With the perpetual push for everything to become digitized, from online banking to online commerce to online tax returns, it was only a matter of time before education followed suit. Though it was introduced more than a decade ago in the 1990s when Internet usage saw a huge surge in popularity, online education has only recently gained the attention and respect of thousands of potential students and convinced employers across the country. Advances in computer and Internet technology allows for a highly interactive online educational experience. Many employers now also hold online degrees on the same level as traditional degrees. Evidence suggests that online education may have yet another benefit: it can help you be a better student. A study published by the U.S. Department of Education, titled titled "Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies," asserts that students in online programs may be getting more out of their education than those who learn in a classroom setting.
The study found that students who took either part or all of their classes online performed better than those who were taking the exact same classes in a classroom setting. This turns the notion that traditional classroom education is inherently better than online education on its head. This is because online education, while it does not take place in a classroom, takes the same lecture materials and coursework from the classroom and puts it in an online setting. In doing so, it does not sacrifice the quality of the lecture or materials. In fact, some instructors may actually present lecture materials and notes better in an online setting than in a classroom setting as they are forced to be as clear as possible in order to avoid student confusion.
The theory behind the success of online students over traditional classroom students is that online students tend to spend more time "in class" than traditional students. Whereas classroom students must leave the classroom once the lecture is over, online students can read over the notes and materials as often as he or she needs in order to understand the topics presented. This means that many online students spend more time studying than classroom students, which invariably leads to a deeper understanding of the materials. No matter what the reason is behind the success of online students, the study proves that online education is in fact an excellent means of providing quality schooling to those who cannot partake in a traditional university education. This fact has become so recognized that many traditionally brick-and-mortar schools are now also offering online courses for students who cannot get to the classrooms.
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