Online has a lot of advantages especially at an age where life is happening so fast. With and online class I am able to cut out any commute time to school and home. I simply find my office at home, log in and I am "at" school. It helps alleviate any stress of the commute. Yet another advantage of the online learning is being able to look up any topic or discussion point online while learning. For instance during our stats class I was able to google a few terms I had never heard before while listening to the lecture. I was able to learn while learning. It allows me freedom to explore the content while learning about it. I would feel rude looking things up during class, and often embarrassed to ask a vocabulary question. With online learning I am able to use the tools at my finger tips to help tutor me through!
What I thought would be a disadvantage was not seeing my professors face to face, or even my group members. I was also concerned that lectures were going to be pre-recorded and then it was going to be a simple play back with no way of asking questions. A listen, learn, work type environment. That simple is not true. It is just like sitting in a classroom, only I can sit in my PJs!
The only disadvantage I have come across is that often there is dead time when a question is asked. Whether it be due to not knowing an answer or some other reason, the mic sits silent. With out the pressure of the teacher watching over you it can be hard to get a response.
I was originally worried about online learning and what it would be like for me. To tell the truth, it is just like a classroom, only I can be comfortable and not at a desk or table. I still learn the same and have a few more tools at my disposal. I have encouraged friends to take classes online as a time and money saver and it has also worked for them!
