Effects of Taking an Online Course

Causes or effects of taking an online course

With the rapid advancement in technology, it's amazing to see the way businesses are now being managed. We reside in a virtual world now. I Tunes replaced record stores, Amazon is slowly replacing bookstores, and online classes are replacing standard classes. Perhaps I'm shooting a little far by stating that online classes are replacing the standard classes; but there has been a shift in favor of them. Taking online classes have lowered the cost of education, given students the flexibility of completing assignments and taking on a part time job. Enrolling in online courses lighten the load for students carrying a heavy plate; but also presents the risk of procrastination. The economy is spiraling out of control and it is important to reduce spending as much as possible. Taking classes online will completely expunge the need for drive to class everyday. The effects of enrolling in online courses are beneficial for those who travel far to get to the institution. Those students who are committed to their education but ride in those gas-guzzlers are burdened by the increase in gas prices; and are sometimes forced to miss class. Missing classes is bad business. You're behind schedule, important notes are lost, and future information would digest badly. Enrolling in online courses removes the risk of missing lectures and places the blame on students for not learning. The cost of taking an online course -for the most part- is less than that of a standard one. This is especially true in biology and chemistry related courses. Students can avoid lab fees which sometimes total up to a few hundred dollars depending on the institution that they're attending. A penny saved is a penny earned, and in this economy every penny counts. Cost of education aside, the social life of a person is affected when enrolled in college classes regardless of whether they are online or standard ones. Students now more than ever are refusing to limit their social lives to effectively complete assignments by the due date. Enrolling in online classes grants students the flexibility of completing assignments at their own pace; giving them the freedom to engage in their normal ways of life. Having the intention to turn in an assignment on time doesn't always cut it. Can you blame them? After sitting in a lecture hall for two gruesome hours, the first thing on a student's mind is going to be anything but assignment due on the following class period. Online courses take lectures out of the mix; and therefore create a want to log into the virtual class to study. This allows students to balance studies around their social life. This is great for the generation that we are in. Post-secondary education is like a job. A student has to be committed to the classes that they are enrolled in in order to succeed. While holding benefits for some, online courses can be a recipe for disaster. Like a standard class, online classes require dedication. Often instructors also require that students complete a research assignment or group project; and the effects of waiting until the final week that it's due can be disastrous. Students enroll in online classes to keep their normal way of life but often forget to integrate the course into their life; thus causing complete failure. In the past, students who were attending standard classes were unable to commit to a full-time job. Many employers now demand that their employees have a flexible schedule; and often refuse to hire a qualified candidate simply because they are unable to work at any time. Also, applying for a job with the conditions of working two days out of the week, after a specific time would most likely be regarded as a joke. Enrolling in online classes grants students the availability that employers are seeking from its employees. This is beneficial for those who are obligated to work to support a family. The unfortunate truth is that juggling online classes with a full-time job will often result in procrastination. Full-time students enrolled in twelve or more hours, who also work a full-time job -like myself- often feel the pressure of both worlds tugging at them; and won't run the risk of getting fired for calling in to complete pending assignments. This can lead to a few missed assignments and a drop in letter grade. In retrospect, it is because of the availability of online courses that furthering education has become possible. The effects of taking online courses are beneficial for those who work full time, are burdened with a long drive from home, and are unable to sacrifice their social lives to fully commit to furthering their education; but also result in flaws for those who are unable to add classes to the many other challenges that their lives present. Wile beneficial for some, online courses can be disastrous for others who are unable to maintain a balanced