Online Continuing Education - Is It Right for You?

There are many reasons students choose to continue their education online. But, is it right for everyone? Research says no. Not everyone can handle online courses. Some individuals need to be sitting in a classroom to succeed. There are many factors to consider when you are deciding what program to choose. Many professions require continuing education to be done online for many reasons. They feel you receive the same education online as if you were sitting in a classroom. For the most part the content the student is learning is the same whether they complete the course online or in a classroom. In this article we will talk about some different characteristics of online courses and classroom courses so you can better decide what the best option is for you.

First, let's start with some pros and cons of taking a course in a classroom. One of the major benefits is the interaction you have with your professor/instructor and your fellow classmates. The majority of students really appreciate this because they can bounce ideas off of each other and participate in a live lecture. They are also able to ask the instructor questions and receive an immediate response. A major con to sitting in a classroom is having to drive to the physical location and sit in a lecture/seminar for a specific amount of time. This eliminates the flexibility and convenience that an online course offers.

Now, let's talk about online continuing education courses. A major con to taking courses online is there is typically no live interaction with any of the other students or the professor. This can be a huge downside if you are having trouble in one of the courses. You have to rely strictly on email and sometimes that is just not enough. Hopefully your instructor is available via telephone or live chat so they can walk you through the problem. On the upside, online courses can be completed from the comfort of your home or office at anytime during the day. Many professionals and adult learners really appreciate this since their schedules are typically slammed.

As you can see, there are some positive and negative characteristics when taking online courses. You have to weigh the pros and cons to decide what the best method is for you. Also, consider the course content and how familiar you are with it. Is it professional continuing education that you know or a completely new subject to you?

Counseling Continuing Education: Growing A Base Of Knowledge

As anyone involved in the field can tell you, counseling continuing education is vital to grow a base of knowledge that can help patients and move you beyond the basics. Having a thriving and successful practice in any endeavor means learning on a continual basis. The entire industry grows as a result of having professionals who have moved beyond what they learned in their original schooling and have taken the opportunity to intensify their education with classes, workshops, and networking. Those states and private organizations that make no requirements of their counselors as it pertains to furthering their knowledge do not only their professionals a disservice, but their patients as well.

In most states, counseling continuing education is more than a suggestion; it is a requirement. This is not true in all states, however. Even in some states where there are no requirements, private employers will place those requirements on their employees, knowing that it will help raise the standard of therapy provided at the institution. Of course, an unfortunate side effect can occur within those states and organizations that have credit requirements. Rather than use those minimum standards as just that, professionals simply get what they need to stay employed and nothing more. The best professionals in the field see those requirements for what they are-minimums-and move beyond them each and every year.

Every therapy center depends on the knowledge and ability of their staff in order to build a reputation. And a reputation is all any such organization really has. Whether it is a government agency or a private institution, the goal should always be the provide the best care possible. This is an impossible goal to achieve if the staff is not immersing themselves in academics, learning the latest techniques and trends that are being developed around the country and throughout the world. Without this continual learning, the field grows stagnant and patients are no longer likely to make the kind of progress they should be making.

The soft sciences are living fields of study. They cannot exist in a vacuum, only to be read about in stuffy textbooks. What you learned in college ten years ago may be largely obsolete in today's practice. However, if you never take the time to further your studies, you'll never know this. There are a number of ways to accomplish counseling classes. Ask your employer or seek out ways to do so, even if it means going well beyond the minimum standards.