Did you know that 52% of U.S elementary and high school students started the 2020 school year virtually? This rise in online learning was brought on by the pandemic, but research suggests that online learning can increase information retention and save time, meaning the switch to eLearning might be here to stay.
In order for online learning methods to be successful, students must have access to the internet. With limited rural internet options, many families outside of urban areas turn to high-speed satellite internet to keep their students on track.
The Benefits of eLearning Are Here to Stay
Before the pandemic, we were already seeing a rise in the adoption of online learning. eLearning opportunities, including language apps, virtual tutoring, and online learning software, have been in use for years, but the surge after the pandemic brought these tools to the forefront.
Research shows that on average, students retain 25-60% more material when learning online and the efficiency of online learning means that eLearning requires 40-60% less time than a traditional classroom setting.
These improvements are due to the flexibility that online learning allows; students have the freedom to revisit material they missed or accelerate through concepts they have a full grasp on at their own pace.
eLearning Will Change the Way We View Education
The switch to online learning has made us take a more holistic look at traditional teaching practices. While the flexibility of eLearning has many benefits, it also means there’s less handholding. Students must be more disciplined and genuinely interested in the material they’re learning to stay engaged.
This will require instructors to reconsider many traditional teaching styles, pushing them to incorporate more collaborative methods. Teachers must go one step further than replicating the in-classroom experience to ensure students stay engaged.
Satellite Internet Providers Address One of the Key Challenges of Online Learning
One of the largest roadblocks to online learning is ensuring all students have equal access to online resources. Students who struggle with reliable internet access will find it difficult to participate in digital learning and to fully take advantage of online resources. Many of these students live in rural areas.
This is where rural internet providers come in. Satellite internet providers like Hughesnet offer fast, reliable internet connections where cable and DSL providers can’t reach. Unlike traditional internet service providers, satellite internet does not require existing infrastructure, and can be installed almost anywhere.
Although the pandemic was certainly a catalyst for online learning, many of the changes we’ve seen in education over the past year were already in play. The benefits we’ve seen to online learning are here to stay, especially as instructors begin to combine online learning tools with traditional teaching methods in a hybrid model.
As eLearning and hybrid teaching models continue to increase in popularity, it has never been more important to have high-speed internet at home. Satellite internet will continue to drive eLearning, ensuring students have access to the tools they need to thrive in the new age of education.
