Why more and more students are taking online classes - Essay Example

Key words: online es, online learning, traditional education Why more and more are taking online classes? Introduction Initially, the mode of learning entailed physical interaction between the instructors and their students. This was due to the people’s notion that, instructors will deliver as necessitated; hence, enable students understand many concepts via face-to-face interaction. However, this mode of leaning, which at present many people refer it as “traditional education” is rapidly diminishing (Siegle 56). This is because the emergence of both the technology and the internet has prompted numerous students prefer online classes to the earlier face-to-face mode of education with their instructors and fellow classmates. In addition, owing to the current state of economic crises that have heightened standards of living, students normally opt for online classes since they are cheaper and easier to manage (Siegle 56). This is because they will not incur extra gas expenses while driving to their respective colleges or universities to attend classes. Online learning with proper time schedule is flexible, which allows students especially those who have families to multitask as well as excel in pursuing their careers (Siegle 57). Other issues that have prompted more and more students to opt for online classes include lack of time, availability of many online courses, need to multitask in order to accomplish their studies and concentrate on career development. Therefore, numerous students presently have opted for online classes due to its benefits, which is contrary to the “traditional education”. Presently, colleges and universities have seen the need to provide well-tailored and friendly, time courses mainly to students who cannot afford to abandon their responsibilities. Mainly, these include who have families, residing in far distant states or working in regions that are far from their respective institutions (Siegle 56). Hence, provision of well and time friendly courses to these students normally aids them to multitask where they will not have to halt some life’s commitments and pursue courses meant for their careers’ development. Owing to the flexibility of the institutions online classes students are able to plan their time properly, for instance, they are able to know when they can sit down and embark on serious academic work. This is irrespective of their places, so long, they are internet enabled, and the environment is conducive for learning (Siegle 58). Hence, prompting numerous students to opt for online classes because they are able to study effectively and still keep on advancing in other areas entailing their lives. The unpredictability of the current state of the economy has heightened the standards of living not only in third world but also in developing countries (Siegle 58). This is especially through inflation, which most global states are experiencing presently, for example, in both US and European states. Therefore, an online learning compared to the “traditional education” is far much cheaper and manageable especially among the students who have not stabilized well economically (Siegle 59). Since, they will not have to struggle with traffic jams and incur gas expenses while rushing to attend face-to-face lectures in their respective universities or colleges. In addition, it is also cheaper and manageable to the international students who used to leave their states to pursue courses of their choice in other world’s best universities or colleges (Siegle 59). This is because, presently what they have to do is to register online, pay fees, and study at their own pace while enjoying the comfort of their residences. In consequence of this flexibility and few resources involved while undertaking online classes compared to the traditional learning, numerous students have preferred for the online classes. Since what they will require while learning is paying the institution’s fees and have, an internet enabled computer or laptop at their homes while undertaking other responsibilities. Presently, family responsibilities have become a hindrance to too students who besides having their children, they are also taking care of the elderly parents who do not have caregivers (Siegle 58). This is because sometimes the students or young people owing to the current state of inflation may not be able to hire caregivers and still attend classes. Hence, online learning becomes a remedy especially to too students who may be having families and they are mothers (Siegle 60). Since, an individual will not quit or call off his or her semester because of pregnancy, which is evident with traditional learning. In addition, with online classes, mothers are able to continue with their learning even to one day to the delivery time and resume their studies after a remarkably short time (Siegle 58). Consequently, this offers them the flexibility and pace they want in pursuing their careers while on maternal leave or attending to other household chores. Presently, students besides wanting to learn, they also intend to stabilize economically exceptionally early in life. Therefore, many of them have resulted to part time employment, which has taken almost all their time. In addition, some cannot afford to rely on their aged parents so they have to look for employment. This denies them the chance of fitting effectively in the traditional education’s schedule whereas online learning is manageable due to its flexibility (Siegle 56). Due to this reason, more students have are now preferring online learning, which will still offer them time for employment, as well as study. Besides, students may sometimes liaise with their employers who in turn end up offering financial aids or scholarships (Siegle 57). This is because they are aware regarding investing in their employees who in turn become an extremely essential asset in accomplishing the corporation’s goals. Additionally, via liaising with company’s executives or human resource manager, students contend of having ample time to take their online classes at the place of work (Siegle 60). Consequently, this is an added advantage where one will not incur any expenses besides feeling motivated by own employer. Global Universities and Colleges in order to increase their revenue, they have yielded to making their courses accessible online. This is contrary to what they can offer within the confinements of their physical structures or lecture halls because owing to the present economy, it is extremely expensive to erect extra learning structures. Therefore, it is extremely cheaper to offer their courses online because the expenses they will only incur are those of website’s launching and management. This is also beneficial to students who presently have a wide variety of courses to choose from according to their career goals and how much they have to pay for them (Siegle 61). Due to this reason, one can take more than two courses at once and excel as necessitated, which is contrary to the traditional education. This is because, with the traditional education, one must attend several classes physically in the institution, which is incredibly tiresome and mostly a waste of time. Conversely, an online class while intending to switch to another class depending on its schedule is just a matter of clicking the required icon in one’s computer or laptop. Conclusion Traditional education compared to the online learning is fading away as numerous students are currently opting for the latter mode of education. This is because of its nature of flexibility especially in the current world where many of the students are taking part time employment. Therefore, they cannot afford to have time for the traditional education, which entails much expenses and time despite being helpful. In addition, many of the global states are facing inflation where traveling from one state to one’s university of choice is extremely expensive in terms of flight ticket, fee and upkeep expenses in another state. This has prompted students to take advantage of numerous courses, which the universities are offering online with the intention of attracting many clients, hence augment their revenue. Online learning besides offering numerous courses, which students can undertake, it has also made people having other family responsibilities pursue their career goals effectively. For example, pregnant mothers and those who may be taking care of own elderly parents and are not able to afford a caregiver. Consequently, this flexibility coupled with offering well schedules that will enable one to learn at his or her pace, has prompted more and more students to opt for online class than traditional education. Work Cited. Siegle, Del. "The Changing Nature Of Universities: Going Online." Gifted Child Today 34.3 (2011): 56-61. Web. 8Th Oct. 2012. Read More