Medical school courses typically involve a lot of memorizing and lecturing by professors. With online classes, you can learn at your own pace with the support of community members and video lectures. Some medical schools also offer MOOCs which provide live lectures as well as all course content to help you build your knowledge outside of the classroom.
Here Cmspulse.org are some of the benefits you can get by taking an online course.
1. You can learn at your own pace:
You don’t need to be able to stand in front of a class and answer a question out loud. With online classes, you have the option to take your time and study material that you feel is appropriate for you. This allows you to learn at your own pace and retain information much more than in face-to-face classes.
According to a study published in the Harvard Business Review , this method of learning helps people retain information 20% longer than when listening but none as good as if they had read it themselves.
2. You don’t need to be in a certain time zone:
The most common problem students face when choosing an online class is not being able to attend class at the same time as their classmates. When you live on different time zones, this can get you into a lot of trouble. However, if you choose a course that has classes in your local time zone or even just live next to campus, you can easily participate in the course with your friends from home.
3. It’s easier for you to learn from video lectures:
It is not always possible for professors to stop at a good stopping point and ask questions that only they can answer while they are in front of a class. However, with video lectures, they can easily take a break and answer questions that the class members might have.
4. It is easy to get help from a tutor:
When you are having trouble understanding material in an online class, it is easy to reach out to the professor or a local tutor for some help. With a traditional class, you would need to ask your classmates for help and hope that someone knows the answer or can point you in the right direction. Online classes make it much easier for everyone because everyone is connected.
5. It is easier to focus:
With an online class, you have the option to do whatever you want while watching a video lecture. You can work around your work schedule or even make yourself a nice cup of tea. If you don’t feel like dealing with the material for that time, you can take a break and look at it later. This helps ease any anxiety that might come from trying to mentally process a lot of new information in front of other people as well as giving you more time to think about things on your own time.
6. You can read the textbook or do homework at your own pace:
With most online medical classes, you get everything that the professor uses in class. This includes reading materials, videos, and homework assignments. This allows you to learn all materials at your own pace so you don’t have to worry about missing an assignment due date.
You can read through the textbook and answer questions from past assignments as often as it takes for you to fully grasp the material. You also don’t need to worry about taking notes because most online classes require them submitted online.
7. You can learn from the best professors:
The majority of the biggest names in medicine, who have made it to their positions because of their great knowledge and experience, have taken online classes. They have learned all of this material from an earlier time so they can teach it in a way that makes sense to you and is applicable for today’s medical studies.
8. You don’t have to spend money:
If you are trying to save money, then this is the best way. You can take classes for free. However, if you prefer to use a credit card or have a lot of expenses already, then you can opt to pay for the course. Most courses are much cheaper than if you were taking it from a private source and your course fee is usually only around $100-$300 per month with access to all of the same materials.
9. You don’t need a certain amount of time available:
With an online class, you do not need anywhere near as much time as in a regular class. You can work around your work schedule or even from home. It is also much easier to get time to study and watch videos before the next lecture than it is to have time during the day or after work.
10. You can get help from other students:
If you are struggling with a specific topic, then there are many people who take online classes and will be able to help you understand it better. This also gives you a way to talk about the class with others since it might be hard for some people to talk about their medical school classes with friends and family.
11. You can take the class with friends:
If you want to take a medical class but are not sure if it is your thing, then you can always try it out with a group of friends. You don’t have to worry about them stealing your seat in class or that they might be more prepared than you are. You can all make a schedule together and study for the test together at home. This also gives you someone to trust with any questions that you have about the material or just classes in general.
12. It is very convenient:
With online classes, there is no need to miss important meetings or appointments while taking classes. You can also work on assignments or read material at the same time that you would be doing homework or studying for a final exam. You don’t have to worry about missing your train connections or even dealing with traffic during rush hour.
13. You can easily double check what you are learning:
When you are taking an online class, you will be able to easily look up information on the subject that might come up during the lecture and in your textbook. This helps to make sure that you really understand the material as well as reinforce it if you are learning something new. Learning is best when it is done in a way that reinforces what you already know so this is a great way to keep everything straight.
14. You can easily make class time for yourself:
With a regular class, you either have to go to the actual classroom or be really good at setting aside time every week. With an online class, you can do it whenever it is best for you. You can watch lectures while you are at home in your pajamas or even on your phone while you are out running errands.
15. You can spread out your costs:
If you are planning on taking a number of online classes before being accepted into medical school, then you will have to pay for all of these courses up front. This is why it might be best to do your medical school prerequisites first before paying for a lot of additional classes. You can also make savings if you take classes at the same time.
