With the fast-paced developments in technology, learning is no longer confined within the four walls of a classroom. Online learning is on the rise, paving the way for more accessible and effective learning for almost anyone with access to the internet anywhere in the world.
With relatively lower costs, the ability to engage with the material anytime and anywhere, and a variety of materials available, it’s no surprise that students and working professionals alike have adopted the medium. Aside from these benefits, online learning offers several advantages in the quality of learning over its traditional counterpart.
To better understand these aspects, here’s a deep dive into online learning facts.
Online learning is incredibly popular in the United States, with over 6 million Americans engaged in some type of online education. A 2017 study showed that the bulk of online learners was made up of experienced professionals at 68%. This percentage is divided between “industry switchers” (36%) and “career accelerators” (34%).
Both students and teachers alike have embraced eLearning, with around 70% of students and 77% of teachers in agreement that this digital alternative is just as good as or even better than traditional classroom learning.
RELATED ARTICLE: A Huge List of Free Online Learning Resources for Kids
As reported by the University of the Potomac, 26% of students claim to learn more from online classes than traditional ones—with online learners scoring in the 59th percentile on standardized tests. Meanwhile, a 2016 Statista survey found that 81% of college students believed that digital learning helped improve their grades.
On the side of educators, a 2015 survey revealed a global trend of increased support for digital education models. Specifically, 65% of survey respondents were supportive of the use of open educational resources in teaching.
The impact that eLearning has on continued education is evident. From young students to experienced adults, students to educators— these groups all benefit from the unique opportunities that digital education has to offer.
Why Online Classes Are Effective:
It’s undeniable that eLearning is incredibly effective. If you’re considering enrolling in a class, here are reasons why online education is the better option.
-
Online classes allow for better student-teacher ratios
Class size can pose a challenge for maximizing learning opportunities. With an unbalanced students-to-teacher ratio, it can be too easy to make mistakes or for the learning needs to be overlooked.
The University of the Potomac noted a 5:1 ratio by which learners differ. This ratio means that the slowest student will take five times as long to learn as the fastest student. Around 90% of these learners will succeed, given the right amount of attention from teachers. Luckily, the research notes that 97% of online institutions offer student-teacher ratios of 25:1 or better.
-
Online classes let you learn more
After IBM implemented its internal eLearning program, participants were able to learn about five times more material without an increase in training time. Aside from being able to learn from multimedia content, participants were able to work at their own pace.
This freedom allowed them to take their time on topics that challenged them and move faster on topics that they were more comfortable with. As a result, students were able to use their time more efficiently and gain more learnings from their course.
-
Online classes take up less time
When attending face-to-face classes, the time you invest goes beyond the hours spent inside the classroom. Factors like travel time and scheduling classes between other commitments can pile on, making it difficult to see a course through until the end. However, this is not the case with online learning.
A study from the Research Institute of America learned that online courses had higher retention rates of 25–60%, compared to the 8–10% for offline courses. Having more control over the learning process and the ability to revisit any course materials are the most significant factors for the rise in figures.
-
Online classes give you more control
Aside from occupying more time for travel and preparation, face-to-face classes are dependent on external factors like waiting for lecturers or even other students. Progress within a traditional class can also hinge on how fast or slow the students are learning.
A Brandon-Hall survey of companies reported that eLearning a piece of material required 40–60% less of an employee’s time than learning the same material in a traditional class setting. The nature of online learning allows students to have more control over when they take classes and engage with materials.
RELATED ARTICLE: Perks of Being Bilingual: Why Kids Should Learn Other Languages
The Power of Online Learning in the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the government to issue a stay-home order to avoid potential health risks. As a result, schools have elected to close and shifted from traditional classes to online classes and distance learning.
Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, the advantages of distance learning can be felt more than ever. Distance learning gives students the flexibility to engage with their lessons at their own time. Distance learning can be conducted across various mediums and platforms, therefore allowing students to easily access them from the safety of their homes. Finally, this method can easily be adjusted or tweaked to cater to differently-abled students, thus evening out the playing field for learning opportunities.
Now, the state of California has released official guidelines for the reopening of schools this coming fall. With student health and safety as a top priority, officials are recommending blended learning models that cycle between in-person instruction at schools and distance learning.
Learn the Ni Hao Way
Covering a vast array of topics, digital tools have allowed for both self-study and lecture-led learning to have the upper hand over traditional classes. Indeed, online learning has empowered all kinds of people across the globe to gain knowledge more conveniently and more efficiently.
Ni Hao puts an emphasis on Mandarin immersion and interaction between instructors and students. Ni Hao’s online classes incorporate multiple disciplines like art, science, culture, and music into every aspect of the curriculum and learning materials, students are able to reach proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
Interested parents can coordinate to find a class that works best for their children’s schedules, with live sessions hosted over Zoom. Ni Hao also offers free course materials, such as preview audio and review videos, to help students practice their Mandarin before and after class.
Ni Hao boasts a full team of professionals that will help your child learn Chinese online through immersion and digital learning at their own pace. Contact us to learn more!