IU Education

Understanding the Costs and Sacrifices of Attending Law School and Becoming an Attorney

Posted on January 4, 2021 by IUTech

Choosing to study and build a career in law is a noble career choice, however it also happens to be a career choice that comes with consistent challenges and the understanding that you are going into a career field that is going to require you to be constantly learning about the rest of your career. For many individuals, they go through the process of attending law school only to realise and recognise that it is half not the right path to them. There is nothing in the world wrong with this and in many ways this is one of the best things you can do in terms of figuring it out before you complete the degree and enter the field.

There are many costs in sacrifices that go hand in hand with first attending law school and then building a career as an attorney. Whether it is becoming familiar with a bar review guide here or constantly committing to the fact that it was going to be a career that cost too much time to at the rest of your life, individuals who want to pursue a career in law individuals who are willing and able to go the distance and ensure that they are constantly working on becoming better attorneys not only as they begin to build the career in law but welcome to the future and beyond.

The costs

There is of course so much to be said about the costs associated with going to law school and becoming an attorney. The financial cost of law school first and foremost is one that is quite high and so individuals who commit to this higher education journey are individuals who understand that this is going to be a financial cost that is going to come out of their pocket for us to come. And additionally, there also costs associated with becoming an attorney and have nothing to do with finances. The personal cost on your personal life as well as your family life can be quite detrimental and so it is important to understand this prior to committing wholeheartedly till career in law.

The sacrifices

Being an attorney requires a state of constant focus that is career-long. That is to say that because law is always changing and evolving, the commitment to not only the practice but how you can become a better lawyer is one that is ongoing. Whether this means having to sacrifice family time to read the latest updates for law that you specialise in or spending long nights working in the office instead of being at home focusing on things that you enjoy outside of work, there are many sacrifices associated with becoming an attorney. Coupled with the fact that sometimes you will lose and it can be quite a sacrificial career choice as well as one that takes quite a toll. It is so important to understand this and to be comfortable with it.

The lifelong passion that grounds it all

And as we head further into the digital era, fields like law are only continuing to become more digitally enhanced and focused. The lifelong passion that grounds at all is instrumental. If you are an individual that is passionate about law and knows that you can be the best attorney you can be not only at the beginning but well into the future and beyond throughout the entirety of your career, then you know that you are entering into a career field that is right for you. If you are unable to do this, if you lack the lifelong passion that grounds it all, then a career as an attorney may not be right for you. Take the time to fully understand the path and appreciate what it means not only now but for your future.

6 Tips For Scoring High On The LSAT Your First Attempt

Posted on January 4, 2021 by IUTech

Taking a test of any kind can be a daunting experience. This is especially true if the testing question is one that is incredibly important to not only your individual progress but also your professional future. This is truer than ever when it comes to sitting the LSAT. Thankfully, there are some tips for scoring high on the LSAT that are incredibly important for students who want to really do well on the LSAT not just in general but in their first attempt. This is such an incredible examination that it often drives home the importance of not only its role in the student taking the next step towards their career, but how that is going to play out. So, these are the best six steps for scoring high on the LSAT on your first attempt.

1. Practice, practice, practice

There is nothing more important than being open and aware of the value of constantly practicing. Regardless of the fact that the questions on the examination are going to be different to the ones you practice with, practicing gets you familiar with the foundation and the approach to the exam and how you are going to be able to navigate it, that is so important. practice really does make perfect (or, as close to as possible).

2. Form a study group

One of the best things you can do when you are setting for the LSAT is forming a reliable study group. For me study group allow you to bounce ideas and your understanding of aspects of the LSAT course material off on another also being able to have a stronger approach of not only how you are going to approach the onset itself but having a broader understanding of it from being able to be exposed to and to understand different perspectives of the same material. This is an incredible asset to your preparation for the LSAT.

3. Structure your study sessions

Arguably more than anything else, structuring your study sessions is really going to be able to set you up for a healthy approach to not only have the LSAT is playing at currently but how you were going to be able to sit when the exam does come to pass. Structuring your study sessions means that you were sitting down and knowing full well what you were going to focus on for that set period of time. This often increases productivity and allows you to become more motivated because you have a set approach to not only how you want to study for the day but the timeframe that you are going to spend studying.

4. Ask all the questions

Your professors want you to succeed. So, the best thing you can do in terms of achieving that success is to ask all of the questions. There is no such thing as stupid questions and your professors will no doubt appreciate you going outside of your comfort zone to really ensure that you were taking the time to ask you questions that you do not understand. This is important because it allows you to not only form a better understanding of the material but also to show your professors that you were willing and able to put in the work to understand what you mean not initially.

5. Revision is key

As is most often, if not always, the case with anytime examination, revision is key. Revision does go hand in hand with practice, however the key to successful revision is to go over the material time and again until you can recite it or write it down from memory. This is the best thing that you can do in terms of preparing for the other said because it essentially puts you in a position of advantage by giving you the tools to understand the LSAT not only as it is but what it can offer you as a student sitting it.

6. Look to guides

Of course, there is nothing wrong with looking to guides for additional advice and understanding. There are guides online that you can look at (for example, this LSAT prep course guide here. These guides are designed and intended to give you a further scope of understanding of the LSAT and how you can make the most of sitting it and do so to your advantage. Looking at guides can form a great understanding of the material from a different perspective and offer you an incredible insight into how to deal with the LSAT from a perspective that you may have not considered before.

Four Ways Professional Translation Services Can Improve Your Academic Standing

Posted on September 30, 2020 by IUTech

Whether you are a student or a teacher, it’s of great value to communicate and tap into resources in other languages. And once you have something to publish, or when you want to converse with someone in another language, it’s important that it be understood correctly. Sure, there are free translation apps and cheap freelancer translators, and there may be occasions when these alternatives make sense. We’ll consider here some ways in which smart usage of professional translation services can advance your academic standing and thus your career.

1. A Professional Translation Company can Improve the Quality of Your Work

Most of us live in linguistic bubbles, speaking the language with which we grew up. Some of us are lucky enough to have been raised in a bilingual family or cultural context. In the United States, 20% of the population speaks a second language fluently, but in the rest of the world, the bilingual figure is closer to 50%. So Americans can learn from their European counterparts about the benefits of bilingualism.

But the lack of bilingual speakers in the US also raises the need for professional translation services in the college and university context. In some cases, a critical piece of reading or research is written in a foreign language for which a published translation is not available. In these cases, investment in a professional translation may make the difference between success and failure in the quality of your paper. According to one translation company, Tomedes, the presence of foreign language research in a published paper increases credibility and the likelihood of positive reviews. Of course, despite the easy availability of professional translation services online, it would not be ethical to pass off a professional translation as your own work, especially in a language course where your skills in expression are being evaluated.

2. Professional Translation Services Expand Readership and Publication Potential

If you are a graduate student or a scholar, you know very well that one is constantly measured according to the quantity and quality of your publications. A professional translation can expand vastly the number of publications who will consider publishing your paper. Naturally, they will judge your work alongside papers written by native speakers, so it is essential that the quality be at a high level.

You should therefore seek out a professional translator who is both a native speaker of the target language, fluent in the source language (in which you write), and also well versed in the subject matter of your paper. The translator needs to understand the jargon and terminology of your academic domain as well as any formatting requirements for the submission of such papers. You should therefore make available to translator the instructions that come directly from the journal in which you hope to publish your paper.

3. Make Sure Professional Translators Adhere to International Standards

To keep order in a multilingual world, various international organizations have established standards for publications in various languages. One of these is the Multilingual Named Authority List, which is a regulated and indexed glossary of words listing topics useful in creating catalogs used by libraries and publications. Many publications and libraries adhere to these standards, so it is essential that your chosen translator is familiar with them, too.

Another useful resource is Multivoc, the European Union’s thesaurus. Covering at least 24 languages used in the EU, and constantly growing, this resource is useful for finding synonyms and correlates from one language to another. If you are translating to and from non-European languages, be sure to have your professional translation service seek out similar resources for the libraries and publications in your target region.

4. Seek Professional Translation Services from Agencies or Freelancers

You can obtain high-quality professional translation services from two groupings of resources. The first way is by selecting from translation companies (also called localization agencies) offering language services as their core business. Do an online search including the words “translation agency,” the name of each language in the pair you require, as well as the subject matter for which you require translation.

These agencies will respond to such queries with price-quotes or questions for clarification. Acquire a shortlist of qualified translation companies, then compare prices, delivery times, and the “chemistry” with a given agency. The advantage of working with a translation company is that it offers a “one-stop-shop” for multiple language and academic domains.

The main disadvantage is the price. If your budget is tight – and when in the academic world is it not? – then you can seek our professional translators in one of the freelance marketplaces, like Upwork, Freelancer.com, or Fiverr. Here, too, you can filter candidates by language and domain, inspect profiles, portfolios, reviews, ratings, and rates, choosing the one who fits your needs and budget.

Working with a freelance translator may be more time-consuming than with a professional translation agency, but there can be a closer personal connection that can lead to better results. It’s a good practice to hire freelance translators in pairs, one to check the work of the other and serve as a backup, lest something, or someone, gets lost in translation.

Interest and investment in technological influence in education rises again

Posted on September 19, 2020 by IUTech

The rise of technological influence is a modern marvel. It was first introduced as the digital era began to rise from the depths of obscurity and has now turned into a mainstream event. Technological advancement and enhancement go hand in hand with digitalisation.

Before we got to this point, however, digital and technological inclination had to evolve to get to this stage. It was a work in progress. And now, finally, technological advancement and enhancement are innovating and revolutionising the entire world. More than ever before, there is the steady awareness and inherent understanding that the ever-evolving respect, interest, and investment in technological advancement and enhancement is not only well placed, but that it is detrimental going forward, if the world wants to evolve alongside its inventions.

Technological influence rises

When technological influence began to rise up, there was a lot of discussion regarding how it would change the world – if it would even change anything. This led to heated debate that surrounded the ongoing attention to detail of technological affirmation and influence. Not everyone believed or expected that it was going to be able to become a mainstream sensation that would forever shape and evolve the world as we know it. However, as it continued to overcome criticisms and challenges over the years, that is precisely what ultimately ended up happening. Technological influence had effectively and successfully risen through the ranks to become a leading mainstream sensation. Today, interest and investment in the technological industry is stronger than ever.

Interest and investment in technological influence in education

Every industry was impacted. Including, as it turns out, the international academic field. Technological advancement in education began steadily and continued to maintain that steady pace of successful evolution ever since. Today, technological advancement in education is bolder and smarter than it has ever been – and continues to improve constantly. Whether it is the incorporation of elearning voice over artist or the introduction of EdTech materials and courses throughout global academics, the more value is placed on digital learning, the more interest and investment rises surrounding the technological advancement of the education industry.

Education continues to get bolder and smarter

And this is just the start. Technological influence has proven to be exceptionally impressive in not only the education industry but in the entire world. Today, the interest and investments in EdTech concepts and objectives is higher than it has ever been. The continuously rising pools of interest and investments in technological advancement and enhancement in education are a testament to the fact that there is great value to be found in augmenting the education industry. Tech is, in all its forms, all about improving and making life easier. And in this instance, it has certainly proven itself tenfold (as well as continuing to do so, for that matter). This is the next era in education and technology is leading the way.

Treat university as the learning curve that it is

Posted on September 14, 2020 by IUTech

Being a university student is an experience that is unparalleled. There is no other experience on earth quite like dealing with being a university student because this is an experience that is quite literally designed to challenge and reward you at every turn and not only expected ways but also in decidedly unexpected ways. University is an incredible experience and it is a luxury to be able to even have the opportunity to attend university. For individuals around the globe, having access to university education is a gift that comes with many challenges and rewards that each have their own lessons included with them then.

With so many pieces of advice that will almost definitely be offered to you, how can you figure out which pieces of advice (if any) are worthwhile? While there will likely be nuggets of truth and value in every piece of advice that you are given as a university student, for the most part having access to university and all that comes with it is just a massive process that requires a lot of patience and understanding to be successfully navigated through. So, it pays to know that it is important to take on different pieces of advice but to know which ones are most valuable to you as a student.

Finding the best piece of advice as a uni student

So, what is the single best piece of advice you can get as a university student? Essentially, what it all comes down to is taking note of what your own values are and what is important to you. is important because it allows you to find the best pieces of advice as a university student and to be able to approach them and the healthiest mindset possible. This of course has a direct correlation and distant impact on how the advice is not only taken on but how you are able to navigate your way through taking on that advice and putting it into practice.

Treating university as a learning curve

It is really quite simple. Treat university as the learning curve that it is. It does not matter if you want your future career to be in real estate (where you focus on a niche like ‘we buy houses Pittsburgh’, for instance) or business or any other type of career field after you graduate. It is important to treat university as the learning curve that is while you are there because this is where you form healthy habits like time management, productivity, and other important aspects of the learning experience. When you are able and willing to treat university as a learning curve that it is, you are able to navigate your way through the experience with more beers and transparency. And that can only be a positive.

How you can take this advice with you beyond uni

This is a piece of advice that does not have to end when you graduate. Embracing the learning curve is an important piece of advice that can allow you to more easily navigate your way through other experiences in life as well. For this reason, is one of the most valuable pieces of advice you can never be given as a university student or as an individual in general who is navigating their way through life as they know it.

DevOps Tools Students Utilize For Simplified Application Development

Posted on September 13, 2020 by IUTech

Application development is certainly not easy. There is plenty of need for technology that supports the development process, and still be cost effective. This is critical, whether you are developing applications for clients in your new job, or fulfilling an entrepreneurial dream before graduation.

If you are soon to graduate from Indiana University, you should begin researching DevOps tools that can assist in simplifying the app production and deployment processes.

The following DevOps tools, like Framework 7 or a Docker registry (via JFrog) can be valuable. And with application development on the rise, whether for mobile devices or desktops, having the ability to streamline as much as possible can help you achieve your professional goals post graduation.

Let’s get right to the DevOps tools students utilize for simplified application development.

Docker Containerized Images

Docker containerized images are synonymous with application development. This DevOps tool is extremely popular among developers and engineers for a wide range of reasons.

What is Docker? Great question. Docker is all about containerized images, allowing developers, or aspiring developers like you, release software apps that run on a variety of devices and operating systems. Why is this so important? It speeds the development process, bringing new applications to market faster.

For example, private Docker registry can be utilized to isolate applications in separate containers. This gives it ultimate portability, as well as beefs up the security ecosystem within the development and deployment environment. Docker also makes virtual machines useless, which developers and engineers appreciate.

DevOps tools like Docker also serve up other benefits, such as the elimination of dependencies within a specific app container. Developers can then have more run options, thus speeding up development. Compatibility is another benefit, since Docker is compatible with many other DevOps tools like Jenkins.

Ionic Framework Hybrid System

Having a competitive edge as a developer, even if you are a student developer or engineer, can be very valuable. Enter Ionic Framework, a DevOps tool that serves up that competitive edge within application development.

Ionic Framework is a hybrid system that has cross-platform capabilities. This allows developers to create applications that are highly progressive for the end user. One big benefit of Ionic Framework is that you can run apps on multiple operating systems.

This DevOps tool also comes with a large library with JS CSS, HTML; and other mobile device optimization features. This is what makes Ionic Framework enticing to developers, whether students getting started in development, or seasoned developers. The interface and above benefits make this tool a must in order to streamline the app development process.

Framework 7 iOS App Development

Even though Framework 7 is all about iOS app development, there is still an Android support system. Framework 7 is the uñtimate in application development for iOS devices, primarily in the dev space of development and deployment. This is essential to streamline, since most Americans have an Apple device of some form, or any other mainstream smartphone.

“A growing share of Americans now use smartphones as their primary means of online access at home,” according to the Pew Research Center. “Today roughly one-in-five American adults are “smartphone-only” internet users – meaning they own a smartphone, but do not have traditional home broadband service.”

Developers love Framework 7 because it allows them to create very high level, high performing iOS applications. Technology is essential when choosing the right DevOps tools. And integration with other must-have technologies is important. Framework 7 can be integrated with JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.

JQuery/JQuery Mobile Still Relevant

This development tool is one of the oldest and most trusted. JQuery/JQuery Mobile are still relevant within the development environment, still a favorite of old school developers, as well as the next app development innovators.

Why? The superb functionality JQuery/JQuery Mobile serves up. This DevOps tool truly simplifies the application development process. There are pitfalls, however, since JQuery is still not the best tool for native functionality and next level UI. But despite these deficiencies, this development tool is utilized by many in the app development industry.

What DevOps Tools Will You Employ For App Development Success?

This is a very important question you need to ask as a student developer, whether you are creating your own application, or taking on client projects via a new company. The above DevOps tools are, however, the short list. They are important, and the easiest to employ, but researching more about development tools is a must. What are you developing with?

Important Facts to Know about Alternatives to Student Loans

Posted on August 17, 2020 by IUTech

The cost of higher education in the USA has increased by 25% in the last decade, while the collective student debt has reached $1.56 trillion. That being said, this doesn’t mean a student loan isn’t a viable option for your specific financial situation. But, it’s prudent to explore alternatives to student loans, before you make your final decision. So, if you’re looking for alternative ways to fund your studies, in this article, we’ve selected four important facts that you should take into consideration.

Grants

What you need to know about grants is that they are provided by the federal, state government, or in some instances by a non-profit organization. This is a type of financial aid, which doesn’t require you to repay your grant. However, keep in mind that there are several instances when you have to pay back a portion of your grant, for example, if you change your enrollment status or you drop out of the program.

Grants are being awarded based on your financial situation, specifically, for students that come from low-income families. In fact, the Pell Grant is a good option for undergraduate students from low-income families. There are several advantages to this grant, including a fast application process, flexible terms, priority when accessing more aid through other programs, and other benefits. You can learn more about the grant here.

Otherwise, the grants can also be merit-based, which means you’re awarded a grant based on your hobby, academic achievements, ethnicity, religion, talent in athletics, music, etc.

Scholarships

Scholarships are another type of financial aid that doesn’t need to be repaid. They can be need-based or merit-based, which means they can be awarded based on academic performance, personal background, community service, and other traits.

Although you’ll find a scholarship program offered by your university or college, they are also offered by a number of different charities, foundations, businesses, and other organizations. There are different types of scholarships, including full scholarships, renewable scholarships, scholarships for international students, to name a few.

Work-Study Programs

A work-study program is a great way to reduce your costs while you work part-time on campus. Also, some jobs might be related to your field, and you will gain invaluable professional experience. This program is available for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. To qualify for the program, you must be a student from a low-income family, already enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, and you need to complete a FAFSA application.

Tuition Reimbursement

Tuition Reimbursement is offered as part of the benefits package, and companies use this program to attract and retain their best employees who will improve their skills and knowledge by obtaining a BA or MBA. But you need to keep in mind that with this option, you need to pay up-front your tuition fees, and after you’ve completed the semester or your course, for example, the company will refund your costs, partially or the entire amount.

The program might differ from employer to employer, so make sure to do your own research and check if you’re eligible. Some companies require students to stay in the company for a specific period of time, for example. High-profile companies that offer tuition reimbursement are Starbucks, Procter & Gamble, AT&T, Verizon, among others.

Conclusion

Most students won’t rely solely on one source to finance their college degrees. This means that you should explore various resources, from student loans to scholarships, grants, savings. So, when you have a better idea about the opportunities available to you, you can create a budget that reflects your financial situation and future goals.

Figuring Out If Marriage Counselling Is the Right Approach to Mending Your Relationship

Posted on May 22, 2020 by IUTech

So many individuals dream of the day that they finally get to marry the partner of their dreams. There is a lot of careful consideration and planning that goes into even bringing a wedding to fruition. And that is just the start. This is where the hard work truly begins. You can have the fairytale, however you have to be willing and able to work with and genuinely understand the fact that the fairytale is going to come with a lot of challenges. There are always challenges in any story, this is an inevitability. So, make it a point to work through these challenges, or otherwise to know when it is time to stop fighting and start thriving, both as a partnership and as individuals.

It goes without saying that while it can (ideally) be an incredible journey, there is also a lot of hard work that goes into keeping a marriage flourishing and thriving. Committing to the concept of marriage is just as much about everything that comes after the wedding day as it is about the wedding day itself. In fact, committing to marriage is more about being the partner that you want to be and also working with your spouse to make your marriage the best partnership that it can be. There are no promises, however you can make it a point to try to work on your marriage every other day (and you should). So, where do you even start?

Being open-minded to the concept of fixing your relationship

Yes, a marriage is a union but first and foremost it is still always a relationship. Of course, thankfully there are many different approaches to mending your marriage, and not all of them will be the right fit for yourself and your spouse. So, before anything else, sit down together and figure out which approaches you are both comfortable with considering and which, if any, either of you are entirely against. This is a great way to start figuring out how you can both begin to move forward towards a healthier marriage and a happier future.

Investing in marriage counselling and therapy

One of the most commonly utilised ways to mend a marriage is by investing in marriage counselling and therapy. While of course sometimes marriage counselling and therapy do not necessarily work, for the most part and in most cases marriage counselling and therapy can and do work wonders. Many a time, what it ultimately comes down to is figuring out the right approach to investing in counselling and therapy so that you are both able to figure out the type of counsellor or therapist you want to invest in, as well as the type of counselling or therapy that you both feel is going to have the best chance at working.

Knowing when to stop fighting and part ways

And finally, there are definitely circumstances that no matter how much you both might want to continue fighting, it is time to let go and gracefully part ways as a married couple. Of course, fighting is always the desired approach, deep down, however you must know when it is time to cut your losses. Counselling and therapy businesses like nayaclinics.com/counseling-in-cincinnati-ohio are all about assisting you in finding the healthiest way forward – regardless of what that might ultimately look like.

The Benefits of Having Access to Tuition Programs

Posted on May 14, 2020 by IUTech

As far as education goes, there is a lot to be said about the many different approaches that are available for students and teachers alike to take within the industry and their own individual experiences. Education is one of the strongest performing and most important industries in the entire world, and so it comes as no surprise that interest and investment in the academic industry are also consistently strong. Education is a challenging experience however it is also one of the most rewarding experiences that an individual can possibly ever have.

The feeling of accomplishment and nurturing your intelligence is a feeling that is challenging, if not near impossible, to mirror in any other aspect of life. For individuals who choose to pursue further education, this is truer than ever. The rewards always far outweigh the challenges, to the point that so many individuals choose to go back to school again and again, addicted in a way to the feeling of accomplishment that comes with ongoing educational opportunities. And that road is not always easy. Sometimes, it pays to have a little assistance to get you there.

Understanding What Tuition Programs Are

This is why tuition programs are so popular. In short, tuition programs are initiatives that are designed, created, intended, and introduced to give students more access to assistances that allow them to gain a stronger sense of course material through theoretical and practical assistances. These tuition programs are provided as opportunities for students to access additional insight and framework into the fields they are studying while essentially ensuring that they are staying up to date, and even sometimes a little ahead, of the course curriculum in their classes at school.

Acknowledging the Benefits of Tuition Programs

There are many benefits of tuition programs, whether those programs are science tuition, econs tuition, or any other type of tuition program in between or beyond. It is important to acknowledge the benefits of these tuition programs because it is this acknowledgement that makes them so powerful in their design and intent. Benefits range from having access to additional information, materials, and tools in the fields of interest that a student is taking on, to getting a broader scope of understanding of said information, materials, and tools. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Appreciating the Value of Tuition Programs

Underneath it all, there is the incredible value of tuition programs. These programs are so valuable because they essentially give students a leg up when they need it most. There is nothing more frustrating than wanting to understand information and somehow not being able to connect the dots and make the bigger picture come together cohesively. Tuition programs are so incredibly valuable because they essentially bridge the gaps and give students the additional assistance to bring that bigger picture together with relative ease and transparency. More than anything else, that is the entire point and overall value of tuition programs, and it is why they continue to become more and more popular (and valuable) all the time.

How Does Distance Learning Stack up Against the Traditional Experience

Posted on May 8, 2020 by IUTech

Distance learning has been the go-to solution for students and teachers under stay at home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. And while distance learning isn’t exactly new, the question you may have is how effective a learning experience is it actually?

Distance learning, in contrast to the traditional model, has little to no on-campus requirement for students, who instead access course material online. There are three main types of distance learning: synchronous, asynchronous, and hybrid distance learning [link to previous article “What is distance learning”]. And even before stay-at-home orders made distance learning the new norm, students were increasingly turning to this option.

In a 2019 Forbes article, “Online Education: From Good To Better To Best?,” distance learning was praised for levelling the playing field for students who couldn’t access on-campus courses. And, according to the article, which cites several studies, distance learning was actually going above and beyond that goal and outperforming traditional education.

And students are taking notice. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 50.4% of students were enrolled exclusively in distance learning programs during the 2018-2019 school year.

Access and course engagement

These numbers aren’t all that shocking considering that students can get the same quality of education, if not a better quality in some cases, without ever leaving their homes. According to the above Forbes article, students expressed that having control over their learning experience and being able to work at their own pace made the experience better for them.

Students also found that multimedia content was more engaging and that technology gave them better access to their peers and their instructor. They also had fewer scheduling conflicts, since many online courses allow a degree of flexibility not found in in-person courses.

And despite the long-held belief that distance learning programs are inferior, we’re beginning to learn that is no longer the case. A recent study conducted by Gallup and U2, an education technology company, found that when done correctly, online programs can actually surpass the traditional education experience.

The study found that 77% of U2 program alumni strongly agree that they had at least one professor who made them excited about learning. In contrast, only 71% of alumni who completed their degree in-person, or mostly in-person felt the same. Graduates who completed their coursework online reported higher levels of engagement than their in-person counterparts.

The study also found that the work completed online was just as academically challenging as in-person course work. Distance education can deliver an education experience that is both interesting and academically sound.

A better model

As technology advances, it only makes sense that educators increasingly take advantage of those resources to improve their programs. Right now, students and educators have no choice but to engage in distance learning — in some states, students will not be allowed to return to the classroom at all for the remainder of the academic year, and the timing of the reopening of the nation is uncertain.

But, the data shows that not only can distance learning be just as effective as in-person learning, but can actually be better — a better way to learn, with fewer barriers to access and higher engagement. It might be worth the effort to lean into this new educational norm.