Lots of people have mixed opinions about online courses. Are you learning as much as if you were in person? Is it easier or harder? Some pros and cons come with enrolling in online courses. Let’s start with the cons. With online courses, you must have the self-discipline to hold yourself accountable to get your work done. It is not like showing up to class and being graded on attendance. You are more likely to be assigned extra work for your professor to ensure that you are participating. It is very difficult to thrive with online courses if you do not understand or enjoy them. In class, you can simply raise your hand or talk to your professors before/after class and have a real in-person connection. Online, the options are much more limited. You can email your professors, but it is not guaranteed how soon they will respond, which is a disadvantage, and it can be frustrating. When you do have the chance to interact with your professors online, it is still very difficult to express your concerns and ask questions over an email, so are you really getting the best help possible?
Despite the negatives, there are still a lot of positives of online courses. For example, online courses can be super flexible. I have three in-person courses and three online courses. I do not need to wake up at a certain time to attend class, and I can do the work at my own pace, which is helpful for maintaining the workload and stress levels. For some people, attending in-person classes can be anxiety inducing, and as someone who stresses about physical appearance, online classes take that extra burden off so I can prioritize my work above all else. On top of that, taking online courses has helped me gain a better understanding of time management and accountability. I push myself to do the work and use my best effort, and I have noticeably started applying that to other aspects of my life, which has helped me achieve more. Online courses can be very beneficial, but the most important question when deciding whether to take an online course is “am I willing to try?” or “can I handle it?”.
Photo From: West Lake Arrow
I enjoyed reading your Post. It was informative and personal, anyone looking to make the decision to take an online class would benefit from this overview. I like how you incorporate personal responsibility and the different skillsets required for online vs. in-person. You got this blueberry pancakes!