Less than 50 years ago, online classes were unheard of, and an online degree was only something written about by science fiction storytellers. Times have changed, and so has the modern educational system. Students no longer spend hours at the library searching through books to write a paper; instead, they use their mouse to access hundreds of online libraries. Gone are the days when working individuals had to take night classes to finish a degree over six or more years. Now students can do classwork at night, on weekends, or whenever it is convenient for them, and that is not all. Here are five ways the convenience of online classes has improved the educational system.

1. Availability

Education has always been important to American society at large. People used to scrimp and save their whole lives to be able to send their children off to college. Now children can learn from home, and receiving an education is not limited to the wealthy that have the means to pay for room and board at a college campus for four years. A degree can now be earned from a college of your choice one class, one semester, one year, or one degree at a time. This makes receiving an education more available to a myriad of students that would not have previously been able to get degrees.

2. Advantage

With the advent of the internet classroom, a funny thing happened to the learning experience. Suddenly job training and certification could unexpectedly be matched with technologies, video presentations, online real-time chats and discussions, and face-to-face question and answer groups. This meant that learning was not limited to the philosophical and theoretical belief systems. Practical educational options also became available such as car repairs, plumbing, electricians, and many other occupations. Testing also changed as the system needed proctors to secure scores and results for students in far off corners of the world.

3. Accessibility

Materials are much more accessible than they were 50 years ago when books had to be ordered from distant libraries, and weeks could pass until the much-needed pages arrived at the school and were made available for loan to a student working on a paper. Today, books, videos, course material, and teachers are all available at the touch of a mouse, thus making online classes easier to navigate, papers less complicated to write, and information simpler to find. For students that have difficulty in a single subject, the ability to review the lecture, instructions, demonstration, or teacher's notes can also be a benefit to his or her learning process and can help move the student through a difficult area. Online classes also make access to those courses available to anyone, no matter where they live. Students in one area of the globe can take classes in another area without the need to move, quit a job, or leave the family.

4. Advancement

Using online classwork, students can progress through their studies at a rate that is comfortable for their individual learning process. That means some students may earn degrees in three years, others in four, and still others may take six. Another benefit that online access to advanced classes offers is the ability for a greater number of students to be accepted to and complete advanced or secondary professional degrees. This includes graduate and doctorate degrees, where you can learn more about online programs like masters degree in education courses.  

5. Accreditation

Not long ago, there were certain types of classes that were considered educationally sound, and therefore worthy of being taught to students in the classroom. As the internet encroached on the educational system and uprooted what was once held as scholastic law, different types of classes were suddenly being taught, and many more degrees sprang into existence. This new educational system allowed for a greater number of areas of certification and one-year degree programs in almost any area imaginable.

With the advent of the internet, more individuals began searching more, learning more, and expanding their ideas about the future. Thus, when online college classes became a reality, it openly changed the educational system in numerous ways. One of the biggest changes is that technology has allowed the world of the educational system to expand and encompass many students that may not have otherwise had the opportunity to obtain an education. For that, students will always be grateful.