Summary

• Online learning is a two-way communication where instructors are keen to take feedback so that they can improve the learning experience in the class.
• Most of the top universities in the world are offering online learning opportunities today, and they are also very popular, too.
• The COVID-19 pandemic changed the online learning landscape because this was the time when all educational institutions were closed and all the global in-person education shifted to online.
• Another factor contributing to the growth of online learning is the rapidly changing job market. Now workers have to update their skills at a much faster pace, and therefore they need to learn continuously by taking up new courses.

Common Misconceptions About Online Learning

Online learning has been growing consistently over the last few decades. But there is still no dearth of misunderstandings about it. For instance, some people still believe online learning is not recognised by employers, while others believe online learning can never be as good as in-person learning.

Let’s talk about these misconceptions in detail. There was indeed a time when online learning was getting popular and people usually thought that this kind of education was not credible.

But the situation has now completely changed. Today, most of the top universities in the world are offering online learning opportunities, and they are also very popular, too.

People then used to point out that online learning does not deliver a real studying experience because students do not get interaction opportunities. This is a myth. In online learning, students do interact with the instructor and engage in discussions. It is a two-way communication where instructors are keen to take feedback so that they can improve the learning experience in the class.

Online education is as rigorous as in-person education. It is not that the college or universities offer you a diploma or degree without going through demanding quizzes, tests, practicums, or final exams.

All educational institutions want their certificates or degrees to carry weight, so they make sure that all students meet minimum passing criteria before they receive their certificates. So the misconception that online learning is easy compared to in-person learning does not hold ground.

How Has Online Learning Changed Over the Years?

By the middle of the twentieth century, the concept of online education had gained popularity in the United States; yet, because no internet was available at the time, the outcomes of such efforts were restricted.

However, by the mid-1980s, some of the top US and Canadian colleges began providing part-time or full-time online programs.

Progress accelerated in the 1990s, with the internet becoming increasingly accessible in the world’s industrialised countries.

By the turn of the twenty-first century, internet availability had risen dramatically in other regions of the world, and so has the popularity of online education over time.

The initial growth was slow, but then the growth further consolidated during the last decade.

The COVID-19 pandemic further changed the online education landscape because this was the time when all educational institutions were closed and all the global in-person education shifted to online.

Coursera reported that its annual enrollment in 2021 jumped by 3 times compared to 2020. This shows the sudden jump in the interest of people in online learning.

Now there are several successful platforms that offer online courses, such as LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare, and Udacity, that cater to millions of people around the world.

Today, the size of the global online education market is growing phenomenally. By 2024, the size of the online education market was valued at over US$325.74 billion and is expected to grow remarkably to touch US$800.17 billion by 2033.

Why Is Online Learning Growing?

Online learning has provided solutions to so many problems. This solution-oriented nature of it is at the core of its popularity. For example, in several online learning programs you can learn at your own pace, location and time.

This flexibility is encouraging more people to pursue online education because now they can manage their time better.

Online education has resolved so many problems. Today, if a student cannot travel outside of the city or country, he or she can choose the online option.

Technological advances have also made it possible for students to access resources from all over the world, including research papers and books from the world’s top universities.

Another reason that is fuelling the growth of online learning is the fast-changing job market. Now workers have to update their skills at a much faster pace, and therefore they need to learn continuously by taking up new courses.

Conclusion

The popularity of online education is growing because it is providing new solutions and helping people in improving their lives. It has made education easy and accessible to millions around the world. All these strengths confirm that the future of online education is extremely bright.

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