What to choose: selfstudy or a course?

When trying to learn something new, such as drawing, we find that there are different approaches to doing so. We can learn on our own and manage our time and resources, or we can find a specialized course that meets our needs and expectations.

While both methods will provide you with relevant knowledge and skills, the results may differ. Thus, we face the question: "What is the best way to learn - self-study or live online education?". Of course, you can learn on your own, and people do it every day. But everyone has their own needs and learning criteria. There are several important factors to consider when choosing a learning method. It all depends on time, cost, accessibility, relevance, and motivation.

Through a structured system, it is possible to save a lot of time because online courses contain all the most important information at once. Thus, students do not need to spend time and effort searching for relevant information and tasks on their own. With self-study, you have a flexible schedule and can manage your time at your own discretion. But if you lack motivation and discipline, this flexibility can turn into a disadvantage. While some courses require a specific syllabus, others allow you to study at your own pace. This way, you can get to the desired results faster.

During your course, you will most likely interact with other people. You will have a teacher who will check your assignments and analyze your mistakes. You will also often have the opportunity to communicate with other students. When studying on your own, you won't have someone to explain and check your work. And while self-study may seem a bit isolating, you can still make it more interesting or even find communities of other students who are interested in the same thing where you can find fellowship and support.

Course tuition can be expensive, especially if you take several courses at the same time. Meanwhile, you can find information on your own for free. However, books and other selfstudy materials can also cost money.

Relevance and data flow

There is a lot of information available in the public domain, so you can search for data at your own discretion and choose your own focus. However, the materials may be outdated and difficult to understand. Courses are aimed at a specific target audience, so the information is designed to meet your needs and achieve your goals. You also don't need to do any research, as the materials are prepared by the course developer.

Accessibility

Self-study gives you unlimited access to the information you find, so you can choose additional topics and assignments according to your needs. Access to online courses can be either unlimited or time-limited. Although the student receives only a certain portion of knowledge, it still speeds up the achievement of the goal.

The learning process is diverse and can be adapted to meet your needs. Self-study is a great way to get started. You can take your time and figure things out on your own. Online courses, on the other hand, offer a dose of relevant knowledge at a steady learning pace and save time. Different learning methods have their own advantages and disadvantages that need to be taken into account. Therefore, you should choose what is best for you.13:13