{"id":2551,"date":"2022-09-06T11:43:47","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T11:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/?p=2551"},"modified":"2022-09-06T11:43:47","modified_gmt":"2022-09-06T11:43:47","slug":"the-benefits-of-online-learning-7-advantages-of-online-degrees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/the-benefits-of-online-learning-7-advantages-of-online-degrees\/","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Online Learning: 7 Advantages of Online Degrees"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earning a master\u2019s degree online can seem daunting. Prospective students often wonder, \u201cIs the experience online the same as on-campus?<\/em>\u201d and, \u201cWill the format fit my lifestyle?<\/em>\u201d Roughly\u00a06.3 million students\u00a0in the United States are now enrolled in at least one online course, though, and that number is growing due to the flexibility and benefits of virtual learning.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s workforce is moving online. Forty-six percent of organizations recently surveyed by the\u00a0Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)\u00a0said they use virtual teams. With that, the number of professionals who regularly work from home has increased\u00a0159 percent\u00a0over the last decade, with more than 4.7 million employees working remotely at least half the time.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s clear, then, that learning online helps prepare professionals for this shift toward online work. Below, explore what online courses entail, explore seven key benefits, and get the advice you need to determine if online courses are right for you<\/p>\n

What Are Online Courses Like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

An online course requires just as much work as an on-ground format, and the amount of time you dedicate is also about the same. However, the online format\u2014just as a virtual workplace\u2014affords you more flexibility. As long as you meet your deadlines and communicate with your instructor and peers, it doesn\u2019t matter where or when you fulfill the requirements.<\/p>\n

Each week, your instructor typically expects you to take the following actions yourself:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Review the\u00a0learning objectives<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Complete the\u00a0assigned readings<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Submit\u00a0assignments<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Go through the\u00a0lecture materials<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Participate in the\u00a0discussion boards<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    You are probably experienced at independently completing the first three actions from previous in-person courses. Learning from an online lecture is different, but you can also do it wherever and whenever.<\/p>\n

    Is Online Learning Better?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Online learning has become increasingly popular in the last couple of years due to the pandemic, making it a new norm. However, there have been some objections towards its effectiveness. It\u2019s important to acknowledge that remote learning isn\u2019t for everyone\u2014several characteristics will determine students\u2019 successful use of online learning platforms.<\/p>\n

    The ideal online student is comfortable with the concept of an online environment and adapts their learning style to reflect what\u2019s needed from them. They have a deeper understanding of the discipline they need in order to organize their flexible schedules, and are willing to participate in online discussions.<\/p>\n

    Adjusting to an online learning model could be a challenge at first, but once you adapt to the format, there are numerous benefits to be realized. No matter the reason you choose to pursue online education, earning an online degree can help prepare you for career advancement and demonstrate key skills to potential employers. Here\u2019s a look at seven top benefits of online learning.<\/p>\n

    Seven Benefits of Online Learning<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    1. Added Flexibility and Self-Paced Learning<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Not many people have the ability to take time off from work to commit to a full-time graduate program, and others often travel for work. For those who still need to juggle working and going back to school, the flexibility of an online program provides individuals with the opportunity to learn while still working and growing professionally.<\/p>\n

    By earning your master\u2019s degree online, you can learn on your own schedule. Rather than leave the office early or skip family dinner to commute to campus, you\u2019re logging on when it\u2019s convenient for you\u2014at a time that doesn\u2019t interfere with other commitments. That flexibility allows you to more easily\u00a0balance work, life, and graduate school.<\/p>\n

    Additionally, students don\u2019t always feel comfortable asking professors to repeat a point they made in their last lecture or dive into deeper detail on a specific topic. When learning online, you can revisit past material or stop the lecture to perform additional research or organize your notes. You can work through the lesson plan at your own pace to ensure you\u2019re really mastering the material before moving on to the next section. This added flexibility allows online learners to move through the course work at their own speed and get the most out of the degree program<\/p>\n

    2. Better Time Management<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Juggling work, family, and school isn\u2019t an easy thing to do. Employers recognize this and admire\u00a0the time management skills\u00a0it takes to balance all three. Because there are no set classroom times within an online degree program, and students have the flexibility to create their own schedules, it\u2019s up to the student to proactively reach out to faculty, complete assignments on time, and plan ahead.<\/p>\n

    One of the things we know employers expect is that we manage our time effectively. It\u2019s never enough to be at your desk on time in the morning and stay through the end of the day; most of us are expected to get more projects done in less time. Online classes keep you on a regular schedule of making and meeting deadlines, allowing you to practice managing your time and staying productive week-to-week.\u00a0Employers often appreciate the time management skills needed to complete an online degree program and view these skills as a valuable asset in potential employees.<\/p>\n

    Melanie Kasparian, associate director of assessment at\u00a0Northeastern College of Professional Studies, shares tips\u00a0on how to be a successful online learner,\u00a0recommending students work consistently throughout the week. A sample schedule, she says, may look similar to this:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Monday<\/b>: Begin required readings and multimedia.<\/li>\n
    • Tuesday<\/b>: Continue reviewing materials.<\/li>\n
    • Wednesday<\/b>: Post to the discussion forum and begin assignments.<\/li>\n
    • Thursday<\/b>: Continue posting and working on assignments.<\/li>\n
    • Friday<\/b>: Read and respond to posts and work on assignments.<\/li>\n
    • Saturday<\/b>: Read and respond to posts and finish assignments.<\/li>\n
    • Sunday<\/b>: Check your work and submit assignments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Kasparian says, \u201cWorking on the train, during a lunch break, or in the morning\u2014there\u2019s really no right time to study, as long as it fits your life<\/p>\n

      3. Demonstrated Self-Motivation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      By successfully earning your master\u2019s degree online, you\u2019re demonstrating that you can practice time management and are self-motivated, which are among the top 10 employability skills employers want to see in new hires.\u00a0By succeeding in earning an online degree, you prove that you can tackle multiple tasks, set priorities, and adapt to changing work conditions.<\/p>\n

      Instructors expect students to be independent, to learn on their own, and to engage with the material that they are teaching. It\u2019s the same thing in the workforce; employers want you to be self-motivated, go after things that interest you, and seek new opportunities and ways of doing things. The more you put your heart into it\u2014whether it\u2019s learning online or working for your employer\u2014the more you\u2019ll succeed.<\/p>\n

      4. Improved Virtual Communication and Collaboration<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Learning to work with others in a virtual environment can make you\u00a0a more effective leader. You\u2019ll develop critical\u00a0leadership skills\u00a0by utilizing specialized knowledge, creating efficient processes, and making decisions about best communication practices, such as what should be discussed in-person or electronically.\u00a0In an online program, you\u2019ll also participate in discussion boards with your classmates, communicate with professors via email, and collaborate through various software programs. As the program progresses, you\u2019ll get better at pitching your ideas and making strong, succinct, professional arguments through text.<\/p>\n

      Participating in discussion boards is a lot like participating in a virtual team. Communicating your ideas clearly, getting responses, and projecting a professional image are necessary skills in a virtual workplace. Instructors, just like managers, expect you to write respectful, thoughtful, and polite communications, respond to different perspectives, and build a rapport with your peers. Luckily, in an online program, you\u2019ll refine this skill quickly\u2014 post after post, week after week, course after course<\/p>\n

      5. A Broader, Global Perspective<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Students in online programs come from across the U.S. and all over the world. Because of the ability to log on from any location, class discussions feature a broader range of perspectives, helping you enhance your own cross-cultural understanding. Students then not only have the opportunity\u00a0to network with people from around the globe, but can also broaden their perspective and become more\u00a0culturally aware.<\/p>\n

      Businesses are looking for employees who can innovate, and innovation often comes from outside your immediate world. If you\u2019re interested in entrepreneurship, for example, hearing how other countries adopt certain technologies or approach specific industries can inspire new ideas or improve an existing concept you\u2019ve been developing.<\/p>\n

      Being exposed to new ideas from professionals in other countries may spark creativity of your own\u2014creativity that can turn out to be valuable for your organization.<\/p>\n

      6. Refined Critical-thinking Skills<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Online learning facilitates the ability to think critically about what you do every day. The goal in the classroom is to challenge you to think differently, and employers want you to do that, too\u2013to think critically in your role at work. Mastering this skill is what will set you apart as a student, and as an employee.<\/p>\n

      Critical thinking plays a role in any type of education; however, online learning forces you to develop your critical thinking skills in ways that you might not have practiced in an in-person classroom setting. This sort of self-paced and self-motivated learning demonstrates to future employers that you have the ability to think critically and overcome any obstacles that might stand in your way.<\/p>\n

      7. New Technical Skills<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Your online degree also equates to strong technical skills, a definite plus for any job seeker.\u00a0 As part of your coursework, you will likely need to utilize digital learning materials, get familiar with new tools and software, and troubleshoot common issues. After a program\u2019s worth of technical hurdles, big and small, an employer could trust that you are versed in common collaboration tools, content management systems, and basic troubleshooting.<\/p>\n

      With more companies using virtual teams, it\u2019s important to learn how to collaborate remotely. Your classmates will likely live in different time zones, which you need to learn how to adapt to and schedule around.<\/p>\n

      Embracing technology is also crucial. When you\u2019re working on a group project, sharing files or status updates can become difficult via email, so you might need to utilize\u00a0project management and communication tools\u00a0such as:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Skype<\/b>: The video conferencing software lets you speak face-to-face with your peers.<\/li>\n
      • Dropbox<\/b>: Share documents with your group and keep work in one place using the file hosting service.<\/li>\n
      • Slack<\/b>: The messaging platform is helpful if you need to instant message in real-time or break off into smaller groups to work on a specific part of the project.<\/li>\n
      • Trello<\/b>: The project management tool enables you and your team to create, assign, track, and prioritize to-dos.<\/li>\n
      • Basecamp<\/b>: Another, slightly more robust, project management tool you can use to share messages and upload files.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Most companies today are using some combination of the software above or other programs similar. Being able to state you have project management experience and are familiar with software like Basecamp can bolster your resum\u00e9. With an online degree experience, your future employer will know you\u2019re comfortable learning new technologies, building a rapport virtually, tackling tasks proactively and independently, and knowing your way around a computer and virtual workspace.<\/p>\n

        Is an Online Degree Right for You?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

        If you are considering whether an online graduate degree is the right choice for you, be sure to consider the benefits online learning has to offer. For students who are faced with the challenge of balancing work, family, and education, an online master\u2019s degree can be an ideal solution. Further, pursuing an online degree can prepare students for career advancement and showcase key skills to potential employers.<\/p>\n

        By earning a master\u2019s degree\u2014no matter the format\u2014you set yourself up to\u00a0earn significantly more\u00a0in your lifetime\u00a0than bachelor\u2019s degree holders. You\u2019ll also gain access to more job options, given that by 2022,\u00a018 percent\u00a0of jobs will require a master\u2019s degree. Learning online builds on those benefits and helps prepare you for today\u2019s globalized workforce.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Earning a master\u2019s degree online can seem daunting. Prospective students often wonder, \u201cIs the experience online the same as on-campus?\u201d and, \u201cWill the format fit my lifestyle?\u201d Roughly\u00a06.3 million students\u00a0in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2552,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[73,19],"tags":[136,138,109,139],"class_list":["post-2551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-technology","tag-education","tag-benefits-of-online","tag-educational-improvement","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2551"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2553,"href":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2551\/revisions\/2553"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.psmgt.org.uk\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}