"In order to create an engaging learning experience, the role of instructor is optional, but the role of learner is essential." -Bernard Bull. Advances in technology and accessibility have led numerous students to enroll into college virtually. Online classes are more beneficial to academic success than traditional on-campus courses because of time management, participation, and student/teacher relations. Several activities consume a person's day that affect life. Time is of the essence and needs to be made for friends, family, work, school, hobbies.the list is endless! This can cause a person to feel wrenched in various directions. Additional stress will, more than likely, impact academic achievement negatively. Virtual classes give a student the opportunity to acquire and learn the materials on one's own time. This is an attractive feature as it promotes freedom and allots time for additional responsibilities to be managed. Think of having a full-time job working forty hours a week, a two month old baby, a husband, two dogs, caring for the home, and being enrolled in school. Within each of these areas, time is required to generate a positive outcome. Traditional on-campus courses demand attendance and disrupt financial gain with working less and loss of time available to spend socially and leisurely. .
A large part of school and the learning process is participation. Online courses have mandated contribution, by the students, through written discussions with chat rooms or on a message board. This gives students an opportunity to view a wide array of perspectives and incorporate their thoughts and views on the subject matter. In a classroom setting, some people are as shy as the fawn seeking its mother. Think of a classroom size of fifty, one hundred, or even more. It is hard to fathom the stress and anxiety that may come from standing before hundreds of people when speaking isn't one's forte.
