The Future of Learning

I hope you were able to guess what I was getting at, if not I’m referring to online learning! I do not mean taking part-time online course work through your school, ’cause based on my experience that can be unpleasant. I’m referring to the engaging content and online courses through resources like Lynda, Coursera, Edx and Udacity. These online platforms do much more then send you a dated etext with reading instructions and a weekly assignment if that. Instead, you are guided through a program made up of course videos lead by industry professionals with written examples displayed when needed, and a quiz usually presented at the end of each course to ensure retention. These online platforms offer hundreds of courses and different learning paths to help you gain a specialized knowledge in everything from Music Production to Bioinformatics (I don’t know what that is, it just sounds really intense). Not only are the resources just about endless, a vast majority of them are also free to access unless the course specifically is partnered with renowned schools. For example, Edx, Udacity, and Coursera have partnerships with schools like Harvard, MIT, Berkeley etc… and offer an e-certificate from the schools themselves. To make things even more convenient, all of this can be completed on your own schedule.

Online learning for Secondary School Students

Now I must admit, initially, I was very skeptical of online course work and the resources offered on these websites. However, after a first-hand experience I would definitely recommend the use of these platforms and truly wish I had been introduced to them at a younger age. Why? Because I could have saved myself a year of distress in a program I was not interested in, and quite a bit of money. I also know I am not the only person that has run into this issue! In fact, 38% of college and university students will drop out or change majors according to a study co-written by the Canadian Education Project. I believe that these online learning resources are unfortunately undermined and should be promoted within secondary schools even though it is not the norm. Resources like this could help millions of young adults in preparing for career paths by dabbling with courses to see what actually interests them, rather than taking out loans or spending their parent’s hard earned money just to switch programs in their second year. It happens all too often and can be so easily fixed if online learning utilization becomes normalized in high schools. Additionally, implementing and promoting these platforms to near graduates of high school takes some pressure off these students unsure of their career path. To some it may be seen as absurd, a waste of time, or a dead end; but to me, a break from school with online learning resources can be at the utmost of benefit. This is because one will have the time both to work and gain knowledge at their own convenience. I believe online learning can be progressive for many individuals, as it gives them the time to attain some real life experience in a full or part time job while simultaneously building interpersonal skills, which I find is something that is slowly but surely being lost or overlooked. Part-time or full-time gap year gigs also build character and show you the real value of hard earned money, especially when its minimum wage. All of which is done while learning what you want and testing the waters of career paths they might take interest in at their own pace and discretion. This, in turn, can help you save money and even build a financial foundation for if the individual decides to enroll in a full-time post-secondary environment. If you can’t tell by now, I didn’t take a year off and deeply regret it (“5 things I would tell the 18-year-old me” should be my next blog post). All jokes aside, online learning could curb this increasing percentage of students who drop out or change programs in college and university.

Online Learning for Professionals/Entrepreneurs

Whether you’re already a full-time student, a full-time professional, someone that needs to get their s**t together, or even an entrepreneur at the forefront of a startup, these platforms can be beneficial to you. They are worth taking advantage of to gain that knowledge to pad your resume or add to your LinkedIn. These resources can prepare you for future studies, or can even assist you in gaining skills needed for your startup’s endeavors. These courses can be taken literally at any time, even your free time ;) 

Knowledge is power

All in all, as a millennial, I can vouch and come clean about excessive use of technology and the internet, but the internet is so much more than social media. Every year students waste tens of thousands of dollars on an education they are not interested in when in hindsight, they can get a taste of the field for free, and potentially enter a legitimate program prepared; or, who knows, maybe even get a job with online credentials! I’m not saying to drop out of school and take online courses, but I am saying to look into it during your free time and see what you can find. Like I mentioned, the resources are endless and knowledge is power, and in this case, the knowledge has never been more accessible and affordable!