Self-help books were yesterday’s online courses, and they continue to be wildly popular. Self-help books have become so popular with many people they allowed readers to learn about topics that interested them, whether they be about personal growth, money and finance, or a myriad of other topics, on their own time.

Interestingly, these reasons are some of the very same students of online courses today use. Online courses are convenient, friendly to busy schedules, and they are offered on a very wide variety of topics. Does this mean that online courses will follow the same path as self-help books and become wildly popular as well over the next decade? The signs suggest that this may very well be the case. For while the cost of online courses is not always less than the same course taken in a brick and mortar classroom, the many conveniences they offer make the courses a great deal in more ways than one.

Just as a self-help book on choosing the right career is cheaper than going to a psychologist or career counselor, online courses can be cheaper in the long run because students do not have to pay for room and board, for gas and in some cases, even for books! Online learning is also similar to self-help books in the area of career advancement. Both methods allow learners to improve their knowledge and skills without physically stepping foot in an actual classroom, which can be a lot to ask after a long work day. Many online courses offer proficiency exams which allow students to demonstrate proficiency in a particular topic; it’s similar to showing a boss that you got straights A’s in a course.

Finally, the advent and incredible growth of the Internet over the last decade or so has undeniably led to a much greater thirst for knowledge for much of the population. The sheer fact that information – is so much easier to access now has resulted in many people becoming online research gurus who develop knowledge about a very wide variety of topics. Both self-help books and online learning provide ways for students to quench their thirst for knowledge, which for many people, seems to grow as more and more information becomes available.

Tags: Learning Technologies, Non-Traditional Students, Online Education