VTVLC Student Blog
The Widened World of Online Learning
If you’ve turned on the news lately, you’ve probably seen footage of people protesting across the country. These individuals are coming from hundreds of different backgrounds. They don’t know the story of the person next to them, but they’re there together, ready to demand change. It’s incredible to watch. We’re living through history-making events, and while it is inspiring, it can also be scary. Fortunately, I’m more prepared than ever, because of the world exposure I receive for taking my classes online.
Growing up in Vermont, it’s easy to feel separated from the rest of the world. To me, it has often seemed that time moves slower here. For some people, this might be the first time that they’ve ever seen a protest. When I attended public school, I didn’t learn much about protesting, activism, or fighting for change on a global scale. I sought out information on those topics, but it was never presented to me academically.
One of the first online classes that I took was about feminism. Until that point, I’d hardly heard that word uttered in a classroom. In this course, I had the opportunity to analyze films and how they portray women. After I’d watched a movie, I’d complete a project on it, and then earn credit. I was blown away by this. I was getting the chance to research things that I was actually passionate about. I learned about ideas, theories, and cultures that I’d never even thought of before.
After I completed that course, I knew for sure that online learning was the right choice for me. When you take your classes on a computer, you likely get the option to explore concepts that you didn’t know existed. You might get to work with people from completely different backgrounds, too. I’m currently taking a fitness class. Earlier in the year, I was asked to write about physical education in different cultures. I decided to interview my friend India, who lives in England, for the assignment. It was fascinating to hear about how different our worlds are. I hadn’t ever had opportunities quite like that in a traditional, public school environment.
When you are an online student, you’re consistently asked to think about life on a global spectrum. Whether it’s because of the classes that you’re taking, or an in-depth conversation with a teacher, the fabric of virtual education is always forcing you to possibly step outside of your comfort zone, in the best way possible. I didn’t realize just how much I liked being informed about the world around me, until my online learning allowed for nothing but.
“When you’re an online student, you’re consistently asked to think about life on a global spectrum. Whether it’s because of the classes that you’re taking, or an in-depth conversation with a teacher, the fabric of virtual education is always forcing you to possibly step outside of your comfort zone.“