| Why Keep Learning? | | | | don't need to wait for your fellow students to cover it |
| There's no doubting that adult education is a huge | | | | before you move on to what *you* want to learn. If |
| industry nowadays. With the job market growing ever | | | | you're having difficulty understanding a particular |
| more competitive, and employees being expected to | | | | concept, you can spend as much time on it as you |
| continually develop themselves professionally | | | | want without feeling you're slowing your classmates |
| (whatever their profession), 'lifelong learning' has | | | | down. You can find courses that are delivered in the |
| become a necessity, rather than just an added bonus. | | | | medium *you* learn best in - whether that be audio, |
| Failure to upskill can be the difference between getting | | | | video, or the written word. |
| the job of your dreams, and losing out to a slightly | | | | Online courses can be far more affordable than |
| more qualified candidate - or simply being passed up | | | | face-to-face classes as well. Fees are often lower; |
| yet again for a promotion. | | | | even before you factor in the lack of transport costs, |
| Even for those outside of the workforce, education is | | | | parking, childcare fees, and any need to eat out. Most |
| the most reliable path to better relationships, a better | | | | online courses will allow you to study totally at your |
| financial situation, and better quality of life over all. Jim | | | | own pace, so you can end up completing your course |
| Rohn, America's foremost business philosopher, has | | | | in far less time than it would take if you'd been |
| been known to say that 'Formal education will make | | | | attending weekly classes. |
| you a living - self education will make you a fortune!' | | | | Is Online Education For Everyone? |
| But what is it about internet education (or 'webucation') | | | | The truth is that internet education won't suit everyone. |
| that makes it so popular? How do we know if online | | | | For a start, you need to have a basic understanding of |
| learning is right for us, or if we're better off signing up | | | | how to use a computer and connect to the internet, |
| for face-to-face classes somewhere local? | | | | and not everyone does. However, the fact that you're |
| Advantages of Learning Online | | | | reading this article online suggests you already have |
| The most obvious advantage of online education is its | | | | that understanding. You need to have regular Internet |
| sheer flexibility in terms of time. It allows you to study | | | | access - and it will be easier for you to study to your |
| totally on your own timetable, around the many other | | | | own timetable if you can connect to the 'Net at home, |
| commitments you already have in your life. You can | | | | rather than at a friend's or a public library. |
| study while working fulltime, while you're doing | | | | Just as for face-to-face classes (perhaps a little more |
| shiftwork or while caring for children or relatives. | | | | so), you need to be organised and fairly self-motivated. |
| Whether you're at your best early in the morning or | | | | You need to know exactly why you want to complete |
| late in the evening, you can study at a time that suits | | | | the course you enrol in, and really understand what |
| you. You don't have to worry about catching tutors | | | | difference passing it will make in your life. You need to |
| during their office hours, and courses are available to | | | | be able to plan out when you're going to dedicate time |
| you 24/7, so you don't have to worry about fitting in | | | | to studying, and have the commitment to honour your |
| with your lecturer's schedule. | | | | plans. |
| Equally helpful is the geographical flexibility it gives you. | | | | If you know what you want to get out of online |
| Suddenly, transport logistics become a non-issue. You | | | | education, however, and you're willing to follow the |
| can study courses based in other cities - indeed in | | | | study plans you set for yourself, 'webucation' can |
| other countries. Travel costs like petrol and parking or | | | | provide you with huge opportunities! It can reduce the |
| public transport are a thing of the past; and you don't | | | | logistical hassles of studying important courses, while |
| have to factor in travel time either (not to mention | | | | providing you with a far more enjoyable, convenient |
| cutting out any rushing between classes if you're | | | | and personalised learning experience. All this, and often |
| studying more than one at a time!) | | | | at a price far less than face-to-face classes would |
| Almost more important than logistics for many | | | | cost you - it's no wonder Forbes magazine described |
| students, however, is the fact that online learning | | | | internet education as "one of the biggest emerging |
| allows you to personalise your study. If you already | | | | trends of the decade". |
| know some of the material in the course syllabus, you | | | | |