| Even before the COVID-19 crisis, post-secondary education was becoming more virtual. In 2018, more than a third of all college and university students took at least one online course. And now in 2020 due to the pandemic, more than half of colleges in the U.S. have planned to begin the semester with either a partial or fully remote class schedule. Can online learning work for everyone? |  ThanksUSA Scholar Jasmine |
In a 2020 survey by Strada Education Network, recent graduates of online institutions rated the value of their education higher than graduates of other four-year colleges. However, Americans in general have diverse preferences for in-person, online, or hybrid modes of learning, and these preferences are changing more rapidly during the pandemic.
As students begin the school year, we spoke with a few ThanksUSA scholars who are seasoned online learners to better understand the benefits or downsides from a military family perspective.
The top benefits of online education as reported by our respondents were having a flexible schedule and developing self-discipline and motivation. One scholar explained, “Online learning takes dedication and commitment. Although you work at your own pace, you have to be self-disciplined to ensure you are meeting your deadlines.”
For parents, military spouses, and caregivers, the flexibility can be paramount to being able to further their education while fulfilling other family responsibilities. “I enjoyed the flexibility to work on my own time, whether it was late at night, during my lunch break, or at kids’ sports practices.”
While there are many benefits to learning in your own environment with the potential to collaborate with a global online network – it will not always be the best choice for all majors and learning types. One scholar shared, “…missing out on the social interaction that in-person courses offer is difficult and can have negative mental health impacts.”
A few tips for success from our scholars:
ThanksUSA’s commitment to military families is based on the belief that higher education provides life-changing opportunities, whether they are found in or out of a classroom. And in prioritizing military spouses and children, we recognize and honor their great sacrifices for our country. Please join ThanksUSA in saying ‘thanks’ by providing the gift of education to a military family today.
As students begin the school year, we spoke with a few ThanksUSA scholars who are seasoned online learners to better understand the benefits or downsides from a military family perspective.
The top benefits of online education as reported by our respondents were having a flexible schedule and developing self-discipline and motivation. One scholar explained, “Online learning takes dedication and commitment. Although you work at your own pace, you have to be self-disciplined to ensure you are meeting your deadlines.”
For parents, military spouses, and caregivers, the flexibility can be paramount to being able to further their education while fulfilling other family responsibilities. “I enjoyed the flexibility to work on my own time, whether it was late at night, during my lunch break, or at kids’ sports practices.”
While there are many benefits to learning in your own environment with the potential to collaborate with a global online network – it will not always be the best choice for all majors and learning types. One scholar shared, “…missing out on the social interaction that in-person courses offer is difficult and can have negative mental health impacts.”
A few tips for success from our scholars:
- Make a schedule and stick to it. Organize your class work ahead of time.
- Set goals to get small stuff like discussion boards out of the way early to allow plenty of time to focus on your assignments.
- Remove distractions from your study space such as phone, social media, etc.
- Online learning means always being “at school” – take time to put your studies aside for family, home and recreation.
ThanksUSA’s commitment to military families is based on the belief that higher education provides life-changing opportunities, whether they are found in or out of a classroom. And in prioritizing military spouses and children, we recognize and honor their great sacrifices for our country. Please join ThanksUSA in saying ‘thanks’ by providing the gift of education to a military family today.
