Top 10 Reasons for Learning Online at College of the Redwoods

1. You can attend class anytime, anywhere you have Web access. This means that parents can attend to their children, then sit down to class; working students can attend classes no matter what their work schedule might be, people who travel for business or pleasure can attend class from anywhere in the world that has internet access.

2. You can access course materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students have the ability to read and re read lectures, discussions, explanations and comments. Often spoken material in the classroom passes students by due to a number of distractions, missed classes, tiredness or boredom.

3. Online learning enables student-centered teaching approaches. Every student has their own way of learning that works best for them. Some learn visually while others do better when they “learn by doing.” Also, students who have disabilities that make it difficult to travel, sit, walk, stand, climb stairs, hear or see may find learning online fits their needs.

4. You’ll enhance your ability to communicate effectively through the latest technology that will be critical to workers in the 21st century business community that works with colleagues globally and across time zones.

5. You’ll network with classmates from a wide range of backgrounds and locations. Students often feel that they can actually listen to the comments made by other students. Because everyone gets a chance to contribute, students are less irritated with those that “over contribute” and can ask for clarification of any comments that are unclear.

6. You can access instructors through chat, discussion forums, or email, without having to wait for office hours. Many students feel this makes instructors more approachable.

7. Online classrooms also facilitate team learning by providing chatrooms and webconferencing groups for meetings and joint work. This eliminates the problems of mismatched schedules, finding a meeting location and distributing work for review between class meetings.

8. Effectiveness may help you get higher grades. Online education is effective. A 2009 meta-study from the Department of Education found that students taking online courses outperformed their peers in traditional classrooms. Because you can learn at your own pace—taking more time to read, review, discuss—you may get higher grades.

9. You’ll learn innovative strategies for virtual teamwork by using electronic communication to interact with a group. Employers highly value this skill.

10. You’ll benefit from a flexible schedule, which is extremely helpful if you’re balancing your education with work and family life.