A host of new opportunities
December 7, 2022
As the internet expands, so will the options for online learning post-pandemic. Students can now take advantage of options outside of the traditional school system.
Thousands of new websites are being created to supplement education. With these websites, students and teachers can learn extra material independently.
“I use websites as extra resources. I got my materials, and then beyond that, I also provide links to good Khan Academy videos and lots of other good math videos out there that they can use as additional resources on YouTube,” Ramroth said.
Another website people often utilize is YouTube; video tutorials showing how to master skills provide students and teachers with another learning tool in and out of the classroom.
“All of my YouTube videos that I made during distance learning, I also provide to students so they can still see those. In addition, random math teachers online on YouTube have good videos and practice problems,” Ramroth said.
With access to teachers through the internet, students can learn through online homeschooling. In addition to using popular websites such as Khan Academy, homeschooled students can also get one-on-one attention.
“I think online homeschooling is good for an internally motivated kid who can do school for themselves, and really, they’re not doing school for parents, although I do understand that homeschooling has a lot of especially religious control involved with it and other types of family values involved,” Oguntala said.
Not only has online learning created opportunities for high school students but also for colleges. According to onlineschooling.org, the University of Phoenix offered the first online degrees in 1989. In 1993, Jones International University became the first university that operated entirely online.
Nowadays, 93% of colleges with a campus also offer online material. Most of these colleges expect online learning at the college level to grow.
Online degrees are more cost-effective than in-person degrees. According to edumed.org, an online nursing degree at Arizona State University is $10,000 cheaper than an in-person degree.
Ultimately, the options learners of all ages will be able to take advantage of these newfound opportunities, but it also depends on the student and that student’s learning style.
“If a kid was able to be fairly independent with the schoolwork, that’s the kind of kid who could do it at home and be okay. If they need their parents a lot for help or are not internally motivated, they need somebody to help them do the work. Sometimes, the school structure helps a little bit better, Oguntala said.