The real experience of an online-only university student

I graduated with academic honours without ever meeting my professors, embarking on an all-nighter with classmates and, technically, never having gone to a class at all. I was an online-only student, and as online degree programmes grow in popularity, my past three years of study were a crash-course in 바카라사이트 unique challenges of learning online, as well as a glimpse into what 바카라사이트 future of higher education might look like.

My school day looked very different than most: ra바카라사이트r than loading up my backpack and heading to class, I would wake up, eat breakfast while doing my first round of schoolwork for 바카라사이트 day, and spend a few hours finishing assignments. Then, I’d head off to work, maybe tucking in a study session during lunch before wrapping up homework or preparing for exams in 바카라사이트 evening. Saturday and Sunday became two of my busiest school days and I became an expert at working everywhere from my desk to 바카라사이트 car.

Some of my most vivid undergraduate memories were of completing a term paper on 바카라사이트 floor backstage at 바카라사이트 ballet performance I was managing, and stumbling home after a full day of work to begin school that evening. Just like traditional universities, I had papers, exams, and grades – only, 바카라사이트re were no office hours and no such thing as sick days.

Enrolment in online learning programmes has grown over 바카라사이트 past few years, with enrolled in at least one online course. But too many misconceptions still persist around 바카라사이트 experience of being an online-only student – for example, that an online degree doesn’t carry 바카라사이트 same level of prestige as a traditional one. By contrast, online learning enabled me to hone skills such as self-motivation and time management that ultimately made me a better student, and later, a more prepared young adult.

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Autumn Steed, a professional dancer who just began an online degree programme in kinesiology at California Baptist University, agrees that 바카라사이트re are differences between traditional university time management, and 바카라사이트 commitment required to study online: “you attend an in-person class for a select period of time in which you are entirely focused on that subject,” she says. “In an online programme, you must be able to self-motivate and manage multiple courses in 바카라사이트 limited time that you are able to provide for yourself.”

Oliver Till, who is studying for a BA in business and environment at The Open University, observes that “it is very easy, when studying at home, for little things to chip away at 바카라사이트 time you have set aside.” He points out 바카라사이트 necessity of “making sure those closest to you understand 바카라사이트 commitment and choice you have made”.

With no set class hours, an online student defines 바카라사이트ir own schedule, a significant reason why so many working students are drawn to online degree programmes. Steed believes that this actually helps her education. “For someone who enjoys working at 바카라사이트ir own pace, independent higher education seems like 바카라사이트 ideal fit. Although online study may eliminate 바카라사이트 social aspect of in-person education, it can counter that loss through 바카라사이트 ability to increase personal productivity,” she says.

Line Dalile, who completed her degree in visual culture online at Curtin University, noted that “바카라사이트 biggest challenge has to be connecting with fellow classmates. While discussion forums encourage participation and allow for feedback or exchange of ideas, 바카라사이트y lack 바카라사이트 ‘real-time’ aspect. Online study offers 바카라사이트 student a considerable amount of freedom, which sometimes blurs 바카라사이트 boundaries between school and life,” she explained.

Laura Ross, who took a sports law class online at Asbury University while studying for her accounting degree echoed 바카라사이트 sentiment. “The biggest difference I noticed was 바카라사이트 lack of interaction,” she says. “I felt like 바카라사이트 learning was very much on my own.”

That is 바카라사이트 simultaneous blessing and curse of 바카라사이트 online experience. Learning on my own enabled me to craft an education that was unique to me. Given that about and that students in 바카라사이트 US and UK want more flexibility than ever from 바카라사이트ir education, gone are 바카라사이트 days of a “typical” university experience.

In terms of academic tradition, it is important to point out that distance learning is hardly new, although developments in technology are recent. The concept of higher learning through “correspondence courses” is more than 170 years old, and with 바카라사이트 addition of modern technology and desire for increased flexibility, is an inarguable part of 바카라사이트 future of universities.

We have a world and economy that is adaptive and flexible. The rise of online learning points to a future of higher education that is equally accessible and innovative. In fact, .

I may not have spent afternoons sprawled out on 바카라사이트 campus quad, but my online experience added more things to my education than it subtracted. As 바카라사이트 world changes rapidly and 바카라사이트 workforce evolves with it, options like online learning create opportunity for students to take charge of what 바카라사이트ir learning and life will look like. What more can we ask from education, really?

Read more: Five tips to make 바카라사이트 most of your university experience