College is an important choice. If you're going to a college on your first visit or returning in order to complete your degree, you'll have to decide between traditional and online learning.

After the college campuses have reopened, some students have chosen to pursue their studies on the internet. Based on the best colleges 2022 Online Education Trends Report, 49% of students who are remote were planning to enroll in online courses after their campuses resume normal operation.

Universities such as Concordia University Texas give you the possibility of earning the highest quality degree entirely online.

We've put together an extensive list of the top benefits and disadvantages of online education to assist you in deciding whether online courses are the right choice for you.

What are the Pros of Online Learning

There are many benefits to online courses that work to aid you in your development, both professionally and personally.

• FLEXIBILITY

Learning online lets, you learn from any location. If you are able to meet the deadlines for each week, you are able to complete your work early in the morning, later in the evening, or in any interval between.

• Keep PRIORITIES in place.

With flexibility, online learning offers students greater freedom to arrange their school schedule in conjunction with other priorities in their life, like their careers, family, and other obligations.

• NO COMMUTE

Aren't you frustrated when you're stuck in traffic and have many things to accomplish?

One of the main benefits of online education is that it can eliminate the necessity to travel to the campus. By reducing the time spent, you'll be able complete your studies faster and devote more time to your goals.

• Develop the ability to manage time.

If you're taking online classes, you're accountable for managing your time. With a load of your courses as well as other obligations, you'll have to establish an ideal study routine for you.

Then, you can apply the skills in time management you develop through online education to your job, enhancing your productivity and efficiency at work.

• Select YOUR FAVORITE LEARNING TYPE

Different people learn. Certain learners are visually impaired, while others make notes on a plethora of pages, others require listening in order to absorb it, and others use a combination of these strategies to keep the material in mind.

Online learning allows you to make use of the learning strategies that best suit your needs.

For instance, Concordia allows students to download course material online into different formats for files, including ePub (e-book formats) as well as electronic braille, audio files, BeeLine Reader (adds color gradients to text to make it easier to read effectively) as well as translated versions.

• Instant access to information

One of the main benefits of online education is immediate access to the faculty students, their peers, as well as class documents.

It is easy to communicate with your professors to ask questions and connect with your fellow students for a project or access all your class materials online. Students who take classes in person usually need to wait until scheduled times of class to meet their classes for work and wait for the time when the professor's office hours are open to talk with students during class.

Every online class at Concordia includes the option of a Microsoft Teams channel where students can chat with classmates and faculty and share files for group projects, and plan meetings.

• SAVE UP ON YOUR TUTORING

Most online programs offer less expensive tuition as compared to in-person programs since there is no need to cover transportation costs (e.g., gas, public transportation, etc. ) and meal plans, and other expenses related to in-person learning.

The classes themselves are typically cheaper too. For instance, the cost of tuition per credit hour for undergraduate students enrolled online at Concordia is around half of the price for undergraduate students who attend in person.

• WORKPLACE PREPARATION

Many businesses are either changing their employees to virtual work or giving them the possibility of working from home, and many businesses are using a number of online platforms.

In the modern world of technology and the experiences you get from working in a virtual environment as well as using internet-based software (e.g., Blackboard Collaborate, Microsoft Office 365 Suite, and screen-capturing as well as recording and presenting tools) are among the most significant benefits that online education offers.

• Access to ACADEMIC SUPPORT RESOURCES

The majority of colleges and universities provide students who opt for online education accessible to all the academic assistance tools that students have in-person access to.

At Concordia University Texas, those students who attend the campus and are online students can access the accessibility services offered to students who have disabilities, like additional time for taking tests.

Cons and Cons of online learning

Remember that there are pros and cons to online learning. While there are benefits to online courses, it is important to think about the possible drawbacks and the ways Concordia University Texas addresses them.

• LIMIT IN-PERSON INTERFACE

If you are studying online, You can interact with your professors face-to-face online. However, you aren't interacting personally with them.

Concordia's Solution:

At Concordia, online classes don't mean lesser interaction. Since everyone who is in a class is expected to be involved in the discussion, it is more lively. The online learning environment offers an opportunity for all students to participate, from the most introverted to outgoing students.

• You're restricted to certain kinds of merchandise.

Certain majors aren't suitable for online learning. The options for degrees available aren't as extensive. Certain programs, particularly those which require hands-on learning, are not able to be converted to the online environment.

For instance, the Music program at Concordia University Texas requires in-person classes. Students require one-on-one interactions with their teachers to get immediate feedback and assistance in playing an instrument or in mastering the solo.

Concordia's Solution:

The University provides online degrees in a wide variety of disciplines. CTX provides all its graduate degrees online (Note that the Concordia Doctor of Education program requires two weeks of residence on campus. ).

• You're responsible for ESTABLISHING A REGULAR

The classes on campus require students to attend classes multiple times a week and complete assignments within certain deadlines. All of these factors establish a routine for students.

Online learning can also have daily deadlines; students are not required to be present at a particular time each day."Greater freedom" is said to come with "more responsibility."

Students studying online need to develop an individual routine that will ensure that they complete their assignments punctually while maintaining other commitments.

Concordia's Solution:

The Concordia professors who teach online programs are readily accessible to students and encourage them to participate in the virtual sessions.

"I always tell my students, 'I don't know how you are unless you tell me,'" Herron explained.

• REQUIREMENTS FOR TECHNOLOGY

Students who opt for online learning should have a computer at their disposal and be connected to reliable WiFi.

You might need to invest more in equipment such as a more powerful computer or one that has more memory. Also, since all of your online classes are done on the computer, you'll be likely to have more technical problems (e.g., connectivity issues and server issues or other issues. ).

Concordia's Solution:

To eliminate technological barriers To minimize technological obstacles, all Concordia's online courses are online-based. This means that you only need access to your Internet browser, removing the requirement to download software to your personal computer.

The University also grants students who are online access to the complete Microsoft Office 365 Suite (including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Teams) in order that they don't need to purchase the software. Additionally, Concordia's Personal Support Center is available 24/7 via chat, phone, or email to assist you with any technical issues.

• You may experience distortions.

Learning online has the possibility of distractions.

Classrooms are designed to minimize distractions and allow teachers to determine whether you're attentive. If you're taking online classes, You're accountable for finding the right space that will provide an environment that allows you to learn efficiently.

Concordia's Solution:

Students are invited to campus. The campus is located on 440 acres located in Northwest Austin; there are many quiet spots to work, such as in the CTX Library, an outdoor space, or an empty classroom.

If you are having difficulty focusing, be sure you let your professors online know. The more they are aware of you, the better they will be able to assist you.

• You have fewer networking opportunities.

Students who take online education have the opportunity to interact with peers via discussion boards and various other online tools.

However, students who take classes on campus are able to connect with other students from the campus.

Concordia's Solution:

The career center at Concordia, Vocation & Professional Development, is announcing activities on Blackboard (the University's online education platform), which allows students who are online to sign up for online and in-person networking events.