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Why Keep Learning?
There's no doubting that adult education is a huge industry
nowadays. With the job market growing ever more competitive, and
employees being expected to continually develop themselves
professionally (whatever their profession), 'lifelong learning'
has become a necessity, rather than just an added bonus. Failure
to upskill can be the difference between getting the job of your
dreams, and losing out to a slightly more qualified candidate -
or simply being passed up yet again for a promotion.
Even for those outside of the workforce, education is the most
reliable path to better relationships, a better financial
situation, and better quality of life over all. Jim Rohn,
America's foremost business philosopher, has been known to say
that 'Formal education will make you a living - self education
will make you a fortune!'
But what is it about internet education (or 'webucation') that
makes it so popular? How do we know if online learning is right
for us, or if we're better off signing up for face-to-face
classes somewhere local?
Advantages of Learning Online
The most obvious advantage of online education is its sheer
flexibility in terms of time. It allows you to study totally on
your own timetable, around the many other commitments you
already have in your life. You can study while working fulltime,
while you're doing shiftwork or while caring for children or
relatives. Whether you're at your best early in the morning or
late in the evening, you can study at a time that suits you. You
don't have to worry about catching tutors during their office
hours, and courses are available to you 24/7, so you don't have
to worry about fitting in with your lecturer's schedule.
Equally helpful is the geographical flexibility it gives you.
Suddenly, transport logistics become a non-issue. You can study
courses based in other cities - indeed in other countries.
Travel costs like petrol and parking or public transport are a
thing of the past; and you don't have to factor in travel time
either (not to mention cutting out any rushing between classes
if you're studying more than one at a time!)
Almost more important than logistics for many students, however,
is the fact that online learning allows you to personalise your
study. If you already know some of the material in the course
syllabus, you don't need to wait for your fellow students to
cover it before you move on to what *you* want to learn. If
you're having difficulty understanding a particular concept, you
can spend as much time on it as you want without feeling you're
slowing your classmates down. You can find courses that are
delivered in the medium *you* learn best in - whether that be
audio, video, or the written word.
Online courses can be far more affordable than face-to-face
classes as well. Fees are often lower; even before you factor in
the lack of transport costs, parking, childcare fees, and any
need to eat out. Most online courses will allow you to study
totally at your own pace, so you can end up completing your
course in far less time than it would take if you'd been
attending weekly classes.
Is Online Education For Everyone?
The truth is that internet education won't suit everyone. For a
start, you need to have a basic understanding of how to use a
computer and connect to the internet, and not everyone does.
However, the fact that you're reading this article online
suggests you already have that understanding. You need to have
regular Internet access - and it will be easier for you to study
to your own timetable if you can connect to the 'Net at home,
rather than at a friend's or a public library.
Just as for face-to-face classes (perhaps a little more so), you
need to be organised and fairly self-motivated. You need to know
exactly why you want to complete the course you enrol in, and
really understand what difference passing it will make in your
life. You need to be able to plan out when you're going to
dedicate time to studying, and have the commitment to honour
your plans.
If you know what you want to get out of online education,
however, and you're willing to follow the study plans you set
for yourself, 'webucation' can provide you with huge
opportunities! It can reduce the logistical hassles of studying
important courses, while providing you with a far more
enjoyable, convenient and personalised learning experience. All
this, and often at a price far less than face-to-face classes
would cost you - it's no wonder Forbes magazine described
internet education as "one of the biggest emerging trends of the
decade".
About the author:
Tanja Gardner (http://optimumlife.co.nz ) is a stress management
and fitness coach who's worked in education for two years. If
you're interested in a whole new way to learn online that lets
you *earn* while you study, visit
http://optimumlife.successuniversity.com/new for a free 14 day
trial
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