Online education continues to transform learning for students, educators, and schools alike. Web innovations have changed the way we study, engage information, and relate to one another. From its experimental stages to its widespread, present-day applications, online education has constantly altered and improved the educational landscape. Online education creates advancements in:
- Educational Accessibility
- Free Online College Courses
- Fully Accredited Online Schools
- Fully Online High Schools
- Widespread Web-based Learning in K–12 Curricula
Today, online education is widely accepted, highly-regarded, and completely necessary for educating a diverse and constantly evolving student population.
Online education’s growth means that you now possess greater educational access, flexibility, and convenience, but it also means that you have an enormous range of options; this is especially true when it comes to online college and online graduate degrees. It is important that you not only choose the best online school but that you choose the best online school for your needs. As you navigate the world of online education, be sure to know what your options are, how you can minimize risks, and how you can improve your chances of excelling as a student.
Whether you are interested in finding an online high school program, locating a local, collaborative makerspace, transferring into an online college, or completing an online master’s degree program, you should read on to learn how to choose the best program for your needs.
There are also tons of valuable links and resources here for every online education experience.
What Is Online Education?
The term “online education” refers to technological learning, instruction, and assessment that is mediated through the internet. This terminology describes any strategy of education that is conducted either partially or entirely online. Online education can take many forms, such as:
- Administering Homeschooling Through Online Education
- Attending Fully Online Schools and Colleges
- Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
- Using Makerspaces and Other Collaborative Environments for Project-based Learning
- Using Online Access in a Traditional Classroom Setting
In fact, you can earn an online degree at nearly every level of education, including high school diplomas, online associate degrees, online bachelor’s degrees, online master’s degrees, and even online Ph.D.s.
What’s the Difference Between Asynchronous and Synchronous Online Education?
Online education is administrated through a wide variety of models. These include:
- Pre-recorded Video Lectures
- Social Media Outlets
- Student Chat Boards
- Video-conferencing
- Virtual Blackboards
These are just a few of the countless possible distribution channels. However, online education can largely be divided into two major categories:
- Synchronous online classes allow students and instructors to be online at the same time. All lectures, discussions, and presentations occur at scheduled times. In order to participate in these activities, everyone must be online at the properly designated time.
- Asynchronous online classes allow students to participate in course activities whenever they choose. Materials, lectures, tests, and assignments are provided by instructors beforehand and can be accessed online any time. Students are often still expected to connect with the class and complete activities by a certain time, but this asynchronous approach generally offers more schedule flexibility than the synchronous one.
