The practice of learning from home has been in existence as far back as 1996 after the establishment of the first completely web-based college in the International University of Jones. But it was not until 1984, that the world witnessed the first completion of online education offered by the University of Toronto.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, traditional classrooms were very often used to educate. The widespread of the pandemic forced the closure of all schools and public places across the world, thus significantly increasing the usage rate in online education.
Different individuals have diverse online learning definitions, the simplest of all being that it is a form of education that happens virtually, over the internet. Otherwise, known as E-learning, online schooling is a term that defines only one type of “distance learning” (the general term for any form of education that happens across a distance, and not in a conventional classroom).
Thanks to technological advancement, individuals who seek to be educated can now afford access to one. Realizing the complexity of the assignment, I reached out to my classmate, saying, i need help on my homework and together with this service we tackled the challenging questions. The main purpose of an online school is to enable individuals to study or instruct anywhere on the planet, regardless of location. This drives away the need to transport daily and obey a rigid timetable, while saving time and money.
While there are many who wholesomely welcome the opportunity, there are a few people with reservations. Some individuals do not fully understand how online schools function in the areas of examination, schedule or rules, and others question their legality, recognition and students’ productivity.
How do online schools work?
There are various resources used in online schools, some of which include: e-books, journals, videos, recorded lectures, quizzes, forums, question and answer sessions, and interviews. Each resource an individual utilizes is dependent on the course offered and institution applied to.
Enrolling for these programs gives you the same authenticity as that of an on-campus student, the major difference is a flexible schedule and of course, a lack of physical interaction. The institution and teacher are expected to choose formats and delivery methods suitable for your course of study.
The most popular delivery method is done using the institution’s online platform. This method creates time for working class students. The website provides access to assignments, tests, exams, and all other necessary resources.
A common misconception is that schooling online increases the chances of cheating during tests or exams. The measures preventing malpractices in online education are much stringent than that of traditional classroom education. Students are always timed and are often unable to leave the webpage during these examinations. Using highly accurate plagiarism software checkers, institutions ensure that students who cheat will be punished accordingly.
How to stay productive during online school
Distractions occur both in the classroom and during online lectures. To achieve focus and eliminate these distractions, there are certain things a student must do.
- Let your phone rest
It is important to turn off all unnecessary notifications during online lectures. This will help improve attentiveness to the instructor.
- Write it down
Taking notes in class is necessary to reduce distractions. It is a popular belief that people who write down things are more likely to remember them.
- Create a personal schedule
Creating a personal to-do list to remind you of tests and assignments will help in organizing your thoughts and day. You could consider starting with the hardest assignments.
Advantages of online education
The benefits of online schools to both students and teachers are diverse. A few of these benefits include.
- Increase in flexibility.
- Consideration for individual learning patterns.
- Enablement of individual control over learning.
- Improvement in international networking.
Conclusion
A major question often asked in regards to online learning is: what are the best online schools? There are over one hundred accredited online schools and colleges arranged via ranking on Google search. When selecting, lookout for requirements, fees, credentials and reviews.