Over the last year, we have experienced another shift in the way we go about our day to day lives. Online learning has been a positive feature for many years now, but during 2020 it has been given a chance to shine and prove the success it can provide. If you have not studied online before, you will find the experience to be very inclusive. Generally, you are allocated a tutor in much the same way as any other course and provided with all your reading materials on the Internet. There will be various discussion boards, the ability to submit assignments, and different ways to ensure that you are making progress and understanding the course content. It is becoming a very popular way to study, so here are some of the benefits that other students have found.
Flexible to fit your other commitments
While there might be the occasional requirement to be present at a live lecture, you will have deadlines on your assignments that are generally online learning a lot more flexible than having to attend a physical location to study. This has become a game-changer for adult learners who cannot afford to return to education full time. The fact that you can learn in the evenings or over the weekend when you are not in the office gives you much more flexibility to your schedule. If you are unable to attend the occasional live lecture, you will find that these are recorded and available to stream at a time that suits you. It means that all of your course material is available to reread, time and time again, so if you come to a section that you don’t understand there is less pressure to move on.
Improving time management
To help you make the best advantage of your course, there will be a provided schedule and timetable. But of course, you do have the added flexibility. Time management is a skill that most employers will be looking for, and if you are studying at master’s level, you are going to be seeking employment that will expect a lot from you. Learning to manage your time above and beyond a regular job and family life will help you stand out from other candidates at the interview. Employers are well aware of the dedication required with online learners, and if anything, this enhances their opinion of them.
Self-starter
Another thing that becoming an online degree earner proves is that you are a self-starter. It is one thing to be young and in full-time education and able to devote all of your time to your learning. But, when you purposely put yourself in a position of learning while working and running a family, it is undoubtedly an indication of your determination. Again, being a self-starter is one of the top skills that employers will be looking for. You are showing that you can multitask and have several different things on the go at the same time. It also demonstrates your ability to set priorities and adapt to an ever-changing environment. Gaining a master’s degree online will also show the world that you have a commitment and can see things through from start to finish.
Better communication skills
Communicating in writing is quite a different skill than being able to talk to someone face to face. You have no visual clues to go off, and you need to learn the skills that ensure what you say is not taken out of context but is red in the manner in which you intended. Again, this is a practical skill, which will make you a strong leader and help advance your career. It can take some time to learn how to write in a persuasive yet amiable way that enables other people to understand your ideas and respond accordingly. Online learning allows you to do this in discussion forums, and also in more formal articles for submission. Throughout your online degree, you will be able to develop this skill further until it becomes a natural manner in which to communicate.
Develop critical thinking
While the main focus of the course is to obtain your degree online, you will also learn skills in critical thinking. This is something that will set you apart in the workplace and as a student. Online learning forces you to think outside of the box and become a better problem solver. Critical thinking is a very much in-demand skill in the professional world, and again many employers will understand that those candidates that have studied online will have had the chance to develop this skill in an enhanced way compared to standard classroom learners.
Expanding horizons
You will find in most virtual classrooms that the range of students is more diverse than a standard-setting. Because it is accessible right across the Internet, there are likely to be many students all over the world as well as in the US with you. This expands your horizons and gives you a broader range of cross-cultural understanding. Employers are always keen to find candidates who can demonstrate cultural awareness and those who are eager to learn from other perspectives about how technologies are being used in different countries. So, whether you are looking to do an undergraduate degree in English or an online computer science masters degree, there is extensive scope to expand your horizons in a diverse setting.
Technical skills
Of course, being an online learner also forces you to learn technical skills that you may never have come across. Many different software packages will be required to put together presentations, essays, and collaborate with your peers. Remote working is becoming a very in-demand skill, and if you can demonstrate that it is something you are experienced at you will be standing head and shoulders above other candidates at interview. It means that if you are employed in a remote location role, you will be able to immediately fit in with project/staff management software like Trello, Slack, and Basecamp as even if you do not use these specifically the concept will be very familiar.
