Are you wondering exactly what online education means?
Well, it means those two words: online (the internet) and education (learning).
But there’s now so many different forms of online learning that your main question probably isn’t what does it actually mean, but what TYPES of online education are there, and how on earth do you know which type is best for you?
Think about what you want to achieve:
Just want to learn something new just for fun or personal interest?
Hoping to become self educated in a certain field so you can start your own business?
Looking to get a recognized diploma or degree?
Want to finish high school as an adult?
These are just three of many reasons more people are turning to education via the internet. It’s just so convenient. And that leads to the next thing I want to talk about. And they are the BENEFITS of doing some or all of your education online.
Obviously the biggest benefit is, as I said, convenience. Most online learning can be done at a time that suits you, rather than having to turn up to a virtual class at certain times. If you’re doing distance learning through a real world university then you might be obliged to attend some class meetings or live events via video link/Zoom.
If you’re doing education purely through an online portal then you will be able to work at your own pace and time.
If you have kids then you can do all your education after they’ve gone to bed. Or, if you’re an early bird, before they even get up in the morning.
Fitting in online learning around any current jobs or career you already have is one of the other big challenges, after family commitments. You might only have weekends free to study. So many online courses are now so flexible that you can, if there’s no other options, just do your learning for an hour or two a week. Yes, it will obviously take longer to complete your course with such limited time, but it’s absolutely better than not doing it at all.
So what does this all mean, and how does it fit into the question “what does online education mean”?
Really, it means what you want it to. What does it mean to you to learn new skills, gain new knowledge, and get a new qualification?
It can mean a new job or a higher paying job, a brand new career change, it can mean a mom going back to school after caring for children for many years. It can mean finally finishing high school as an adult. It can mean getting the skills and confidence you need to start your own business and forge your own path.
Online education means many things to different people. It will be what you make of it.