In a world where innovation seems to be a constant, technology certainly takes the cake in terms of things that continue to develop at rapid rates. It feels normal to say that the boundaries are getting pushed constantly, which only improves society as a whole. This is especially the case with construction, which continues to be a vital industry as new creations are brought to the fold.
Part of the reason why technology is always evolving is clear: convenience. We as humans crave simplicity. Anything to make our lives easier is seen as a great benefit because we don’t need to put in as much effort. Consider many things such as banking, telecommunications or even transport. What existed 100 years ago could not even be reasonably compared to what exists now, especially considering how these things and many more feel as though they are right within our vicinity.
Another reason why society tends to improve technology faster is due to hardship. Tough times promote innovation as we look for ways to escape those situations. There might be no better recent example of this than the COVID-19 pandemic.
A virus that spread across the globe like wildfire, the coronavirus impacted almost every nation on earth in one way or another. Significant changes have been made to how we live our lives, from mask-wearing to social distancing.
Technology has certainly responded to this crisis. Lockdowns directly contributed to expansive use of online communication video platforms such as Zoom. With this, industries have not been impacted as much as expected as work was mainly shifted to a work-from-home basis.
One industry that was heavily impacted was the construction industry. One of the largest in Australia, the halting of major and minor projects across the country was instant which clearly impacted economic growth.
The education sector of Construction, however, was able to utilise platforms like Zoom to continue to train and develop new professionals in the industry. In fact, the learning processes and outcomes for construction courses are so incredibly tailored to the advancement of students that you might even say it is more beneficial than physical attendance.
So, the important question to ask is this: why should you study a building and construction course online instead of doing it online?
Flexible arrangements are available
One of the most common concerns among people engaging in tertiary education is a lack of balance between studies and life. This chasm prevents them from developing interests outside of learning with time to spare. A lot of time is devoted to travelling to the institution they learn at, staying there until late, and then enduring a long commute home. But what if you didn’t need to deal with this at all?
The greatest gift that can be borne from studying building and construction online is the opportunity to create flexible arrangements. Convenience, as mentioned earlier, is valued by almost everyone. By dedicating your studies to online completely, you will still have access to classes, information and other resources, but with the added benefit of it being online. As long as you have a stable internet connection, this is possible. You may not even want to learn at home and would prefer somewhere else like a library or cafe.
One the flipside of this, online arrangements allow you to have more free time. You can work hard, but also play hard. Whether you enjoy spending time with friends and family, taking up hobbies or interests, or just living in the moment, studying building and construction online actually gives you an opportunity to do what you want to do with minimal restrictions.
Compare this to completing courses on a campus. Commuting already takes up a lot of time. Add to this the fact that it is generally recommended to stay on campus between classes and you can see why it is not preferable!
What is evident from looking at flexibility and how it impacts your learning is that when you feel free in your own element, you inadvertently contribute to the creation of an environment that encourages you to learn and manage your time more effectively. You can give meaning to your studies in building and construction whilst also having extra time to focus on other things as well.
Access more resources, from anywhere
Attending class on campus may feel like a bubble for many. There is a set schedule that cannot be strayed from, you must attend class to class, and the amount of information that you can pool for knowledge is limited and lacking in the ability to circulate. Based on this, it is very clear to see that studying online is much more beneficial than on campus.
Consider the internet. An online platform where information is instantly accessible. This is more than enough reason to justify the benefit of studying building and construction online. You can find a lot of information whenever you like. Online study also is a promoter of self-learning, where you look for knowledge online to develop your skills and expertise at a faster rate than if you were simply attending class every week. The types of information that you can learn from are not limited either. Many examples come to mind such as blogs, videos, textbooks and peer-reviewed journals. The possibilities for obtaining information are truly endless.
Receive more attention from teachers
Since we suggest that studying building and construction online is a better way to learn than on-campus, it would be remiss of us to ignore the difference in terms of teaching. The truth is that there is a difference in how content is taught when comparing online to on-campus. This is certainly a drastic change.
While it may take time for teachers to adapt, they almost inevitably gain from online learning. The flexible aspect not only benefits students but also tutors as well. With no need to leave early to commute before classes, teachers would receive ample time to prepare for classes and structure content to match the online platform. They could also get well-deserved breaks between classes to de-stress and prepare for the rest of the day.
When it comes to studying building and construction courses online, the physical aspect is removed and you do not need to attend class in person. The most obvious advantage to this is that time spent within days is significantly reduced. There isn’t anyone physically moving from class to class to stay within schedule. Being online (whether in the comfort of your own home or somewhere else such as a library) means that teachers can spend the extra time saved from not travelling on students who need assistance.
What might happen in a scenario where everything is physical is that students might need to wait until the next class to get help. Providing an online presence to students prevents this scenario from existing. Meetings and extra-curricular consultations can be made over a video call which makes it easier for everyone involved to participate. Additionally, alternate ways of meeting such as by phone or chat and email can also work.
In the eyes of the student, they will have access to more help when required. A matter of concern frequently brought up by students is the lack of assistance from those teaching them content, for many reasons including the on-campus factor. This would be even more pronounced in an area like construction where technical information must be consumed and compartmentalised in droves.
With online learning, you can take full advantage of the presence of a tutor because there is significantly more time available to work with. Hence, you can only gain from studying a building and construction course online against doing it on-campus.
You can save money
Education is not necessarily an outright service. Whilst you might think that it’s as simple as learning, completing assessments and calling it a day, this is far from the case. In truth, there is more to it. You need to buy textbooks. You need to travel to the location of the institution of which you are a part of. This includes either driving, which requires petrol, or commuting by train, bus or tram. You would also need to get food for whenever you need to eat. The common thread between all this is that there are costs involved. Travelling to class requires money. If you travel by car, you need to pay for the petrol you use. In the event you travel by public transport, you will need to pay fees to commute.
It can be stressful and time-consuming to have to take all this into consideration. After all, these explicit costs continue to pile up, making it more difficult to budget and prepare for the days ahead. Wouldn’t it be easier if you didn’t need to actually physically go to class?
And that’s where having an online presence is beneficial. By studying building and construction courses online, you don’t need to leave the comfort of your house. The worry of how much time and money you will need to get to class disappears. You also wouldn’t need to consider how much lunch will set you back financially.
All your classes would have set times, so you would only need to make sure you have your camera ready to listen and participate. This would allow much greater flexibility as mentioned earlier. From a food perspective, you have a kitchen, fridge and a pantry to take advantage of which would allow you to save heavily on buying food.
All in all, by studying building and construction online, your wallet will thank you. The online environment prevents you from spending on travel and food, which ties into the previous points mentioned such as flexibility where there is much more room for you to become productive in other areas of life.
You can gain access to resources easily
Oftentimes, obtaining information requires certain levels of effort. Maybe you need to travel to a library, or meet with a tutor at a specific time they are only physically available. It is evident that on campus study of building and construction makes it more difficult to collect and utilise resources to good effect.
Online courses in building and construction, on the other hand, do not have the same issues. Because everything is already online, there is only one place to convene to gain access to resources. Any kind of information you need would be readily available. This could come in a variety of forms such as peer reviewed journals, videos, recordings, online textbooks etc. With on campus learning, some of these sources would need to be found physically, but with online learning this is not necessary.
In addition to this, there are ample opportunities to meet with teachers and tutors to discuss anything you wish to. If classes were on campus, you would only be able to meet them at the times they can do because everyone has time constraints. But these time constraints can be manoeuvred around easily with an online environment.
Think about the ways in which we can communicate online. Email, over the phone, video conferencing etc. The possibilities are innumerable.
This is one of the precise reasons why there is much more to gain from studying building and construction online instead of on campus.
To connect with teachers or even other students to learn, collect information and develop knowledge is easy. With the click of a button you can do so.
But the same cannot be said for on campus learning. You need to physically approach them, and if they aren’t available you need to find out when they are so you can convene at a time only at their convenience.
Undertaking courses in building and construction means you can gain the opportunity to access resources, faster, easier and in more quantity, which would help to make your journey to becoming part of the building and construction industry that much more fulfilling.
Studying building and construction online is in many ways a significant upgrade on studying on a campus. The benefits to moving online are innumerable, and can help to not only improve your studies, but your general quality of life as well.
Parker Brent is a provider of courses in building and construction. For more details, enquire here.
