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Online schooling has brought about several advantages for learners. The accessibility of education for healthcare workers has made it possible to advance in the career at a self-determined pace. Let us take a look at 13 online schooling benefits for healthcare workers, and why it’s worth considering this route.
- Cost Effectiveness
Online studies are cost-effective compared to physically attending a college institution. This means that you’re left with the extra money which you would’ve spent on college, and you can spend it on other financial priorities. The only thing you’ll have to pay for is a program, such as those found on RNtoBSNProgram.com. Let’s take a closer look at the financial aspects that are eliminated when you attend school online.
- Relocation
In most cases, attending college means having to relocate to a different state, city, country or even continent. The costs of relocating can be overwhelming, as they include travel, documentation processing, shipping and more. The fact that you can enjoy learning from the comfort of your home means that you don’t have to consider these financial implications.
- Accommodation
Once you’ve relocated, there’s the cost of accommodation, which will remain a constant until you’re through with your course. Accommodation costs include initial deposit, contract fee, maintenance fee, monthly rent and repairs. Online learning means avoiding these added living expenses, and the necessity to take up part-time work to pay for it.
- Groceries
If you live on-campus, the cost of meals may be included in the fees. If you live off campus then you’ll have to buy groceries, which constitutes an added expense to what you already spend at home. Remember that the general cost of living differs from one geographic space to another; depending on where you live, you could be eligible to save a lot more through online education.
- Transport
Attending college means setting a budget on transport. If you live on the college campus, you could have to pay for a bus system depending on the infrastructure. If you don’t live off campus then you’ll have to consider gas expenses, car parking and taxi fees. Online learning, however, is simply a click away.
- International Fees
International students in various universities often have to pay a fee which local students don’t. There are various reasons for this, such as the inclusion of repatriation fees and international transaction fees. Studying online doesn’t include these expenses, as it can facilitate internationally diverse students without any financial barriers.
- Scholarly Materials
When you attend college online, you’re provided digitally with the material that you’ll need throughout the course. Physical attendance of college may require purchasing notebooks and text books that aren’t handed out in class. Online learning simply requires downloading material or accessing it through the portal.
- Flexibility
Online learning is flexible in that you include the schooling into your schedule. You don’t have to compromise your family duties or work because of a rigid schooling schedule, the likes of which must be adhered to in a physical institution. You can attend online classes around the clock, regardless of your responsibilities or time-zone. Online learning eliminates the issue of forced absenteeism and rushed catch-up lessons.
- Self-Paced
The dynamic of the physical classroom assumes that all students learn at the same pace. The fast-paced learners can lose motivation to learn if they feel like the class is lagging. Students who learn at a slower pace may become frustrated if the class is progressing too quickly for them. The result is that students may fail their course, and not due to incompetence; much of the time, the reason a student fails is because there was no provision made for them to learn at their own pace.
Online learning provides a platform for students to set the pace of the learning process. If one doesn’t quite grasp a concept first time around, they can return to the material at their convenience as it’s available around the clock. Those who skip topics and subjects because they feel as if they don’t need them are also able to do so. This means that each student is responsible for their learning progress, and doesn’t have to rely on the lecturer or the general pace of the class.
- Various Learning Modes
Students differ when it comes to preferred learning modes. There are those who enjoy learning with visual aids, while others prefer to learn through more practical means. Some students would rather listen to material than read or write it. Physically attending college means having to adapt to the teaching method of the particular lecturer. If they adopt a teaching style that isn’t in line with a student’s preferred method, it will be difficult for them to keep up.
Online learning gives a choice between various learning modes. Depending on the course in which you enrol, you can choose to learn through videos, audios, live lectures or reading material, for example. As you explore the different modes of learning, you can then decide which one works best for you, and employ that knowledge in future education and work.
- Customised Learning Environment
The chance to customise your learning environment may increase your productivity levels. Not all students work well in the traditional set up of a lecture hall, surrounded by several other students. Some may find this set up distracting, and struggle with dynamics such as hearing the lecturer’s voice echo or reading the blackboard and projector.
Online schooling means you can figure out which environment works best for your productivity. This may be at home on the couch, at a desk, a coffee shop or in a quiet park. You should try out a few different settings before deciding which one works best for you.
The same applies to the times at which you decide to learn. Some students prefer early in the morning, while others work better in the late hours of the evening. Customising your schedule may improve the overall results, as opposed to being forced into the structure that’s set for you in college.
- Technical Skills Development
Not only do you enhance your knowledge and skills through online college, you also develop technical skills as you navigate the various platforms through online learning. You will be allocated different portals, and have to navigate processes such as submissions, group chats and access to material. These technical skills will come in handy as work environments progress digitally.
- One-On-One Assistance
Online learning can come with more personalised assistance than typically offered in a group setting in college. You’ll likely have access to a host of online tutors who can help you with any subjects or concepts that you may be struggling with. The flexibility of online learning means that you can set up a time with a tutor that’s convenient to both of you. This may be a challenge in college, as tutors are usually allocated a block of time where they can attend to students. If you miss that block, you’ll have to find another time to get the help you need, and in some cases, it may be too late.
- Global Perspective
Online learning means meeting students from all around the globe. When you interact with students from diverse backgrounds, you have the chance to gain global perspectives on various subjects. Your views on various global and humanitarian issues will become multi-faceted, which helps to enhance your overall perception of the world and navigation of life. This’s not to say that physical colleges don’t accommodate international students, however the population of local students usually outnumbers them.
- Inclusive Communication
Students are encouraged to communicate their ideas and opinions. Usually, in a traditional college set up, students are asked to stand or appear in front of the class when communicating. In some cases, students are randomly picked and asked to communicate with the classroom without any preparation or willingness to at all. This style of learning doesn’t accommodate students who struggle with public speaking, or need more time to think about their ideas before sharing them. It may then appear as if the students aren’t interested in the topic or haven’t been paying attention in class, which is very often not the case whatsoever.
Online learning provides students with a space to comfortably communicate. There’s no need to stand in front of a classroom, which many students find intimidating. You also have time to think about or write down your ideas before you share them. This means that the students who otherwise wouldn’t enjoy or reap the benefits of communicating now have a platform to do so comfortably.
- Greater Access to Experts
Traditional college set ups facilitate guest lecturers to speak with the students and share their perspectives or experiences on relevant topics in their niche. Such initiatives are helpful to students, as they motivate them to become experts, and help them to see that it’s a realistic goal. Guest lecturers, however, are only accessible depending on various factors such as location, transport resources and accommodation.
Online learning eliminates such dynamics, meaning that students will have greater access to experts. Students can interact with experts from different backgrounds and parts of the globe, due to the technological advancement and connectedness that the digital space offers.
- Traceable Learning
Online learning offers you the ability to track your progress, and the time that you are investing. The track logs available will help you with self-analysis. You can determine the areas where you need to invest more attention, need to work faster or revisit later. This is different from an end-of-semester report, which relies on the perception of the lecturer and does not have a day-to-day tracking log. Self-improvement is encouraged as a result of visible tracking.
- Immediate Scoring
Online learning means that you’ll often be invited to take quizzes and tests when you have completed learning a module. The results of these are usually instant, meaning you can immediately revise the areas that you’re struggling with efficiently. Traditional college on the other hand means having to wait for a date to be set for you to take a test. The time taken by lecturers and tutors to mark the script means that you’ll have to wait a while before you can assess your progress. By the time you get your scripts marked, you may have forgotten the material and need to refresh.
- Less Exam Pressure
Students frequently fail exams for reasons other than simply not knowing the material. There are various factors that can lead to failing exams, including the pressure that comes with the lecture hall environment, full with students. Noticing others getting anxious can encourage you to do the same, and it is important to keep your head screwed on. For many, the traditional exam setting is a very real source of panic, and thus far from perfect in the grand scheme of things.
Conclusion
Online schooling for healthcare workers holds several benefits. It is a cost-effective method, due to dynamic-changes such as those in accommodation, transport, groceries, travel, international fees and materials. It is also a flexible, self-paced style of learning, meaning it facilitates balance among your priorities.
You can choose from various learning modes, and customise your learning environment. Technical skills developed through online learning may come in handy in the work space. You can receive one-on-one help and gain a global perspective, by studying with students from various backgrounds.
Inclusive communication and access to experts are also benefits provided by online learning. You are able to trace your progress and immediately review your tests and quiz scores, compared to traditional colleges where you will usually have to wait for a while. You can also write your exams in a comfortable space, without the pressure of being packed into a compact space with other students.
The benefits of online schooling are worth experiencing as you progress in your healthcare career. Simply set up your laptop and have a reliable internet connection, apply for a program and you are well on your way to professional success.
