National Online Learning Day — Celebrating the growth and success of online education
Benton, Mich. (September 16, 2024) - Connected Nation is delighted to recognize National Online Learning Day as a tribute to the ever-expanding availability and effectiveness of online education. Celebrated every September 15 since 2016, Online Learning Day highlights the myriad resources that are accessible via the internet to enhance personal and professional growth, along with the latest technology that makes these capabilities possible.
The internet has enabled the delivery of education in a more convenient, cost-effective, and timely manner while also providing a window into the world’s knowledge base and a growing number of educational offerings for people of all ages.
As the internet became more robust and accessible in the 1990s, the development of online learning began. The first online high school, CompuHigh, offered year-round enrollment with self-paced studies and was primarily focused on U.S. students and accreditations.
With the gradual improvement in connectivity across the country, online learning tools and course offerings became more prevalent, with webcams and multimedia resources being utilized more often. The concept of virtual classrooms has provided qualified teachers with the opportunity to communicate and teach students in an interactive environment.
Over the past 20 years, virtual classrooms have become much more sophisticated, and teachers have become more comfortable and effective in this environment, to the point that online courses can nearly replicate the success of the traditional, physical classroom. The pandemic of 2020 triggered this necessary shift in education delivery, which continues to be refined and expanded as time goes on.
Today, over 10 million college students take at least one online class each year, with 54% of all college students taking some distance learning courses in fall 2022. Colleges that predominantly deliver their curriculums online currently enroll over 1 million students today. In addition, tuition rates for online education are significantly less than traditional colleges. The online learning market is expected to grow over 20% between 2022 and 2030.
Connected Nation is proud to be a key player in supporting the growth and development of online learning over the past 20 years. Our mission of improving lives through the access, adoption, and use of high-speed internet fully embraces online learning for all, as evidenced by our current digital literacy and inclusion initiatives.
In fact, we currently host a myriad of online AND free online educational resources. Check out the list and see if one is right for you, someone you know, and/or your community:
- Teens Teach Tech - teens can earn money simply by using their digital skills to help older adults, immigrants, and others
- Digital Skills Training - we bring & teach the classes to your community or virtually
- Digital Works - this program goes beyond training & placement to encompass high-demand, telework professions
- Drive - self-paced digital literacy courses
Learn more at https://connectednation.org/. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation.
References
Forbes Advisor, 2024 Online Learning Statistics, Aug 23, 2024