Top 10 Benefits of Online Learning for Adults

The worldwide pandemic brought people into online learning like never before. And they soon found out what nearly 7 million online learners already knew: online learning offers many benefits. Especially for adult learners, the ability to take courses and learn new skills without going into a classroom can prove priceless. When you work full time, raise a family, take care of a home, and try to have a social life, online learning can be the perfect solution to balance all your other responsibilities while you get your degree.

1. Take Online Classes Whenever You Want

Online learning can occur anytime, anywhere. You can complete your coursework and assignments on your own schedule and often attend classes at the date and time that’s convenient for you. If like to take classes early in the morning, during a lunch break, or late at night, as long as you can access the internet, you can get to class.

2. Save Money with Online Learning

One of the past obstacles to getting a degree was the need to leave the workforce to do so. Online learning allows you to earn while you learn. You also don’t need to live on campus; no dorm costs. You don’t even need to drive to campus; no transportation costs. And if you care for children at home, there’s no need to pay for childcare while you travel to your classes. You can do it all from the comfort of your home.

3. Learn at Your Own Pace

Some parts of any class will be easy for you, while others will be more challenging. With online learning, you will be able to set your own pace. You can view the course material as many times as you want and use the “find” function to zero in on a particular lesson.

4. Experience a Variety of Online Learning Materials

With online learning, it’s not just classroom lectures. Course content will include lots of visuals, links to articles, videos, and interactive exercises. There will also be suggestions on where you can find additional information about a particular topic to fine-tune your skillset.

5. Play eLearning Games and Simulations

Games and simulations help reinforce new material and test out concepts in a way that’s risk-free. If you are taking a business course, for example, you might create a mock company experiencing the trials and tribulations of an economic slowdown. Or in an online healthcare course, you might be given what if scenarios and asked to meet the challenges a health services manager might encounter.

6. Take Time to Absorb the Information

Remember the days when a teacher would call on you before you had a chance to absorb new information? With online learning, you will have more time to think about and analyze the content before you have to express an opinion or come up with an answer to a question.

7. Study with Other Online Students

A study group can be a great way to prepare for a test or complete a group project. It can all be done virtually with free software such as Google Hangouts or Join.me. Here you can share screens, use virtual whiteboards, swap ideas and get your questions answered all from the comfort of your home or office.

8. Communicate with Your Online Class Professor

Sometimes it can be a challenge to meet with a busy professor in person. With online learning you can email, talk by phone or have a live chat to get your questions answered. With document sharing you can also send and receive feedback on assignments. You can even use video conferencing for real-time conferences with your professors.

9. Experience Online Networking

You might think you will be all on your own when you take an online class, but there can be lots of networking opportunities with other students including chat forums and live online discussions. You can connect after class on social media and even make plans to meet in person. Your classroom peers may soon be your colleagues so be sure to connect with them on LinkedIn.

10. Avoid Fear of Failure in Public

If you are nervous about going back to school because you think you might not be able to keep up with other students, online learning allows you to work more at your own pace. Your progress will only be visible to your professor, and he or she will always be available to help.

At National American University, we offer online Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees, as well as certificates, in a variety of career specialties. Call 800-209-0182 to speak to a counselor to learn more now.