The advent of the internet has had a huge impact on many industries, as well as changed the entire nature of communication. One of the industries that will forever be changed by the online world is education. Now, in addition to standard classroom environments, many education providers are either offering online courses or a combination of online and physical classes for many different programs, certifications and degrees. Of course, some subjects will always be in the classroom (it would be hard to paint a picture online), but for many, the choice of an online education vs. a classroom education is a very viable option.

The decision between traditional learning environments and online learning opportunities is one that has many different variables, and consequently may not be a quick or easy decision. Primarily, it is important to understand the learner and what is important for that individual to achieve academic success. Additional factors to consider are what the student’s preferred method of learning is and how do they achieve optimal retention of the material. For some, learning from the quiet and privacy of their own room or home office would be the best possible scenario, while others require a classroom environment with activity and noise to keep focused.

It may also be helpful to consider the subject as it relates to the learner. For example, some students would be able to take all of their courses online, yet others may choose that while most courses would be fine in an online setting, some specific courses, such as languages, might be better learned in close physical proximity to the instructor. There are many online resources dedicated to helping with these decisions, such as elearners.com, which provides invaluable insights, links, information and references. They also provide tools for finding the right programs based on location, need, specialization and interests.