There’s no doubt that recent technological advancements have permanently changed the way society functions. In no other field is this more evident than in education. I discovered this myself when I embarked on a quest to earn my business degree. After heavily researching various in person and online business degree programs, I settled on the online option as the more valuable offering.
The online program, by its very nature, incorporated more advanced technology into the education process than any of the traditional programs I was considering. I felt that this inclusion of modern technology would help to make me more marketable and keep me up to date with recent technological advances, which would provide me with skills that were better applicable to modern jobs.
Here are just a few of the many advantages I found by incorporating technology into my educational experience:
Cost Effective
As soon as I started the program, I realized that things had changed a lot since I was in high school in the mid 90’s. No longer did I need writing pads to record lecture notes or to write down my assignments – now everything was virtual. This of course took a while to get used to, but typing my notes ended up being a much quicker method and was also a lot easier on my wallet.
And although computers are expensive, the money I saved by choosing an online degree (with its much lower tuition rates) as opposed to an in-person program definitely made it economically worthwhile. In addition, I also purchased all my textbooks in electronic formats, rather than traditional hardcover books, which definitely saved me a lot of money.
Time Saving
Studying online and via electronic aids rather than through traditional means freed up a lot of my time, and allowed me to keep a steady job throughout the process of earning my degree. Not only did it allow me to set my own study schedule and hours, but I could even take my studies with me to work.
For example, I often downloaded lectures and listed to them on my iPod as I commuted to and from work, and lunch hours were a great time to finish up on an assignment. Without this new wave of technology, I doubt I would have been able to manage my time nearly as well.
Endless Resources
Whether searching for info on my phone or on my laptop, it seemed the amount of online resources were truly endless. Gone are the days when I spent hours slouching over library books to find the right answer.
Now everything I need is literally at my fingertips and this saved both time and money. I was amazed at how many free online seminars are available as well as free online books and learning resources. This made studying for exams so much easier and a much more productive process in general.
Using technology to study and prep for exams really helped me get additional benefits from my education program. It allowed me to learn at a rapid pace and also pushed me to develop new research and technological skills that I can include on my resume. It also cut my studying time virtually in half and I graduated with far less debt than I had originally anticipated.
