Online education provides convenience for students who cannot commute to and from campus due to personal reasons including work, family and/or physical disabilities and limitations. Flexibility allows students to determine when and where they will complete assignments and it provides greater flexibility for instructors. On the other hand, however, students who are unfamiliar with the Internet and online interfaces may encounter difficulties when trying to complete assignments or navigate webpages.
Through the distance learning environment, there is less face-to-face interaction. This may be a disadvantage for individuals who have trouble with online simulations and need physical demonstrations. At the same time, the instructor is able to focus more on one-on-one time with each student via email and other forms of virtual communication, including instant messaging and forums. Interaction among students may also take place virtually, yet they have the opportunity to organize physical meetings to study. This lack of social interaction among peers may lead to feelings of isolation.
Individuals who are self-motivated and disciplined are more likely to excel in online learning environments. They're able to create their own schedule and have the ability to learn at their own pace. For those who are less self-disciplined, a distance learning environment may help them to become more self-motivated. On the contrary, some may fall behind due to lack of self-discipline and the unwillingness to focus or talk themselves into completing assignments at specified deadlines.
Individuals who take online classes as opposed to on-campus classes spend less time commuting. This time may be spent studying or completing assignments. A time factor also comes into play if the Internet provider is experiencing trouble or downtime. In certain instances, there may be lag time in between responses to emails, which could seriously delay having questions answered or receiving help on a project or assignment.