Remote learning became the new normal in 2020. Most people are intimately acquainted with it by now, for better or for worse. Now that it looks like remote learning is here to stay, college students are more likely than ever before to consider getting an online degree.
A good idea, or a major obstacle to higher education?
In this article, we explore both possibilities to see if learning in college is right for you.
Short Answer
It depends. Slightly longer answer? There are pros and cons to online learning that we will discuss below. Please note, however, that this is a very subjective consideration. Some people love online learning. Other people hate it.
Your personality type will ultimately be the deciding factor.
Pro: Online Learning Provides a Flexible Work Environment
Granted, this will be somewhat relative to the expectations of your instructor. Still, even very demanding courses usually come with a degree of flexibility. Simply by being able to work from home and avoid a commute you can easily save yourself an hour a day. Time you now get to use on homework, or spending time with your friends and family.
For that reason, online learning is a particularly loved option by people who have graduated to the next stage of life. Folks working jobs or taking care of their family appreciate the ability to be able to work wherever and whenever it suits them.
Con: Collaboration Can Be Hard
We all know that even the best tech stack in the world can’t completely replicate the experience of being in the same room as another person. In the context of elearning, this can make it difficult to collaborate on group projects, or even have really great class discussions.
Most courses will operate via a combination of video calls and online typed responses. This can certainly help you make connections with your classmates. However, the distance will inevitably weigh on your mind when the wifi cuts out, or you have to wait an hour to hear back on an email.
Of course, nearly three years into the pandemic, these are hurdles most people have adjusted to at this point. Still, there’s no denying that it can be a challenge for some people.
Pros: Fewer Distractions
Well. Maybe. That depends mostly on the kind of environment you are able to secure for yourself. If your kids are sure to be in the background screaming that the dog is going to die because he ate a diaper (that’s relatable, right?) then we’re sorry but, no. This one doesn’t apply to you.
Here’s what we mean. College classrooms can drift very easily into a chaotic space. You have twenty people crowded in a room. Sometimes, conversation bucks wildly in a direction decidedly beyond the perimeters of the curriculum. Other times, you just feel distracted by a chatty friend, or a classmate you find attractive, or that stain on your professor’s shirt.
At home, you can have your desk, your computer, and your materials. With a little discipline, you can limit distractions and buckle down for a period of high-quality work.
Cons: Not Much Networking
Depending on your profession, networking can be important. It’s not as simple as many people think. It’s not, “Oh, you know Tom? This way to your new office, Ms. CEO.” But if you happen to meet someone in a classroom who is hiring, or can put in a good word for you with a company that is, it’s an easy way to stand out amongst an otherwise crowded pool of applicants.
This is technically achievable in the remote learning space, but it becomes much less likely. We talked about all the benefits of staying away from a college campus, but this is one of the downsides: you don’t get to know your classmates and professors on a personal level. Almost all of your interactions will be of a utilitarian nature: productive, but without the niceties.
The good news, of course, is that even without the networking you’re on your way to improving your job prospects simply by getting that degree.
Pros: The Degree Opens Doors
In the past, online college had something of a negative connotation — the idea, however accurate, remained that elearning was for people who couldn’t cut the mustard in a conventional classroom. That was never really true to begin with, but now it’s quite out of fashion to even suspect as much.
This probably owes somewhat to the pandemic, which more or less made elearners out of everyone. It’s also just the proliferation of this learning style. Virtually every major university offers online classes, and many offer entire degrees that can be earned from your computer.
All this to say that the degree you earn from home will take you just as far as one earned in person.
Cons: College Is About More Than Just Classes
You do miss out on most college amenities by taking online school. If you enroll through a traditional university, you will most likely have privileges at their in-person facilities. That means you will be able to use the library, the health club, the career center, and so on.
Great in theory right? Except that your odds of actually using these resources diminish considerably if you have to get in your car, drive to get there, fuss with a parking pass, and so on and so forth. It’s easier not to bother and that’s what most people will do.
This isn’t exactly a crisis, but it does create a feeling of isolation between you and your school. Many online students have the odd experience of stepping foot in their school for the first time on graduation day.
Often, this is also the moment they confirm beyond the shadow of a doubt that their remote learning classmates have lower halves of their bodies. Big day for many reasons.
Ultimately, it’s simply a matter of preference. If you are ok with forgoing the traditional college experience in favor of convenience, remote learning will be a great fit for you. If not, you may consider traditional enrollment.
