Advantages of Accelerated Learning EARN ONLINE
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HOME >> Advantages of Accelerated Learning YOURIMAGEHERE3 Advantages of Accelerated Learning By Alexa K.
Apallas = 300;ad_height = 250;adThe benefits of online learning are undeniable.
Students cantake classes at their convenience, allowing them to keep up withtheir regular jobs or family responsibilities.
They can pursuedegrees in a variety of fields, even if they live far from atraditional brick-and-mortar campus.
And advances in technologyhave made it easy for students to take part in interactive,multimedia lessons and live chats that simulate the classroomexperience.
There are even online resources such ascyber-libraries that provide online students with all the toolsthey need to succeed.
There is one additional benefit of online learning that hasn'tbeen discussed as frequently, however.
It is the benefit ofaccelerated learning.
Most online learning programs are designed to convey a vastamount of material in a limited time frame.
At schools such asAIU Online, Colorado Technical University and the University ofPhoenix, students who already have an associate's degree cancomplete their B.
A.
studies in just over a year.
Earning an MBAmay take even less time.
To help students retain everything theyhave learned, courses are taught on an accelerated schedule.
Instead of taking several courses at the same time, as is thenorm on traditional campuses, students zero in on one keycomponent at a time.
Courses generally last about six weeks, sostudents are able to focus intently on that material.
Because course material is divided up into discrete blocks thatare taught one at a time, students don't have to deal withdistractions from any other courses going on at the same time.
They can put all their energies into learning about the topic athand.
In the real world, where work is often project-based, thisability to delve deeply into a particular subject becomes avaluable tool.
Studies also show that a compressed learning schedule actuallyimproves memory retention.
A summary from The LearningRevolution, by Gordon Dryden and Dr.
Jeannette Voss, providesexamples of this seeming paradox.
For instance, in one study,American soldiers were taught German in either a 12-week courseor an 18-day accelerated course.
Surprisingly, those in theshorter course gained a better ability to read and speak German.
In traditional semester schedules, students often complain thatby the time the final comes around, they have forgotten whatthey learned in the first weeks of class.
With the acceleratedschedule that is typical of most online programs, there areunlikely to be any such complaints.
The material is always freshin the student's mind.
Shorter classes also mean that studentsare more likely to remain interested in the material throughoutthe course.
Longer courses can sometimes cause students'interest to flag.
The accelerated course structure of online learning also meansit's easy to review key concepts, because the course material isavailable 24 hours a day.
Concepts are also reinforced via avariety of delivery methods.
One idea might be the basis for achat room discussion, a multi-media presentation and some onlinereading material.
The more often students encounter keyconcepts, the more likely they are to remember them.
Inaddition, if a student does not understand a concept, he or shecan quickly and easily make contact with the professor or withother students, via email or class message boards.
And sincestudents can study course material at any time that's convenientfor them, they can spend more time on more difficult conceptswhile breezing through the information that is easy to them.
Accelerated learning is particularly well suited to adultlearners, who tend to pick up certain concepts faster, thanks totheir real-life experiences.
The online learning model offers a plethora of advantages.
Itsaccelerated format helps students earn their degrees morequickly, of course, but it also gets them more deeply involvedin the learning process, holds their attention longer, and helpsthem retain information better.
Clearly, accelerated onlinelearning creates an environment in which students can do theirbest work.
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