Prime for Online: More Adults Continuing Education

This fall when millions of college students read their class syllabi, only 16% will be 18-22 year-old students hanging out on campus. Surprisingly, most students are working adults who are juggling families, work, and school. Many of these adult learners have found that online learning is their best option.

Why Adults Are Continuing Education

We're learning more skills because we need them for our careers. The surge in the number of nontraditional students isn't as shocking when you consider that 90% of the fastest-growing jobs require some kind of postsecondary education.
We're also learning more because the Internet makes relevant courses readily available. You no longer have to wait six months for a class to begin or need to worry about scheduling conflicts. Working professionals have the benefit of fitting an online class into their lives instead of arranging life around a class.

Driving the Need for Online Learning

One of the greatest benefits of online learning is the quick response to students' needs. The variety and number of classes, including vocational training, have quickly multiplied in the last few years. Over two million students have enrolled in online classes, and many more plan to pursue online degrees.
If a particular course wasn't offered the last time you checked, check again to see if it's been added. Better yet, send the school a suggestion that they add the course in which you're interested. If you know others who are also interested in the same online class, ask them to contact the school as well. Numbers matter, especially to administrators.
Whether it's vocational training in locksmithing or an introductory course in children's writing, there are educational opportunities available online to suit all learners' professional and personal needs.
Source:
"Hidden in Plain Sight: Adult Learners Forge a New Tradition in Higher Education," Department of Education.