There is no doubt that education must be made as accessible to every one as possible. For centuries, education has been limited to those who are privileged and belong to a certain social class. Even in the 20th century it was a limited resource in most parts of the developing world. But many things have helped it gain priority and become accessible to those who might have traditionally not have been privy to it. There were massive   undertaking of projects aimed at developing education all over the world by international organizations and in developing countries grassroots campaigns have helped the movement come a long way. And then we entered the age of the Internet.  

Internet is by far one of the most revolutionary tools of our time and virtually changes most things we do on day-to-day basis. It is also a tool that has revolutionized the process of learning like nothing before. It has transformed every room with a computer and an Internet connection into the vastest library and classroom one could ever imagine. And in the last few years, formal accredited education itself has become a virtual reality. Students can now work towards their high school diplomas, associate degree to Ph.D through accredited online courses.

Today, a simple search on the Internet will reveal hundreds of online colleges and universities that offer an array of academic options to pursue. But can it be all that good? How can you possibly have a proper classroom when your teacher is another part of the world? Let’s take a quick look at the merits and demerits of online education.

Merits of Online Education
The most commonly sighted advantage of online education is the convenience at which one can study. And by convenience we mean not just the timing but also the setting. The schedules are very flexible and one can often study when ever it works for them the best. This makes it ideal for working parents, or even working youngsters to pursuer higher education while being engaged full or part time in something else also. Then there is the other convenience factor; your space. That’s right, because this is online education and your classroom is remotely hosted, you can study in a setting you feel most comfortable in. Because the course work will be available to you online 24- 7, you can go back to it again and again when ever you want until you feel satisfied.

There is also the unique setting of not being physically present in the classroom, which could help students come with the kinds of ideas and suggestions they might hesitate to make in a traditional class room. Essentially, participation in the classroom becomes a lot less intimidating.

Students in foreign countries who might not have the money to physically live and study in a new country, such as the United States or the United Kingdom can have a new option. They can get the same quality of education even if they can’t leave their country for a variety of reasons.

Students also can have unconventionally vast academic options to pursue. This is clearly because they don’t have to be physically present at a particular university in a specific city or state to study something. Online education makes it possible for a person to pursue something of their choice right from where they are. The diversity in their course material as well as their faculty can be unprecedented when studying online.

The familiarity with online research techniques and the general comfort that an online student builds during the course of study will it self are huge assets in getting jobs and performing well in this day and age. In fact, online conferences from remote locations are becoming an increasingly normal part of work now. And students of online education will be especially trained to work in such an environment. The opportunity offered
 
Demerits of Online Education
Every coin has a flip side, and online education is no different. So just what are the demerits of online education, you just be wondering. People will generally cite the discipline and progress factor as a key concern. A student who studies in their own leisure might not be making the kind of progress that she or he should be making. But because the student does not attend a physical classroom and the faculty cannot keep a tab on the student online like they would traditionally, student progress is difficult to judge and ensure.

Online students are generally accepted to be honest, patient and eager. But some who do not have those attributes might not make the most not be able to make the most of this unique opportunity.

One of the best things about schools and colleges has always been the new experiences, new contacts, and an over all growth and maturity of a person through socialization. This is difficult to ensure when studying online. In fact, for students who are already introverts, online education might seem like a good way to avoid having to become social.

Higher education is also often a way of young students to leave their nests, the shelter of their parents, to go out and explore a whole new world. Not only does online education not offer this learning experience, but many online colleges will not be able to issue you an I -20 or other immigration documents that international students would need to travel  under a student status to new countries.


So as you can see online education has its merits as well as demerits. Recent reports suggest that as much as 75% of colleges and universities now offer online degrees or courses in the United States alone. And emerging economies such as India and established ones like those of the U.S and Europe now increasingly accept the academic qualifications earned by students through online education. As long as the quality of education is good, the courses accredited and the experience worth while, you can rest assure that  online education and the degrees they offer will continue to get ever more recognition.


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