Is Online Education Right for You?

Many people are making New Year’s resolutions to earn a college degree or begin a new professional training program. Online learning offers advantages such as convenience and flexibility. But is it right for you?

Here are three things to keep in mind when considering distance learning:

1. Distance education is not instant education.

To gain admission to a distance education institution, students follow much the same process as for a traditional institution. Usually, it’s necessary to submit an application and arrange for academic records to be transferred from other educational institutions you have attended.

After that, you must be admitted to the distance education course or program. Many cyberschools will expedite this process. If you are applying to take courses via distance education at a traditional university—for example, Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania, which has a large distance education department—you must meet its admission standards.

2. Distance education is rigorous.

Don’t expect coursework to be easier simply because it’s delivered online. To succeed, students must have the ability to absorb and understand the courses’ content, and also be disciplined self-starters. No one will stand over your shoulder admonishing you to get your work done. It’s up to you, as it should be. After all, you’re the one getting the education.

3. When you’re a cyberstudent, it’s almost impossible to be a passive learner.

In traditional classrooms, students can get by for weeks at a time sitting quietly and taking notes—or not taking notes—and never actively participate in discussions with the instructor and other students.

In a cyberschool, students nearly always must react or provide some appropriate input to continue to the next phase of an assignment.

Online courses are more often designed to be collaborative efforts among students rather than traditional lecture hall courses. In some cyber courses, a significant part of a student’s grade depends on participation in online discussion groups.

Jones International University offers a quick quiz to help you decide whether online education is right for you.