These days, everything you do can be done online. It makes sense that education can be provided online as well. Various universities and schools have implemented this kind of learning in their curriculum and continue to have classes and courses online. It’s not anything new to us anymore, and we may even like this kind of teaching. It certainly has its good sides, but bad ones also.
In this article, I will be talking about online and remote education and what are the differences between the two. You may be thinking that there are no differences because both can be done in the comfort of your own home, but you could be surprised.
As I’ve mentioned, even though these two terms seem the same, they actually differ from each other in the way how you learn. It’s important to know what they have or don’t have in common because, with all of the information. You can choose one method over the other in accordance with your preferred style of learning.
Online Education
So, let’s get into the jist of things and start with what online learning is. So, as the word says, online education takes place entirely online. That is, this kind of education is completely flexible and allows you to choose which time of day or week you will be attending your classes. You can fit it into your schedule how you want it to, and you don’t have to attend any specific classes at specific times.
With this method, you will still have tests and assignments, but you will be able to work on them on your own time, which is perfect if you have a packed schedule and need to work on schoolwork outside of your working hours. These classes and courses can have video lectures, presentations, or self-paced courses that you can work on for as much time as you want.
Moreover, online education is an ideal choice for self-motivated people with enough self-discipline to set a time for studying and learning on their own. You can pursue such education if you want to get a certain certificate or degree or maybe if you want to learn a new skill or polish an existing one.
On the other hand, there are some drawbacks that may make you turn away from online education. Because it is very flexible, if you are someone who thrives on schedules and routines, you will lack the needed motivation to do tasks on your own. In addition, you may find the absence of human touch unappealing and would rather have face-to-face education. All of that are valid reasons and need to be taken into account when choosing a method of learning.
Remote Education
Now you may be wondering, what is remote education then? Well, remote learning happens on video services, such as Zoom, Google Meet, and similar. It differs from online education in the sense that you will have scheduled classes that you will need to attend. They will also mimic regular education, with the exception of not actually being in a classroom.
That said, you will need to log into one of those services and act like you are in your face-to-face class. The lectures will be led by teachers and professors, and you will have to complete tasks and participate in group activities.
With this kind of method, you don’t have the flexibility you would have with online education. To some, that is a benefit of remote education. Students will have to check in at certain times and keep in mind the schedule, which provides a much higher level of accountability.
Plus, there is the human touch that may be what some students are missing. You can immediately ask a question you have or get into a discussion. However, remote education doesn’t have the flexibility that online education offers, which can be a struggle for working adults or students who have part-time jobs.
Summary
As you can see, even though these methods sound the same, there are some key differences that need to be considered. Think about what your learning style is and in what environment you can thrive.
Both online and remote education have advantages and disadvantages, but either is certainly a good idea if you want to learn from the comfort of your home.
