| More and more young people are becoming attracted | | | | a correspondence degree course while at home, |
| to the idea of online courses. Many believe that | | | | especially if one is also working full-time. Many people |
| signing up with accredited institutions for perfectly | | | | draw very clear lines between recreation and work, |
| legitimate diplomas will give them the time and space | | | | and when regular work hours end, their bodies are |
| they need to do other things. They believe this is | | | | wired to rest, or to play. This would make it very |
| especially useful if they must work early on, or if | | | | difficult for an easily distracted young person to keep |
| they plan to pursue a profession on top of a college | | | | up with the demands of both full-time work and |
| degree. Therefore, more and more young people are | | | | part-time studying. |
| weighing the advantages and disadvantages of online | | | | Also, one should not think that just because a course |
| courses. | | | | is online, a student may be spared lab work, legwork |
| However, the advantages and disadvantages of | | | | for research, one-on-one consultations with the |
| online courses vary greatly between institutions. | | | | professor, group meetings with classmates and other |
| Some institutions that offer distance learning offer | | | | regular classroom requirements. These may still be |
| very comprehensive curriculums, which may be a | | | | required of students taking online classes, so |
| boon particularly for young people who wish to study | | | | occasional trips to the library and to the physical |
| and work full-time; they may set their research and | | | | campus are still called for. Shy students may feel |
| composition time after regular working hours, so they | | | | more comfortable studying in isolation, but |
| could better feel that they are in control of their | | | | socialization is still quite vital for many degree courses. |
| time. | | | | One empirical disadvantage that may arise is the |
| However, even if you have more flexible hours in | | | | difficulty of transferring credits from an online course |
| which to do your studies, some courses could be | | | | to an existing or future study program. Not all |
| quite demanding, and the exhaustion may lead you to | | | | universities accept online class credits for certain |
| find yourself wishing that you could just pursue a | | | | courses, and some universities even have strict rules |
| degree full-time instead of part-time. This is why | | | | as to which exercises they will and will not credit. |
| before you sign up for an online course, you should | | | | Before signing up for an online course, map out your |
| have a good idea of the requirements that come | | | | academic plans carefully. Have a clear idea where you |
| with it, and be able to fit it well into your schedule. | | | | want to proceed after you have finished the online |
| Some people may believe that since online classes | | | | course, and what you plan to use your distance |
| give you the luxury of studying at home, on your | | | | education degree for. Coordinate with the necessary |
| own schedule, the demands are less rigorous. This is | | | | institutions to make sure your performance at an |
| a common misconception. | | | | online class will be credited. This knowledge will help |
| Working at home could be quite taxing, especially if | | | | you become more accurate in determining the |
| you already have a family and are looking after an | | | | advantages and disadvantages of online courses of |
| entire household. The distractions abound. One needs | | | | your choice. |
| enormous discipline and energy in order to study for | | | | |