You Have to Read This Before Starting an Online Course

Summer is coming to an end, and students everywhere are getting ready to head back to school - if they haven’t started already. In all the hustle and bustle of the back to school season, maybe you’re considering going back to school yourself, for whatever reason. If you weren’t able to finish your degree or just miss learning new things, taking an online class might be a great option for you.

September 15th is National Online Learning Day, which is pretty much exactly what you'd expect: it's a day for celebrating and advancing the idea of online learning. The goal is to help raise awareness and support for the idea of online learning, making knowledge and personal betterment more accessible for everyone, from kindergarteners to seniors. If you want to get in on the #onlinelearningday action, there are a couple ways you can get involved with an online class.

Save Money

Getting a formal, in-person education isn’t right for everyone. Maybe your learning style just doesn’t match a classroom environment, or maybe you just can’t afford it at the moment. In the US, it can cost up to $60,000 to go to college, and that’s without taking into account all your other expenses like books, groceries, and travel to and from home. Some online programs charge significantly less in tuition, and you can save money on transportation, housing, and other similar fees. From a cost standpoint alone, if a traditional program is out of the realm of financial possibility for you, consider enrolling in an online program instead.

Flexibility

Another great aspect of an online class is the flexibility that comes with it. An in-person program requires your attendance at the set time and place, regardless of if you have a job or family obligations. If needing a full-time job prevents you from sacrificing large chunks of the work day to attend class--as it does for many people--then an online class is definitely something to consider. Working during the day and taking classes on your own time in the evening would enable you to still afford the rest of your life--your home, your bills--and still potentially get your degree. And, if you are able to work while being in school, that will also help bring the cost of tuition down, as well as limit any debt you may need to incur.

Choose from the Best

Many online programs are geared specifically for adults who want to go back to school, whether they had to leave early or didn’t have the chance to go in the first place. Most of the best online programs of 2018 are professional programs that give their students the job-related skills to succeed in today’s workplace. As technology changes so does the job market, and for some older adults, learning those skills on their own can be overwhelming, or even impossible, depending on the field. Online programs allow people to still keep their jobs while better preparing them for their next project or a career in a new field.

Learn Something New

If you’re not looking to do a full degree but just want to take a class for fun, or to learn something new, the internet is a great place to do that as well. Sites like Udemy offer classes in everything from Microsoft Office training to photography to home improvement how-tos. The huge variety of classes offered makes it easy to find something you’re interested in, or something you’re looking for. If you need to take a technical training course to be more proficient at your job, or if you want to learn a new skill in your spare time, Udemy makes it easy and affordable to do so. You can complete their classes at your own pace, and the rates start at $12 a class. The convenience and affordability make it easy for busy working professionals to still learn something new.