When a person attends an online educational program, he is given the opportunity to set his own learning hours since the classes are done by module packets and classroom discussions are accomplished via forum method. He can learn his lessons at his own pace without having to play catch up with the regular class as he would have to in an on-ground educational set up. However, in the on-ground educational set up, by forcing the student to come to class, he is required to be prepared for the classroom lessons on a daily basis in order to keep up with the class.
Online classroom discussions via topic forums also proves to be more engaging and educational for online students because, since the forum is located online, the student has access to other topic information sites which he can refer to during the discussion. The students can participate in classroom discussions at their own convenience. Unlike the classroom option wherein students who are possibly slow to grasp the topic, will be unable to participate in the classroom discussion.
Online learning also allows the student access to unlimited resources as provided by the internet search engines and online school libraries. It levels the learning field for all partipants. Students and professors can email each other on a regular basis and actually end up having in depth discussions of points as raised by students either in email or forum discussions.
Online education participants are more serious about completing their education because they prefer not to have the distractions associated with onground learning such as the constant partying that goes on in dorms and also the temptation to skip classes in order to join in some fun activities their classmates choose to participate in and invite them to.