Online courses: They are massively overlooked, and a lot of people seem to think they are a lazy alternative to going to college or university. But they’re not – they are in fact a very respectable and effective way to get a degree or certification, and are generally beneficial to you as the learner, too. Now, this isn’t an article about why online courses are better than physically going to college, but it is an article about why online courses should be high up any person’’s list of educational options.
What are online courses?
First of all, online courses are courses that you pay for and study over the internet. They are very similar to ‘normal’ courses, but all content is provided to you through a step-by-step course instead of through set lectures and events attended in-person at a brick-and-mortar campus. They are accessible at all times for you and can be completed as quickly or as slowly as you’d like. There aren’t just university courses, either, but some are run by employers, too.
What are the benefits of doing an online course?
There are many benefits to doing an online course. Here are just a few:
- They only cost the price of the course. You don’t need to pay for travel or student halls or accommodation, so you don’t have all the additional and hidden costs of university. These costs also vary, as well as some half or part-time courses being offered for free.
- You can learn in the comfort of your own home, whenever you want to. There aren’t any set lectures. Instead, content is pre-recorded and supplied by the company or university. You can take the tests they give you to help you work and as place markers as to where you are when you feel you need them. It is completely self-motivated learning, and you can choose whatever hours you want during the day, so you don’t have to attend any early morning lectures.
- This also means you can do these courses alongside doing a job, so you don’t have to cut to specific hours you might need for attending lessons, broadening your ability to work full-time hours and not have to struggle with a part-time minimum wage job. You also don’t have to change jobs either.
- There is a massive variety of courses to choose from. There is a vast amount of suppliers and universities that offer a range of subjects. You can do courses for earning a degree, such as a Master’s or Bachelors, or you can do a work-based certification, such as the numerous Microsoft Azure
- Employers value these certificates as much as those from physically attending University or courses. It is also a good way to get a guaranteed interview if you are doing the course through a company, especially if you’re fresh out of school or need a new job.
There you have it, several advantages of studying online courses. Good luck with whatever course you choose!
