Featured article by Calvin Paige, Independent Technology Author
The internet has changed the way we live our lives. We shop online, we date online, we research online, we read e-books, we order food online, and yes, we even study online. Ease and convenience are a big factor in our choices to do all of these things. We’re all so connected now with everything around us that the world seems to be a much smaller place. The internet, and its ever growing reach, has certainly revolutionized the way people study.
Online Study
The massive growth of online or distance learning courses now available has given a much wider range of people the opportunity to further their education. From recent graduates to people that left high school 20 years ago and never progressed further – everyone now has the chance to learn more. In the healthcare sector this could be anything from a formal study program, such as a masters in public health online, or furthering your knowledge by reading online articles and essays for your own quest for knowledge in topics you’re interested in.
Research
Research of healthcare issues, history of medicine and the science behind health care has become so much easier with the advancement of the internet. Nowadays most people have some form of internet access. This means they have medical journals, articles and papers at the touch of their keyboard. Whereas years ago they would have had to scour through library books to find what they wanted to know, now they simply type their query into a search engine. If you’re studying an intense course such as a master of public health, having the internet would mean all the resources you needed were right there in front of you, making not just finding the information easier, but also incorporating it into papers, and using the appropriate referencing.
Communication
The internet has totally changed the way we communicate. We see this socially every day, with messenger services growing in popularity, and friends and family constantly and instantly reachable. This goes for communication in the education world, too. Tutors are only an email away, no more waiting for scheduled meetings to ask a question. If the tutor isn’t currently available, there are forums and social media groups full of people studying the same topics, always ready to help each other out with advice or the answer to a pressing question. It allows friendships to form where they wouldn’t have been before, relationships that will help you through your studies and perhaps even your future career.
The internet has given access to education to those that might not have had it before. But it has also given many people a new found interest in learning. This applies to all subjects, not only health care. People that hated school find the internet gives them a different spark for learning. It’s easier, it’s more fun, and there are different ways to learn, through videos, games, and the written word. The internet has made many things vastly easier and an education in health care is definitely one of them.
