Introduction
The debate of online education verses traditional classroom education has change due to the increase in usage and availability of technology in online programs and classes. Here are basic questions that may help understand what are the differences, advantages and disadvantages of each format. As for me, the students should be aware of these key points, and thus, they can select the most suitable option for them and their learning preferences.
Flexibility and Convenience
The flexibility is probably one of the biggest benefits of learning online as it allows the student to attend classes and complete assignments at times that are convenient for them. As a student, one can study, complete the assignments, and attend the lectures at one’s own convenience especially with an internet connection. This affords them with an opportunity to learn and work at appropriate hours in consideration to professional and personal commitments. Face-to-face education is rigid because learning takes place at predetermined periods and in a physical classroom. This can be quite challenging for students who work, have children, health complications, or any other oblig. Flexibility of time and place is another advantage of online learning since there is no limitation of time to attend classes and no need to go to a certain place to attend classes.
Interaction and Discussion
One possible drawback of online delivery is the comparatively small time spent on communicating face-to-face with instructors and fellow students. Social interactions, or rather the sharing of ideas and information between the projects may not be as smooth. Some of the online programs embed video conferencing, online discussions or feeds, or social media interfaces for interaction. But what that they are still able to communicate this way is not the same as being able to be in the same room together.
When it comes to the structure of a traditional classroom environment, students are able to ask questions during class, engage in discussions, collaborate with peers, get feedback, and establish interpersonal connections. Such formats of an engaging experience can be useful when applied to learning processes and information retention for many individuals. But the students who are less inclined to be actively participating in the class might find the anonymity of the online courses that are primarily focused on individual assignments as more suitable to them.
Customized Learning Experience
Another advantage of online learning is the flexibility it provides in terms of the course delivery which can be adjusted depending on the students’ abilities and preferences. They can influence the patterns of doing coursework in most cases by determining the sequence and time needed for each type of work. Frequently such an approach is also fast-track intensive classes or longer programs spread over years. Online students also do not feel like they are being slowed down or halted by the academic abilities of their fellow large groups of peers. The possibility of a customized environment is that it may help in reducing all the barriers that may slow down the progress of success.
Of course, the independence online education brings also means that it puts more obligation to stimulate oneself on every student. Work and study on one’s own clearly demands a good deal of will power, time management and determination in the face of personal goals and aspirations, all the routine structures provided by the normal timetable of attending lectures and tutorials are missing.
Cost and Accessibility
That way studying online can also be advantageous to students who may not otherwise get a chance. The traditional close and far distances cannot be said when some classes are to be conducted virtually. These also reduce the challenges of time and transportation. These programs may also have fewer bureaucratic demands, such as with transfers or standardized test scores. Usually online courses are cheaper by the credit and do not include the overhead of special facilities like laboratories, equipment etc Courses often are cheaper per credit and do not require additional infrastructure for laboratories, equipment, etc Some organizations have programs that support tuition for approved online courses or entire degrees as a part of the retention policy too.
Increased accessibility and overall costs benefit students and allow for greater percentage and range of students to engage in online learning. The challenged in financial ways or the weak in disability, health problems, family responsibilities or work commitments can also finish off the credentials through more accommodating online programs.
Consistent Curriculum and Accreditation
Opponents of online learning in the past used to argue that such programs are not credible and cannot be accredited. But as more and more of the most known colleges and universities include digital courses into their curricula, those concerns are mostly gone. Tighter accreditation requirements enacted during the last decade also reduced concerns regarding issues related to quality and curricular disparities among online programs. Accrediting agencies also approve and oversee online degrees as they would conventional classroom programs, although they are regional or programmatic in nature. Some of the most prestigious and selective universities now award prestigious graduate certificates and degrees online, exactly as if online and campus courses were identical in terms of curricula and faculty qualification standards. The possession of their brand name is comparable to those offered in campus outlets.
This paper investigates the impact of completion rates and concentration ability on student performance.
Test and discussion questions often focus on the ability to comprehend and recall information in online contexts vs. traditional media. Arguably, learning online reduces environmental interferences for some. But the freedom and lack of oversight bring other digital distractions for some too, for instance, grooming an account or taking a break.
Research that has been conducted which involves comparing the year-end completion rates for traditional and online class show that online learners are five to ten percentage points behind. However, the drill it down analysis reveals that older students are equally effective in both the modalities if not more while the younger generation students who are also known as digital natives find it difficult to stay motivated to study on their own on the online portal. Scientists explain the concentration and persistence phenomenon as a result of immature executive control abilities among teens and young adults. Stronger self-regulation emerges later. Thus, digital distractions disproportionately affect younger learners even more at that point in time when they join higher education in search of career guidance.
Conclusion
One of the format of education is the online education while the other format is the traditional classroom education each of them has its strengths in which it fits well with some situations of students or their preferences. They need to do the self-appraisal based on their budget, time preference, academic background, and goal to decide whether the openness and unscheduling of online leaning or the camaraderie and oversight of campus atmosphere looks more appealing. When the use of technology in classrooms becomes more progressive, students may be able to embrace the two teaching approaches without any limitation to one. Integration of online and face-to-face instruction in a blended programme more often than not, deliver individualized learning experiences that cater to the needs of the learners.