No getting up early, no sitting through hour-long lectures; an online class seems like a breeze, right? Think again. While taking a course online has many benefits, it also has its drawbacks, so think twice before signing up for one. Use this list to consider all the pluses and minuses of enrolling in online learning.

Pros

Versatility

With an online course, you’re given the opportunity to do your work anywhere and at anytime you like, provided there is WiFi and an outlet available. A portable personal computer allows you to work in your own space, on your own time. For many people this is ideal for their busy or complicated schedules, and preferential for working at home or even in bed.

Work at your own pace

For those of us who are faster or slower at learning than the rest of the pack, the structure of an online course can be a godsend. In most virtual classes, the work schedule is laid out so that those who are slow workers will have time to submit their work, and the faster learners can work ahead and complete more assignments. Even learners who generally work at an average pace can benefit from this, as they can slow down or speed up their work rate depending on their schedule.

Pre-recorded lectures

Although this feature is not commonly thought of, the ability to re-watch or listen to lectures from your instructor can be a massive benefit. In a traditional classroom setting, it is common for students to miss bits and pieces of a lesson as the observe their professor. With an online course, you can review the lesson again and again to ensure you’ve got the material down.

Cons

You’re on your own

The most obvious feature of an online course can also be its scariest. If you take a virtual class, you don’t get to walk into class, sit down, work with peers, and listen to your instructor. If you’ve never taken a course online before, you may not realize how much of a challenge it can be to pace yourself and maintain the same quality of work when you aren’t in a classroom.

Failures of technology

Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time on a computer knows that they aren’t perfect, and can be far from it. Taking an online course means you have to account for a series of possible issues: your wifi goes down, your computer dies or quits working, the internet is too slow, or the files for your course won't open or play correctly. Even though some of these issues are less common, it is very likely that at some point in your course you will experience at least one of them.

Potential to fall behind

If you’re not the most self-motivated student in the world, or even if you just aren’t used to the structure of online learning, you can easily fall behind. Due dates for online classes tend to appear far away, so it's common for students to overestimate their ability to complete work on time. The best strategy for completing online course work is to do your assignments as soon as you can, and not to wait until the are due or late.