Higher Ed Geek

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The Remote Learning Revolution

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Today, the wide variety of online learning platforms is creating a much more competitive market for education than any other time in history.  Indeed, just a decade ago, universities and colleges felt secure in their ability to dominate the market when it came to education - with just a few vocational and professional training organisations being in the shadows of these towering institutions - yet, today, there’s a remote learning revolution which universities are having to catch up with!


Many students simply can’t afford higher education today, in a traditional university or college environment… and even more are questioning the value of a traditional three year degree in terms of the return on investment the course will deliver.


There are, of course, many benefits to attending university as a regular student - but most of these fall into two categories; social and facilities.


In terms of the actual education itself, online learning seems to be a much more attractive way to go about getting a formal education with such an array of courses on offer, today, people are even able to do a masters in early childhood education online at a decent university.


Online learning tends to offer a much more affordable and flexible way to learn.  Indeed, the cost saving benefits of studying online are vast, as not only are there lower fees because the academic institution has much lower costs than a traditional campus based facility, but also, you are potentially saving money on accommodation, transport, and also the ability to work full-time and study around their commitments.  


Online learning is much better for parents too, as this way you can fit your studying around your life rather than having to fit your life around your study.  Indeed, so many parents are having to juggle multiple aspects including work, family, study and their social life that they simply could not access a traditional course.  


Today, the opportunity to study more flexibly at home where there’s no need to commute to a lecture theatre - for as long as you have a decent internet connection you can practically study (or work) anywhere in the world… whether that’s in the comfort of your own home, on a luxury beach paradise, or a budget backpacker shack in a pristine mountain paradise.


In fact the freedom of the remote working lifestyle and the remote studying lifestyle means, quite literally, the world is your oyster.  Many people want to learn new skills are are looking at ways of doing this that can fit into an already busy lifestyle, which is why online learning is starting to supercede traditional campus based university courses.



In summary, students today crave a lot more freedom, flexibility, and relevancy in terms of their education - often opting for much cheaper vocational courses focused on a specific aspect of a broader topic that they can study anywhere in the world with an internet connection.  However, several mainstream universities are responding to this trend to the point you can do advanced masters courses online.