If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that unpredictable situations are just behind the corner, and if you want to make it out alive, you have no choice but to adapt. With the entire world sharing one common enemy—the coronavirus, people have been forced to find new ways of running their daily errands without risking their health. Pupils and students were advised to return home, nightclubs were off-limits, and our bedrooms soon became working spaces.
Fortunately, we happen to be living in the digital era when information is at your fingertips and a couple of clicks away. Therefore, it was simple to find alternative ways of communicating with colleagues, keeping up with studies, and indulging in quality entertainment. Many parents were worried about their children falling behind with their schoolwork. Adult learners were fearful that their learning progress would be put on hold due to the pandemic restrictions. However, online courses came to the rescue, and everyone managed to stay on track and continue their studies without leaving their homes. If you want to learn a new language visit LanguageTrainers.
Even now, a year later, the interest in these courses keeps rising. So, is digital learning here to stay? If you want to find out, stick around as we break down the main pros of studying online.
1. Whenever, wherever
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Although a Shakira song might come to mind, that is not the point of the paragraph. One of the main advantages of taking your lessons online is that you’ll be able to organize your classes based on your schedule. Plus, you’re no longer tied to the classroom—you can study in a nearby café or a local park as long as you have a stable Internet connection and a working laptop. You’ll get to explore the city and learn something new along the way. Maybe you’ll even meet some new people and make friends.
Also, if you’re traveling to visit your cousins, you don’t have to put the brakes on your progress. As long as you have your laptop or tablet with you, you can follow your course and keep track of what’s happening. You can even download the learning material and transfer it to your phone to listen while you’re on the commute. If you’re the type of person who learns best when listening to specific material, then that’s the best option for you.
2. Work-life balance
It’s a well-known fact that many students work during their studies to pay off the university costs such as accommodation, books, and transport. However, it’s sometimes difficult to establish a healthy work-life balance when you have to attend three lectures and then do an eight-hour shift. Not only is it physically exhausting, but it can be damaging to your mental health. That’s why many students today have to schedule an appointment with their psychiatrist when they have too much on their plates. The stress becomes too overwhelming for the average person to handle alone.
These courses come in handy as you study during your lunch break or when you get back from the office or your part-time job. You can take advantage of the weekends and make up for the lost time. That way, you’ll have enough time to study for your next exam, and you’ll be able to maintain a healthy work-life balance and have extra time to socialize and enjoy your hobbies.
3. Choose what you learn
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Digital courses give you the opportunity to study the topics of your interest instead of attending boring lectures that are not relevant for your career path. Schools and universities usually have a strict syllabus professors have to follow, whereas online you can pick subjects that will help you advance in your career. There’s nothing you can’t learn on the Internet, from financial analysis to digital marketing and more, just visit Straighterline.com. The best part is that, after each successfully completed course, you earn a certificate that shows what you’ve learned and which skills you’ve mastered.
When we say you can learn everything, we do mean everything. Believe it or not, even medical courses are available online and they allow you to learn the basic life-saving skills and earn your CPR license, meaning you’ll be able to provide assistance in unpredictable situations. That’s really a skill that comes in handy when there’s an emergency. If you’re interested in finding out more, be sure to check advancedmedicalcertification.com.
4. Boost your communication skills
As online courses limit the amount of face-to-face communication, you’ll get to perfect your written communication. In a virtual setting, it’s easy to be misunderstood, but the more you practise and communicate online, the better you’ll become in online interaction. We’ve become too used to using abbreviations and emojis to communicate our thoughts and feelings, so you’ll get the chance to learn how to practise formal communication online.
You’ll learn how to write a concise email and make a list of specific questions that you need answered. Plus, as you’ll be taking courses alongside other students from different cultural backgrounds, you’ll get to broaden your horizons and befriend new people.
5. Gain technical skills
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Taking digital courses not only boosts your communication, but allows you to perfect your computer skills. Nowadays, it’s important to be tech-savvy, no matter which area of work you’re in. On your journey to completing your online course, you’ll need to master a number of online digital learning tools and collaboration tools.
Programs such as Skype, Zoom, Trello and Slack will become your new best friends and you’ll need to know how to fully take advantage of the features these programs have to offer. As an online student, you’re required to master the virtual workspace in order to follow your courses smoothly.
The bottom line
With all the perks it has brought us, digital learning will slowly but surely replace the traditional classroom we’ve known so far. The flexibility and diversity it offers are one of the main reasons behind its overwhelming rise in popularity. So, if there’s a topic you’ve always wanted to learn more about, now’s the time—a number of online courses are at your disposal!
