If the decision is made to study after school, the choice to do it at a campus happens naturally for the biggest portion of prospective students. But when furthering one’s education comes up later in your career, full-time studies aren’t an option for most. That’s because, once your career is set up, many responsibilities have to be juggled in conjunction with the extra studies.
For whoever this is true, especially those of us with families, part-time studying is the only way to go. Now the question of classroom studies versus online studies comes up. Both are suited to part-time studies, but both won’t necessarily work for everyone. It’s very important to determine which one will be best for you.
Let’s start by looking at the issue of juggling responsibilities, as mentioned.
Online classes lets you schedule your studies around the rest of the day. If you can only study before 8am every morning, you can. In the same fashion, if you can only do it from 10pm to midnight, you can do that too. Classroom studies are exactly the opposite, because classes will be at scheduled times. You’ll have to make time for them, but that shouldn’t be a problem if you’re dedicated.
Unfortunately it is very easy to postpone sitting down in front of your computer indefinitely. This makes it crucial that you are exceptionally disciplined if you decide to go the online route. Realising a day before a project is due that the bulk of the work is still outstanding is a nightmare! Individuals that need the extra motivation and reminders will find that classroom studies are much better. You’ll always be cognisant of looming deadlines and might even have opportunity in class to complete some of the necessary work.
Naturally getting work done and doing so on time are tantamount to the success of your studies, but you’ll also need to consider the following factors when making a choice about the way in which you’ll study:
Your lifestyle
Classroom learning will suit prospective students with families at home. Children might not understand that mommy or daddy needs an hour every day to themselves, so a classroom and study rooms will provide the space needed for studies. The same, however, could be true for the individual sharing a living space with noisy housemates. The single person, on the other hand, will have no problem studying at home, as there will be limited distractions.
The type of course
You’ll find an online course for almost any qualification, but that doesn’t mean the online medium is suited in every instance. IT courses, for instance, work very well online due to its nature. A course in personal training, that requires practical knowledge, is not necessarily suited to online studies. Here it is also important to note that it’s vital to check the credentials of an online learning institution before embarking on a course with them.
Feedback, interaction and support
Online learning institutions offer excellent support to students in the form of online forums, e-mail, phone and web conferences. Even social media platforms, like Twitter and Facebook, are employed. That all said, these electronic mediums do not provide the face-to-face interaction with students and lecturers like classroom studies do. This type of interaction not only provides the opportunity to build a network within your industry, but also facilitates instant feedback. And, unlike in the online sphere, miscommunication and misunderstandings are few and far between.
There is no winner or loser here. The choice you make will depend entirely on your situation and your preferences as to method of study. But – take a minute to reflect on what these are and you’ll be sure to make the right decision.
This article was written by Daniel Stevens, an avid reader and fan of the great outdoors and when he’s not writing up a storm that’s where you’ll find him 😉