The advent of technology in the 21st century has made its presence felt in all spheres of life, especially education. A few decades ago, it would have been impossible to imagine a world where you can study an entire course from the comfort of your home.
However, this has become a reality as a high-speed internet connection, and a video conferencing app makes it possible for you to learn without stepping foot out of your house. With the global pandemic in 2020 forcing educational institutions to adopt online learning methods, many people have wondered:
“Is online education better than traditional education?”
While some would say that online education has more perks, others would vehemently disagree.
What Is The Fundamental Difference Between The Two?
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The most significant difference between online education and the traditional one is the mode of learning. Online education refers to the use of the internet to deliver knowledge to students. In contrast, traditional education implies the system where instruction occurs between an educator and students when both are present in person.
Is Online Learning Better Than Traditional Education?
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2021 sees itself in a transitional phase where many educational institutions have started to adopt online learning. Meanwhile, some have been more reluctant. As Sandra Jones, a retired Professor of Chemistry from a reputed university in the UK, says, “It’s harder to keep the students engaged in the online medium.”
This concern is echoed by many educators while dismissed by others. For example, Joseph Hendricks, a. Assistant Professor says, “Online learning teaches the students to be independent learners. We can’t spoon-feed them all the time.”
With such diverging views, let’s dive in and see how both fare against each other in some aspects.
1. Location access
Offline education does not provide much flexibility in terms of location. There is no alternative to attending classes in institutions that might be hours from your house.
However, in the case of online education, you can access the instructions from your home, the library, a café or any other location where you can get a stable internet connection. Therefore, location is never a factor that deters a student from accessing education in the online mode.
2. Time flexibility
It is impossible to have flexible timing in the traditional education system. Educational institutions usually operate within working hours, and if you miss classes, there’s no option to re-take the lesson again.
In this case, online education is one step ahead of its traditional counterpart. Many professionals and working students prefer to take online courses as it ensures flexible timings. You can download the video lessons and watch them whenever you have the time without worrying about missing out on anything.
3. Affordability
According to OneClass’ survey, where they polled 10,000 first-year students, sophomores and juniors from more than 200 colleges in the country, about 56% admitted that they could no longer afford higher education. This staggering number is a cause for concern as it keeps rising, irrespective of the pandemic’s effect on the finances.
4. Readily available resources
When you have to work on any paper, you’d usually go to the library searching for books to use as references. But, in case you don’t find any, it hampers the quality of your work.
However, in online learning, you can gain access to a rich library of resources digitally, most of which are free to use. Additionally, various websites provide access to research papers and case studies that are extremely helpful for those who need guidance in assignments.
As a result, many students prefer to choose online learning, which is a more budget-friendly alternative. Here, you don’t have to take out substantial educational loans to take up a professional course online, as the fees are generally reasonable.
Admittedly, all the above reasons might make it obvious that online education is far ahead of the traditional one. However, it is not entirely without its faults.
What Are The Shortcomings Of Online Education?
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Online education is a relatively newer concept and hasn’t perfected itself enough to replace the traditional method entirely. Some of the common problems that you will find with this system are:
1. Accessibility issues
Online education is favorable only towards those who can afford to pay high prices for fast internet connections and electronic devices. Thus, those who cannot afford these luxuries are unable to access the world of online education.
2. Internet connectivity issues
Despite having access to the proper devices and the internet, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to have peaceful online classes. Low connectivity issues cause videos to lag. This problem is rampant in small towns and cities where the connection isn’t the best.
3. More options for distraction
It is challenging for students to maintain their concentration in online classes. In the traditional method, there is not much chance to get distracted. But in the online mode, younger children are more prone to playing computer games instead of paying attention to the teacher.
4. Harmful for the health
It is challenging to regulate screen time daily when you have to depend on online education entirely. Moreover, the constant exposure to mobile phones or laptops for an extended period results in harmful repercussions on the health, especially the eyes. Hence, you’ll find many complaining of dry and sore eyes on top of migraines frequently.
5. Gives rise to a sense of isolation
In traditional learning, you learn in a more interactive environment along with your peers and teachers. However, online education provides no such human interaction. Thus, a sense of isolation starts to develop, making you lose interest in your studies.
Considering all this, many educators and experts believe that online education can never be an alternative to its traditional counterpart.
Helpful Tips To Improve Your Online Studying Experience
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If you’re worried that your studies will suffer because of online education, you can rest easy. There are many helpful tips that you can follow to improve your learning experience online, such as:
- Make sure to take breaks often
- Takedown notes actively
- Avoid going to sleep late
- Splash cold water on your eyes often
- Always clear your doubts
- Don’t use the public wi-fi for classes
- Always choose a peaceful location to avoid distractions
- Give the same importance to online courses as you would do to traditional ones
As long as you follow these tips diligently, you can avoid the listlessness that usually accompanies prolonged online education.
Also Read: Work From Home Outfit Tips
Summing it up,
Education through both online and traditional methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Neither is perfect and is entirely irreplaceable. Easier access to the internet and other resources can help spread online education to a broader audience. However, no educator can say it is the best option yet.
Meanwhile, people have become more aware of the shortcomings of traditional education and have therefore decided to adopt a hybrid approach where students can get the best of both worlds.
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