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These days, nearly everything is available online, including the opportunity to earn a college degree. When it comes to education, the more ways we can get a good one, the better, so bringing higher learning to a high-tech world only makes sense.

Some people cannot attend classes in person and others just don't want to, so for those who still desire a college education, opting for online is the way to go. It may not be traditional, but in this fast-paced, ever-changing world we live in, before long, online may become the new norm.

If you are not sure if an online education is right for you or you would like to learn some of its benefits, here are some stellar reasons to log on and learn.

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It's Less Expensive Than a Traditional College/University Experience

Boy is college expensive! Even community and state schools cost a fortune. Without financial aid, loans, or scholarships, many people just cannot afford to go. Rather than ditch the idea of getting a degree altogether, folks with financial limitations can seek out more affordable options online.

According toStraighterline, "You can save hundreds of dollars to get your degree when you're learning online. The traditional costs associated with using classroom space and equipment don't apply. As long as you have the right hardware and software to log on and complete course assignments, as well as study the material, there are big savings you realize right away."

There are other practical savings perks too, asMontgomery College notes. "Consider what it would cost you in gas and parking each month if you were driving to campus. Consider the costs of eating out versus eating at home. Consider the costs for child-care, pet care or any other kind of care that you need to provide while you are away from home. Consider the costs of missing work to make classes or not being eligible for a promotion because you can't attend classes to advance your educational level."

There's a Wide Range of Courses to Select From

When you attend a college in person, there are a variety courses to choose from, but there are limitations depending on the size of the school as well as its focus. This puts restraints on what you can study, and in turn, what sort of career you will one day be prepared for.

As per Open Education Database, "No matter what students wish to study, from nursing to neuroscience, they can find online the courses or degree programs they need. They can also earn every academic degree online, all the way from a career certificate to a doctorate."

"Whether it's algebra, English composition or even biology lab work, there's a course you can take online. You can even study humanities, sociology and business administration," Straighterline adds.

You'll Have More Flexibility

With online education, you can learn at your own pace, at any time of day or night, weekdays or weeknights, after work, or when the baby is napping. You can take as much time as you need to earn your degree or speed things up and move on to the next stage in life. Take one course or take a bunch. Online, flexibility is a major perk.

For instance, as per Straighterline, "If you work non-traditional hours, you don't have to lose sleep, arrange for childcare or waste time commuting to physical classrooms."

Open Education Database adds, "Students can study and work when they are at their peak energy, whether that's early morning or late at night. Course material is always accessible online, so there's no need to schedule special trips to a library either. All of this makes online learning a good option for students who need to balance their work and family commitments."

It's a Lesson in Prioritizing and Self-Discipline

Not only does online learning teach you coursework, but it provides an important lifelong lesson in discipline and prioritization. You are fully accountable to show up, do the work, and retain the information. There's no physical classroom where the professor will mark you absent, so it's up to you to show up for yourself.

Learning to manage your schedule and keep on top of things responsibly is not only valuable for college, but in all areas of life. As per Montgomery College, "The motivation to study in an online course comes from you. It's something we call student-centered or active learning. The online student takes responsibility for their course of studies and matures into an individual for whom learning and accomplishment are highly valued. In short, your success depends on you!"

Are you interested in learning online but don't quite know where to start? Consider OnlineSchoolScout, "a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison features." They have released their top five featured schools with online degree programs for 2018. #1 is Ashford University with 70+ online bachelor's degree programs. And if you opt to attend college in person after learning online, you can transfer up to 90 approved credits. Check out OnlineSchoolScout's other top picks and see if one is the right fit for you.

Learning is power, and education can be powered up right at home.

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Ted Talks are a great way to kill some time if you only have a little time to spare. They are also incredibly informative, inspirational, and useful tools that can help you understand the world around you. Business leaders share their tips and tricks while analysts and experts can show you what makes a business thrive. Ted talks can also help enlighten you about your own role in business, how to ask for a raise, and find a job you're truly happy with. Here are some of the best business Ted Talks for you to explore!

Rocío Lorenzo

How diversity makes teams more innovative

Ted

Posted Oct 2017 Rated Informative, Inspiring

This answers the question once and for all, yes companies are more innovative when they have more diversity. Lorenzo presents data you need to see to understand how and why diversity gives companies a more competitive advantage. Lorenzo focuses on the importance of women having a place at the table, which is refreshing for many who have been excluded for so long. There is more creativity and therefore more corporate beneficial pros to welcoming in different kinds of employees.


Shawn Actor

The Happy Secret To Better Work

Ted

Posted May 2011 Rated Inspiring, Funny

The CEO of Good Think, a company that researches and teaches about positive psychology, brings us this fast paced funny talk about true happiness at work. Do we have to work hard to be happy or are we thinking about it all wrong? Actor argues that work shouldn't come before happiness because the best way to be productive at your job is to genuinely like it. Happiness inspires us to be productive!


Casey Brown

Know your worth, and then ask for it

Ted

Posted Apr 2017 Rated Inspiring, Persuasive

Brown helps you reshape your thinking to help you get a raise. The key is to think like your boss. They aren't paying you what you think you're worth, they are paying you what they think you're worth. So get them to change their mind. She shares stories and lessons that can help you communicate your value and get paid more accordingly.


David Burkus

Why you should know how much your coworkers get paid

Ted

Posted Sep 2016 Rated Informative, Persuasive

This video is as important as ever, as showcased by Catt Sadler leaving E! News after finding out her male co-host earned double her salary. Burkus challenges our cultural assumption that salaries should be kept secret because of beneficial the information could be. The only person who benefits from employees being kept in the dark is the people who don't want to properly pay them. Burkus shows how sharing salaries can benefit employees and society.


Martin Reeves

How to build a business that lasts 100 years

Ted

Posted Aug 2016 Rated Informative, Inspiring

This interesting ted talk takes a medical, biological, spin on business. Taking a comparative look between the human body and business Martin Reeves explains how you can take inspiration for the immune system to help expand your companies life span. Reeves presents statistics about what is shrinking those life spans and how you can apply six principles from your own body to build a more resilient business.


Scott Dinsmore

How to find work you love

Ted

Posted Sep 2015 Rated Inspiring, Persuasive

What makes your employees dedicated and productive members of the team? Well it helps if they like their job! Scott Dinsmore tells his personal story of leaving a job that made him miserable and his journey to finding the right job for you. His simple talk gets to the root of a lot of people's job search. You have to find out what matters to you and then start doing it! He'll tell you how.


Barry Schwartz

The way we think about work is broken

Ted

Posted Sep 2015 Rated Inspiring, Informative

Another fantastic talk about how to get employees to work harder simply because they like their jobs. There has to be incentives other than a paycheck that motivate people at work. Barry Schwartz presents his solution which is to change the way we think about work. Thinking of workers as individuals instead of cogs on the wheel of the machine is a good way to start.


Go get exploring and learn some new things with these fantastic Ted Talks!

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The internet has opened the doors to communication and education for many across the globe. Just by going online, you can learn a language or find out how to fix a simple problem with your car. You can even enroll in online courses to earn a degree from anywhere. Unfortunately, these programs still come with tuition costs — a barrier for many. However, there are now plenty of Massive Open Online Courses (or MOOCs) that you can participate in free of charge. One of these platforms is Coursera.

Coursera hosts thousands of courses across various disciplines. They partner with universities around the world — including the Ivy League. They also partner with companies like Google and IBM for more technical courses. You can take as many classes as you want through Coursera at no charge. Want to study Constitutional Law with Yale? Or algorithms with Stanford? You can watch lectures, take notes, and chat with fellow students all for free and at your own pace. You can also access the entire course on any device you choose, making it easy to study anytime, anywhere.

Classes are structured mostly like a traditional college course. You'll have reading and possibly homework assignments each week as well as lectures to watch. Coursera operates on a sessions schedule, which allows students to communicate and discuss the course material more easily. There are weekly deadlines to keep students on track, but you have no deadline to complete the course. If you don't finish the class within one session, you can always re-enroll until you complete it.

However, unless you pay for a specific course or specialization, you won't be able to earn an official certificate that proves you took the course. Some courses won't allow you to get grading feedback unless you pay for it either. If you just want to learn something new on your own spare time, this won't be an issue. If you want to take the course to advance your career, you'll definitely need proof. To help with the funding gap, Coursera provides financial aid. If you're approved for aid, you'll have 180 days to complete the course. If you do not complete the course within that time period, you can re-apply.

If you want to go further than just one course at a time, you can also enroll in professional certificate programs or even earn a full degree. Coursera currently offers two kinds of certificate programs and four Master's degree programs. These tracks are mostly focused in business, management, accounting and computer science. These are offered in partnership with specific universities, making your degree just as valuable as those of students who enrolled on campus.

Coursera is a great resource to learn more anywhere you want. However, its course catalog can be limited in some fields. If you're looking for more classes in a specific subject area, take a look at MOOC-list.com. This website lets you search across various MOOC platforms by subject to find the classes you are most interested in.