5 Reasons Why You Need To Take An Online Course This Summer

By Julia Schemmer on June 17, 2016

It’s summertime, meaning any mentions of schoolwork, reading, tests or assignments are unofficially embargoed from the mouths of any college students. Although summer is a great opportunity to relax, it is also an opportunity to refine your skills, learn new materials, and expand your world-views through online course platforms such as Future Learn, Coursera, and edX.

While the thought of learning new materials on your own free will might seem like a headache waiting to happen, it can provide incredible benefits to your personal and professional development. Check out the top five reasons why you should be considering online classes this summer!

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1. Online classes allow you to interact with a global community of learners. By taking online classes, I have been able to learn about climate change policy in the UK, schools in Kenya, and data collection in Asia solely through the people who live within the region.

Maintaining a global perspective on intersectional issues is necessary to understand the complex race, class, gender, nationality, and ageist dynamics within the issues we try to solve. If I took a climate change class, but solely had people in California responding, my worldview would become very specialized yet malnourished in the possibilities of what I could be learning instead.

2. Online classes provide opportunities for personal development. Classes do not just have to be solely based on academics. From courses centralizing on the psychology of happiness to critical thinking, these online courses introduce content that is necessary to understand for future careers. Usually courses for personal development would cost hundreds, but through online course platforms, this material is made available for you to use.

3. Online classes provide opportunities for professional development. This summer, I took a course related to the role that science and data collection plays in the development and revision of policies. Although as a public policy major I try to avoid the word ‘science’ at all costs, learning about the different stakeholders behind policy decisions allowed me to have a taste into my future career as a policymaker.

If I want to finish my university degree in four years, it often comes at the cost of having to pick and choose what classes will fulfill my degree requirements, even if the elective courses are just as fascinating. With online classes, I can still learn and fulfill my natural curiosity about various subjects that can later help my career!

4. Online courses give you a preliminary taste into various learning institutions. Since various colleges and universities agree to host the course, you are able to experience the different professors from schools across the country and world. This is a rare opportunity that can open your mind to more options for graduate school that you would have never been introduced to before. What a great way to gain an eccentric array of experiences!

5. Online courses are a great way to pass the time productively. Let’s face it, you will probably spend most of your summer watching Netflix and waiting for the sun to stop burning your skin. Why not spend one to two hours a week getting to learn about various subjects that you care enough about to explore? Keeping your mind active while learning various experiences is the ultimate summer vacation.

Have you taken an online course before? How did you like it? Let us know in the comments!

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