You may already be convinced that virtual education is a great option for learning and imparting knowledge. Or it may be that you still have doubts about the effectiveness of this type of education and its scope.

What is a fact is that virtual education continues to gain popularity. More than six million students currently take one or more courses online; 50% of universities offer at least one online program.

Given my knowledge as a digital transformation advocate, and given the current context in which there are still people who are not convinced about virtual education, I share this article where I list the main benefits, debunk some myths and offer some good practices to take. consider.

Table of Contents

Main advantages of virtual education

If you haven’t taken an online course yourself, have you ever wondered what the experience of learning virtually is really like? Although the online learning platforms used may differ slightly, virtual education offers many benefits over the traditional teaching method, for example:

Expand learning opportunities: One of the main benefits of virtual education is that it offers a wide variety of resources to the teacher, from virtual tours, online libraries with curated resources, interactive assessments, connections with experts around the world, etc.
Learn anywhere: all you need is an electronic device (cell phone, tablet, or laptop) to access study materials.
You can choose when to study: many students work; For this reason, virtual education allows them to continue learning from anywhere and at any time. One study asked students why do they choose to learn online? Most responded that because of the convenience and flexibility offered by the programs. More than half (59%) of the students surveyed have children, and half reported that they also have a job.
Responsibility and autonomy: creating a routine and carrying out the corresponding activities is good advice to successfully complete the programs that are offered.

Break myths to increase educational reach

Despite the exponential growth of virtual education, many people still consider it an inferior type of education.

I am here to tell you that these beliefs are far from the truth and that online education can be just as credible, trustworthy, beneficial, and effective as traditional education.

Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to debunk the 3 most common myths.

Myth 1. People think that the quality of virtual education is bad.

This is false because virtual education is made up of many quality factors. For example:

The tutor is a specialist in the areas in which he teaches.
Technological tools are specialized to provide an excellent service.
Classes are planned through proven and effective educational programs.
The attention given to students is personalized.

Myth 2. Teachers are not trained to teach online.

Many times these types of expressions are heard without foundation. However, I believe that the demands and challenges of the new knowledge society demand different skills from teachers. The traditional role of the teacher changes in the virtual modality, to become a tutor who facilitates and accompanies the student in their process of building knowledge, respecting their autonomy.

The traditional role of the teacher changes in the virtual modality, to become a tutor who facilitates and accompanies the student in their process of building knowledge, respecting their autonomy.

Myth 3. Virtual education is a fad.

Many people believe that this is a global trend that will soon pass. However, it is false that virtual education is a fad that will disappear over the years.

A key factor for universities to offer classes online is keeping up with new student expectations. In essence, those universities that do not offer virtual education face a competitive disadvantage within a student population that needs and expects to be able to learn online, from anywhere.

New generations increasingly opt for this learning model. Some of the reasons are:

Access to education exists for all people, especially for those who work.
The use of ICT allows student learning and communication to increase because, with the use of mobile devices, digital platforms, and/or applications, information is shared immediately and can be accessed from anywhere.
With the use of virtual educational platforms, the physical classroom becomes an option. Many of the students who have various activities in their daily lives can access a virtual room where they are given personalized attention, which allows them to develop their skills and knowledge with greater performance.

Tips to successfully face the challenge of virtual education

Just as virtual education has many benefits, we also face various challenges. Some universities are using innovative methods to foster an online educational experience that is more inclusive, engaging, and responsive to student demands.

Take into account the following tips:

The content created by teachers must be designed specifically for the virtual environment. Considering that virtual classrooms or online learning courses differ from face-to-face courses, the content must be different as well. It is recommended to be shorter and more interactive. For example, it is important to offer additional reference materials in certain sections or even external links. This means that the content can be adapted to the different needs of the students.
Focus on active learning. Even the most fun and entertaining teachers can’t afford to create passive online lessons. The course should be interactive. A good number of opportunities for student participation should be included, for example combining discussion, collaboration, video and audio clips, and practical exercises with text and possibly short video lectures. No student will remain attentive and interested for long if there is no interactivity.
The “teaching presence” plays a vital role in building a sense of belonging to the learning community and in keeping students actively engaging with the content. Much research has revealed that the student receiving constant feedback and communication from the teacher can make a big difference in the confidence, motivation, and performance of these students in the course.
Students have different learning styles. In this sense, it is pertinent to identify how students learn best and thus use different tools to adapt to different styles. I recommend using a mix of various media, including text, video, audio, infographics, presentations, gamification, and more – this has been proven to be more effective than just text and audio.
Segment the lessons. Long classes of 2-3 hours without any breaks are probably not the best way to deliver a face-to-face course, and doing this online is even more inefficient. I recommend presenting the information in 10-minute segments and, as I mentioned earlier, vary the format.