Although there are many advantages to an online education, there are also some disadvantages. The fact that you are working for yourself could be one of the main disadvantages of taking educational classes online.
Consider the busy lifestyle of most people. Between work and family responsibilities, the average person has little time to devote to outside activities, even when those activities could mean a better job, more money, and better benefits. Simply finding the time to attend regular classes may be impossible, so online education becomes a viable option. But the same reason that online education is a great option, lack of time, is the same reason that online education is often difficult.
When you attend a traditional class, you go to school at a set time. You are expected to be in class and are forced to adhere to your instructor’s homework schedule or risk failing the course. With an online education, nobody is likely to check your progress on a regular basis. You may be given some guidance along the way, but you and only you are generally responsible for moving forward on the course. Since you can work at your own pace, some people put work off until they don’t have enough time to finish the requirements.
If there are no time requirements, the chances of postponing work on the material are even greater. You can literally go weeks or months (or even years) without finishing the material to get credit for the course. You’ve paid for the opportunity to learn, but a lack of motivation is often the downfall of those seeking education online.
Another big disadvantage is the lack of interaction. You are not in a classroom and you do not have the opportunity to listen to questions and discussions from other students. This isn’t always a problem, depending on the topic of the online education course you’re taking, but it could be an important factor in deciding whether an online education is the best option when looking for opportunities to learn new skills or acquire new training. .