by If you’re looking to master a new skill and improve your employability, you’ll no doubt be weighing up the pros and cons of home learning. Although virtual learning has historically been considered a second-rate way to study, there’s been a seismic shift in how remote learning has been viewed in recent years. Virtual learning is not just more accessible, it’s also incredibly flexible and more affordable.
A Direct Line Of Communication With Tutors
One of the biggest drawbacks of learning in a traditional classroom or lecture hall is that students aren’t able to connect directly with their tutors. If you’re pursuing education in a conventional setting, tutors will be time-poor and unable to commit to any follow-up questions. The infrastructure of online learning has redefined how students can communicate with their tutors. If you’re pursuing one-on-one virtual learning, you have the benefit of immediate feedback that is completely tailored to you. Live chat functionality and email correspondence are also hallmarks of virtual learning.
Improved Concentration And Focus
Provided you’ve a quiet space to work in, learning online can be much more rewarding than conventional study in a classroom. With less distractions to contend with, you can fully commit to a syllabus and gain a far better understanding of what you’re aiming to study. Improved focus is particularly crucial if you’re looking to pursue online language study.
Learning online is no longer a compromise. If you’re looking to take charge of your further education with a flexible solution that fits around your schedule, it’s arguably a more worthwhile alternative than traditional learning models. What’s more, online learning establishments are no longer frowned upon in favour of qualifications obtained from bricks and mortar institutions.
An Affordable Alternative
Even if you’ve secured financial support in the form of student loans, grants and bursaries, the overall cost of pursuing further education in a traditional setting can be expensive. Online learning avenues have made pursuing advanced qualifications and advanced skills more affordable and accessible to all. It’s not just course costs where you make a saving either. Consider the multitude of other expenses involved in traditional study. With virtual learning, you won’t need to shell out for regular travel costs, while everyday expenses are also greatly diminished. Beyond course costs, the only real investment involved in home learning includes a computer and reliable internet access, along with any course-specific software that may be required to undertake your studies.
Flexibility
Although many of us would like to boost our career prospects by pursuing further study, busy schedules are often a barrier to doing so. If you’re currently in employment, you may find it impossible to free up enough time in your daily schedule to visit an evening class or training establishment. Online learning not only negates you having to venture to an establishment far from your home, it also tends to be fairly flexible when it comes to those looking to pursue studies outside of conventional working hours. Many online tutors specialising in one-on-one training will be highly flexible with their own schedules, meaning you’re not locked into an ironclad arrangement with fixed starting times.
*In collaboration with Nathalie Simon
