Learn Smarter, Not Harder

Everyone is doing online learning now — but that doesn’t mean they’re doing it right

- NATHAN KIMPEL

Here’s something you probably don’t say to yourself very often: “I have too much time.” The thought of adding one more entry to your list of things to keep track of is probably daunting to most people in the best of circumstances. Only, sometimes that one more thing can make everything better. And sometimes it’s the only thing there is — the new way forward.

Both notions are at least a little bit true of online learning in 2020. For many, it’s the new status quo, at least for a while. And for almost anyone, online learning can make things better. You can develop your understanding of IT concepts, or acquire new knowledge and skills. You can better position yourself to excel at a current job, or become better qualified to take a different (possibly better) job.

Not only that, but online learning might just be ... better. Research suggests that online learning increases retention of information. It’s easier to hang on to what you learned from that AWS certification class. Your Cisco routing and switching training will stay with you longer, making it easier to apply that learning to a real-world scenario.

Best of all, online learning generally takes less time than traditional methods — and, as previously discussed, time is something we could all use more of. Of all the changes brought on by coronavirus craziness that could be here to stay, here’s one that might actually make things better. Who would have thought anything good would come out of this situation?

Even before COVID-19, the online learning technology sphere was already experiencing rapid growth and increasing adoption. Worldwide, investments in online training and education climbed to $18.7 billion in 2019, with the overall market value projected to reach $350 billion by 2025.