AD | A notable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is the huge uptick in online learning. The National Center for Education Statistics recorded 7.3 million students enrolled onto online courses in 2019, compared with a rise of 93% by the time the pandemic’s full impact had set in. Today, student numbers are still as high, as they continue to prefer online learning vs classroom learning for a variety of reasons.
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Why do so many students prefer online learning vs classroom learning?
The e-learning market is exploding, and with that come the job projections as well. At the time of writing, the growth market for online courses is expected to reach $325 billion by 2025. And many American corporations are spending money on training their employees too. Not only are online courses preparing students for the workforce, but they are also keeping people employed in fields such as Maths, Science, Psychology, and Information Technology. The number of benefits for businesses from online courses and distance learning is significant.
Flexibility
Overall, students are choosing the flexibility that comes with online courses. Some students like this kind of learning because it happens at their pace and schedule. Despite the reduced social interaction, the education-life balance that comes with online learning is appealing.
Formerly, many students would juggle family and work while attending college at night in order to graduate. Today, they don’t have to. They can work at their own pace and attend their online courses when best suits them, while still getting everything done that they need to do.
Some experts worry that this flexibility could lead to unfinished coursework and a mindset that becomes too relaxed when working from home. But a student who is motivated to learn will also be focused on their time management. This is a key reason why many students prefer online learning vs classroom learning.
Multidisciplinary Accessibility
Course selection and availability are much easier in today’s system of online courses. An individual still needs to get accepted onto a programme, but online courses have more availability for students than traditional classroom-based learning courses do. This is because some courses will still have limits and caps on the number of students accepted, whereas online modules, that are self-taught in many cases, can have unlimited enrolment.
Today’s learners who want to gain skills and enter the workforce have more options, which leads to multidisciplinary accessibility as well. Many universities will offer every course, from Music to Derivative Mathematics. For example, the skill of Python programming is in high demand today, and there’s a Python course out there for everyone, which hasn’t always been the case.
This draws in students from all over the world. One University of New Mexico Maths, Engineering, and Science teacher noted that online learning vs classroom learning with its multidisciplinary accessibility is ideal for students from Vienna to the Philippines, and is even used by the military.
Better Learning
The Research Institute of America has found that online courses are also better for learning overall and result in 25-60% retention rates. When a student can decide when and how they will learn something, they are more likely to retain the information, and the institution is more likely to retain the student as well.
This compares to traditional classroom learning, which only has an 8-10% retention rate when it comes to learning and cognitive processes. An IBM study found that their students learned five times more content through online courses than they did with traditional classroom learning.
Students who undertake the expense and time commitment of higher education want to learn something. Study after study and data set after data set show that they learn more with online learning vs classroom learning.
Affordability and Job Security
Learning online can improve job security in more ways than was likely expected post-pandemic. It provides job security for the applicants, who can take a course and be making a good living within the year. There are also online courses for teachers, nurses, and social workers, all essential services today.
Online courses also provide job security for people that are already employed. When a company invests money in a candidate, they are investing in that individual’s long-term career as well as the longevity of the company. One IBM study found that every dollar put into a candidate produced $30 in return for the company. When an employee has developed skills, such as Python programming, they want to go to work and apply those skills right away.
COVID-19 has resulted in more students choosing online learning vs classroom learning, but they’re still worried about the impact of the pandemic on a changing economy. Some jobs, like data analysts, are opening up by more than 20%, but other careers are decreasing due to lack of demand.
An affordable solution that yields job security in a stressed economy is a box that gets ticked off when today’s student is wondering, “What’s next?”
Why invest in online learning today
Whether you’re considering taking a Python course to improve your programming skills and enhance your job security, or want to become a nurse or teacher, you know there are endless options for online courses out there. Today’s online education system is as excellent as any traditional classroom and, in many ways, offers students more benefits than an actual classroom itself.
Despite the obvious COVID-19 precautions that are in place, studying at home is still safer. However, there is so much more to it than that. Online courses offer flexibility, availability, job security, and affordability to today’s students and job seekers. They also help companies become more productive and profitable as well.
There are many reasons to consider investing in your future today, in a way that can be fitted around your current life and livelihood. And now you don’t have to physically go to university to begin that journey either, you can simply enrol on an online course!
Have you ever taken an online course? Or did you study in a traditional classroom environment? Has the pandemic made you consider how you might undertake future learning and life skills and opt for online learning vs classroom learning now?
* This is a sponsored post – please see my Disclaimer.
This is a great post, Lisa. My mum and I were talking about this the other day and I said about how bad I felt for students over the last few years with how disrupted their education has been. As I haven’t been in education in many a year, I can’t contemplate how I would have fared with online learning in replace of classroom learning. I’d always have thought classroom would be better but there are so many benefits to online learning! xxx
Thank you, Jenny! Yes, I used to think that classroom learning was the best way but in fact, even before COVID-19 hit, I’d been looking into online learning as it’s easier to fit in around family and work life. Plus, online communities and Zoom make social interaction easier now too 🙂 xx
Online learning is the trend now ever since this pandemic. But the most online course organisers are charging participants a pricey price these days. The cost is almost the same as physical class. That’s what happened in Malaysia.
Oh no, really? That’s not good at all. Online learning and distance learning is still cheaper over here than full time classroom learning though – fingers crossed it stays that way!
I very much enjoy learning online because then I don’t need to hire a nanny 😀 It’s also nice that you can replay the parts that you struggled with or you found the most fascinating. On that note, I probably should make an online course myself. I have already taken a course on how to make it happen but not taken the big leap yet.
Yes, being able to rerun parts you need more time on is a great benefit to online courses. And that’s so exciting, Jenni, can’t wait to hear more about your course when it’s ready!
I think online learning definitely has it’s pros and cons but it’s so good that there is another/new or developing avenue for people to access education, training and learning (as long as the barriers like lack of equipment and internet are addressed when needed). Fab post!
Yes, that’s true about equipment and Internet access. Online learning via mobile phone is certainly not ideal! Thank you, Molly 🙂
One line courses definitely do offer that flexibility learning from home, but then again, classroom learning is just as beneficial as it’s good to be around other learners and also have face to face conversations with teachers etc x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Absolutely, Lucy, both have benefits but for me online trumps it due to being able to fit around family and work life x
Online learning is great (and I’ve done a fair bit of it), but sometimes you just can’t beat being able to ask and be shown something. I think it really all depends on the course.
Oh yes, lots of practical options would be far better in the classroom, but online does give you that degree of flexibility that I find most helpful.
I am a massive fan of online learning, I’ve done quite a few online courses and there’s so many amazing courses to choose from!
The range and choice today are incredible, aren’t they!
This was a really interesting read! As a current student I have to admit that I do prefer classroom learning, but I can definitely see the appeal of it for extra courses. I loved the flexibility of online learning during covid and the lie ins were definitely a bonus, haha! Thanks for sharing x
Thanks, Ceri – yes, you’re spot on about the lie-ins, not having to commute to college is another bonus! x
I totally see and value the benefits of online learning, especially if you are juggling parenting, another job etc. But, after having a year of online learning through zoom, I have appreciated in-person learning so much more. It’s so easy to just not listen online. Though with an online course, you would know that from the beginning so I can definitely see both sides x
Yes, that’s a fair point about in-person learning. It’s harder to tune out and switch off when you’re faced with a real person in the flesh. As you say, there are always two sides 🙂 x
Online learning is another avenue of education that, I think, is becoming better and more accessible by the day. I love the learning online gives me the opportunity to learn at my own pace and access my dashboards from wherever I am. 🙂
Yes, absolutely, the flexibility to learn at your own pace whenever suits you is so helpful.
I am a big fan of online learning. Most of the learning I have done since leaving school has been online. I enjoy the flexibility. I will say, though, that some learning has to happen in person and hands on. My younger daughter is in a pre-apprenticeship program at our local community college. It has a blend of theory, which is delivered online, and practical, which is done face to face.
I also think personality plays into it. It has been interesting to see how my two daughters have reacted to online school and college during the pandemic. My older daughter—the extrovert—hates it. My younger daughter—the introvert—loves it.
I think you’re absolutely right, Michelle, some practical courses do need in-person tuition for sure. That’s interesting about your daughters’ experiences, I can imagine the introverts being far more comfortable with online learning – I certainly am.
You’ve shared some very good points here lovely. I myself am no longer a student but I know I always much preferred working in a classroom than online. I feel like you get much more help in a ‘in-person’ environment. That being said, I can defiantly see the benefits to online learning. Thank you so much for sharing this, it was very interesting Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
Thank you, Elle, I’m glad you enjoyed it – like you, I can see both sides, although online has the edge for me 🙂
The benefits of flexibility and affordability really make all the difference to those of us that need to work and go to school at the same time!
Absolutely, that’s why online learning has the edge over classroom for me!
Online learning is a great option..thanks for sharing this amazing post 🙂
Beauty and Fashion
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you 🙂
You know I’m doing a second degree and I think online learning has a lot of positives. Of course, classroom learning has a lot of positives too and I enjoy being on campus. For lectures I can’t say on campus is a must, but I prefer it that way for seminars where it is greater interaction and everything works faster in person.
I also watch some online courses because I enjoy them and they are great value for money, those are outside the university setting.
Yes, that’s a good point about seminars. Sometimes group meetings via Zoom can get a little clunky! Completely agree with you about value for money with online courses though.
I enrolled on an online course with the Open University while signed off sick long-term, and it’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! I didn’t go to university when I was younger, but I’ve always wanted to get a degree, so I thought while I had this time on my hands, I might as well go for it. It’s given me an interest over the past few months, it’s kept my brain ticking over, and I’ve really fallen in love with learning again. The only downside is the expense; it just means the degree will take longer than I’d like, but I’m sure I’ll get there in the end!
That’s amazing, Nic, what a brilliant story and validation of online learning. Yes, your degree might take a while longer, but you will definitely get there, you’ve got this!
This is so thoughtful and amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you found it helpful.
My master’s program was mainly online & it was helpful for me because I could do my classes while my daughter was in kindergarten. Then when the pandemic happened, I was already used to online learning so it wasn’t a big change for me. Then when I started learning Danish, it was online at first & I did like that I didn’t have to go to the school, but it was challenging learning to speak correctly when it was online.
Goodness, yes, I’d imagine learning a new language and speaking it correctly would be a real challenge if you’re not in the classroom to practice aloud with other students. Congrats on getting your masters, Karalee! x
Great article! I took many online classes throughout the pandemic and I didn’t mind them at all!
Thank you – glad to hear you’re a fellow online learning fan 🙂