differs, the general idea behind online classes is to teach the same material but in a different formal. So it’s not more difficult, it’s just different. To succeed, you have to make sure you’re ready for the differences.
Online Classes Give You the Freedom to do Homework on Your Time
One massive benefit to online education, which differs greatly from classroom education, is timing. When you don’t have a set class time, you have the freedom to sit down whenever is convenient for you. For someone who has an erratic work or family schedule, this often is a great way to take classes while maintaining your responsibilities. You can do your schoolwork when you get home from your job, when the kids are napping, or even if you wake up at 2am and can’t get back to sleep.
The flip side of this is that some people find it more difficult to stay motivated without going to a class. Sometimes the lack of direct personal involvement can make students feel as if it doesn’t really matter when they turn assignments in. At least, it will feel that way until you get a zero and have to do makeup work.
Online Education is … Online
Additionally, in online education, everything is digital. From your grades to your handouts to your text book. The plus side is that you can look at a teacher’s feedback on your latest paper while waiting in line at the bank. You can upload assignments from your tablet. You will communicate with your classmates and instructor through email and Zoom sessions.
If you are comfortable with computers and evolving technology, this could be a great way for you to fit classes into your life. But if you don’t own, have access to, or use computers regularly, online classes could be a struggle. Not only do you have to pick up the educational management system your school uses, but you’ll need to be able to navigate websites, tools, and forms that are required in the class.
Making Friends with Classmates Will Be Different as Well
The community in online education is also different. For some students, that’s exactly what they want. Those who don’t want to go to college for a social experience can benefit from the business-only discussions and projects in the digital classroom. Just like in traditional classes, you will find yourself in the classes with the same people, especially those in your major. So forming relationships isn’t difficult online, just a little different.
Be a Self-Starter to Succeed in Online Education
Depending on the way your class is run, you may or may not have lectures, like in traditional classes. Online learning requires students to be self-starters. Reading the materials, studying, and completing assignments--it all begins and ends with you. If you are dedicated to earning your degree and responsible about time management and checklists, online education could be a great fit for you.
Online classes are definitely a unique experience when all you’ve been exposed to is classroom learning. But the flexibility and freedom online classes offer can prove to be able to fit into busy lives and tight schedules.
Are Online Classes Really Harder than Traditional Classes?
So are online classes harder than traditional classes? Probably not. But they are different and those differences can sometimes make them more difficult for individuals. It’s important to remember that online education is more self-directed. Students who know how to stay motivated and study at their own pace could find great success in this type of education.
Do you think you have what it takes to become an online college student? If you are interested in business, criminal justice, technology, or health science, ECPI University offers online degrees in these fields. Connect with a friendly admissions advisor today to find out more information about this exciting opportunity.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.
For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.