5 Unexpected Benefits of Using the Internet for Education

With respect to online education, the question of whether it is efficient or useful to use the Internet as a way to convey education is often debated. Some worry about the effectiveness of online learning methods, the legitimacy of online instructors, or the reliability of technology. Others argue that the Internet is the great equalizer and can make education widespread and affordable. This article points out five subtle benefits of using the Internet for education that might not have been previously considered.

1. It is easier to participate online

Many students are deterred from class participation because of shyness, embarrassment, or fear that their answer will be incorrect. The Internet provides a certain level of anonymity because students are typically not surrounded by peers they see every day and with whom they engage in social relationships. Therefore, it is easier and less intimidating to engage in the discussion in online classes, which helps students to better retain and understand the material being presented.

2. Environmentally friendly

Despite many reforms undergone by different schools across the country, education as an institution still has a serious effect on the environment through its inefficiency with school materials, its reliance on cars to transport students, and most importantly, its overuse of papers. Many colleges compel students to print out hundreds of pages of readings every day, only to quickly address the articles in class and then never discuss them again. The Internet eliminates all of these problems by providing information on computer screens instead of on books.

3. Broader access to supplementary material

Instead of relying on a single school library, using the Internet as an educational platform allows for the world of information provided by the Internet to be readily available at any moment. There are more articles, books, documents, and other resources available on the Internet than there are in any school library across the country, because most of these library's books have already been digitized!

4. Better attention span because you pick the time that works best for you

Many students find that being forced to attend class in a certain predetermined schedule is the single reason they don't perform as well academically. Some classes are too early, some are too late, and some are too uncomfortably long. Online learning can be taken during the time that best works for the student, so he or she can schedule them during the time when they have the most energy and are most willing to learn.

5. Savings

Not only are online classes generally more affordable than the in-person classes offered at colleges and universities, but there are other costs that are eliminated when one chooses the Internet as a base for education. For example, transportation fees are eliminated, school materials no longer need to be purchased, and you can even argue that taking classes at home reduces the need to buy lunch out every day. In today's economy, it is important to get more bang for your buck, and online education offers the same quality education for a much more reasonable price.

Lily Faden is a Blog Contributor at http://www.Examville.com. Examville is a global online education platform where users can connect and interact with others from around the world. Our innovative platform creates an open, virtual meeting place that allows for learning without borders. Examville facilitates online user-to-user collaborative learning at an affordable cost.