The rapid and unexpected jump to remote learning hasn’t been without its share of problems. But there are also a few benefits to virtual or remote learning. In fact, some teachers are reporting cases where students who struggled with in person learning are now thriving in these virtual learning environments.
A Sense of Independence
Traditional in-person learning environments have long been criticized for micromanaging and overloading students. These environments generally come with rigid, fixed schedules denoted by bells. Students whose learning styles aren’t compatible with these hour to hour and half long chunks have been out of luck… until now.
Remote learning offers students much more agency over their day. Since much of the learning is done independently, students have more freedom to set a schedule that meets their individualized needs. And these independent environments are becoming more interactive and dynamic as digital learning materials become more advanced. Digital textbooks today are often based around the EPUB 3 format, which allows them to contain additional media—such as video and audio—and even interactive learning assessments or quizzes.
More Time for Family—and Sleep.
Between a full school day and a busy schedule of extracurriculars or maybe even a part-time job, many students struggle to find time for themselves. On top of that, students need to manage, on average, seven and a half hours of homework per week. It isn’t surprising that the majority of students report that they aren’t getting their recommended 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night.
Remote learning eliminates the need for a commute and leaves more room for students to maintain healthy sleep schedules. And since students are enjoying more flexible schedules, it’s much easier for them to find time to enjoy a meal or conversation with their families or communities.
Physical Health
Getting enough sleep is extremely important, but it’s not the only physical benefit of remote learning. In remote environments, students are able to get up and move around whenever they need to without distracting their peers. They’re also able to utilize personalized workspaces that can be more ergonomic and comfortable than rigid, compact school desks.
Real World Experience
Remote work has been increasing in popularity for a long time. It allows employers to assemble top talent from all over the world while reducing overhead associated with in-person facilities. And many of these jobs utilize some of the same software that students are using in their virtual classrooms. Remote learning gives students hands-on experience with the challenges associated with remote working environments. The independence and self-discipline students learn in virtual classrooms will surely prove to be an invaluable asset for college and beyond.