Is Remote Learning Right for Everyone?

Remote learning received an unprecedented boost during the pandemic-mandated restrictions on classroom attendance. Many students who had not considered attending classes remotely suddenly found themselves thrust into a variety of distance-learning situations. Many education institutions, as well, were forced to transition to remote learning models. Some schools made the move more successfully than others, just as some students thrived in the new environment while others floundered. 

The RemoteMode training company, as its name suggests, and its students were already well entrenched in a proven remote learning model. The RemoteMode training program was built from the ground up to teach students remotely. The pandemic caused hardly a ripple in the company’s smooth operations. For RemoteMode students, it was business as usual.  

What Is Remote Learning?

In its simplest terms, remote learning is an education model in which the student and teacher are not physically present in a traditional classroom. In the remote learning model, information and instruction are communicated through technology tools, such as video conferencing. 

In many instances, remote learning attempts to recreate the in-person classroom experience. Educators have typically found this goal difficult to achieve. The most effective remote learning programs have not tried to simulate a live classroom but have leveraged the rich capabilities of the internet and related technologies to create genuinely new and powerful online learning experiences.

What Are the Advantages of Remote Learning?

When remote learning is implemented effectively, it offers distinct advantages over traditional brick-n-mortar classroom instruction.

• Removes time barriers – Students and teachers do not have to be in a certain place at a certain time. Students learn when it is convenient for them.
• Bridges geographical barriers – Distance to a campus is irrelevant. Students who live in remote areas or simply do not have time to commute can access instructional resources from anywhere they have internet access.
• Individualized pace – Students can set their own pace for mastering material. They can spend more time on difficult material and breeze through concepts they already know. The pace of the course is not dictated by either the slowest or the fastest student in the class.
• Saves money – Although the cost of tuition, books, and other materials are generally comparable between online programs and traditional education institutions, remote learning students typically save money on secondary expenses, such as child care, transportation, parking, gas, and so forth.
• Teaches more than just course material – Students participating in remote learning increase their skills in computer technology, reading, writing, and oral communications. These are useful skills regardless of one’s career goals.
• Broadens student perspective – Remote learning classes often comprise students from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and locations. They interact with a wide range of people they might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet.

What Are the Disadvantages of Remote Learning?

While remote learning offers a host of advantages, it also presents disadvantages in certain situations. 

• Lacks social interaction – Sitting in their homes or at an internet cafe looking at their screens, remote learning students can feel isolated and disconnected.
• Technology can be tricky – Erratic Wifi signals, freezing computers, and glitchy software can generate mountains of frustration.
• Distractions are prevalent – It is easy to get sidetracked by other websites, computer notifications, the phone, and life in general.
• Communication with instructors and other students may be delayed – The very things that make remote learning appealing can also get in the way of real-time interactions with others in the class.

How Do Typical Students Feel about Remote Learning?

The results of student experience during the pandemic have been a mixed bag. In a recent report, Student Perceptions of Online Learning in Higher Education During COVID-19, many students felt their teachers had done a good job of pivoting to an online environment. Not all students agree with this assessment, however. They noted such problems as

• A lack of structure – While it sounds like fun, having to make and follow their own schedule has been challenging for some.
• Delayed communications – Remote learning students cannot simply raise their hand and get attention. Feedback is often delayed.
• Boundary blurred between school and home – Many at-home students are easily distracted by homelife going on around them while they try to study.
• No access to reliable technology – Some students don’t have computers at home, and others do not have broadband internet access.

On the positive side, remote learning students have liked positive aspects of the new way to learn. They say they learn better at their own pace. Students get the sleep they need, feel less stressed, and take advantage of being a night-owl or a morning-person.

Is Remote Learning Right for You?

Remote learning may not be right for you if you 

• are not a self-starter
• don’t like to read
• are easily distracted by the environment
• don’t like opening emails
• are not comfortable advocating for yourself and taking initiative.

On the other hand, remote learning may be ideal for you if you

• are self-disciplined
• like to set your own schedule and pace
• do not live near a traditional university or a large metropolitan area
• work full-time or have other time constraints, such as child care needs
• want to work with a diverse population of learners.

The founders of RemoteMode recognized from Day One the pros and cons of remote learning and set about to build a program that enhances the advantages while disarming the disadvantages to give their students the best possible remote learning experience. If you are wondering whether RemoteMode’s program is right for you to prepare you for an exciting career with remote work options, contact a RemoteMode career counselor today to learn how quickly and effectively you can train to move into a remote tech career.