Difference between Traditional and Online Education

Everyone person has a unique style of learning. As such, it is important to consider the difference in traditional and online education in terms of instructions and social interaction when choosing between the two. 

We’ve all experienced this type of learning in our lives. Traditional learning involves large group of students belonging to the same age group sitting in a classroom and listening to the instruction provided by the educator/ teacher. 

The upside to this type of teaching is that it involves student interaction and participation.  Knowledge sharing is real time. A part from this students can also attend student discussion lectures, be a part of independent study groups so forth and so on. 

The downside to this is that more often than not these lectures are professor driven. When the class commences students sit in their respective places and then listen to the knowledgeable instructor. The professor lectures the students on subjects of his/her expertise. Successful lectures in a traditional classroom depend upon the presentation style of the instructor.

A professors teaching style may not necessarily be in sync with the students learning style. There are several studies in the past that show this mismatch between the teaching and the learning style of the student can impact student learning in the long run. 

The very first advantage of online learning is that it is student driven. This gives the student the liberty to take up the course of their choice and study at their convenience. Depending on the course, students may experience varying levels of control over the pace of receiving the learning material and when they attend the class. 

The downside to online learning is that is largely dependent on the availability of internet at all times. It’s difficult to have such technology in the really remote arears of the world where education is the need of the hour. 

Traditional learning methods favor collaborative learning. This type of learning provides student with opportunities for face to face interaction, which favors student who thrive on collaborative learning styles. Also social and academic support is provided to many students by the peers on campus. Collaborative learning has an impact on several facets of a student’s life. It has a positive influence on an individual academics, helps then acquire knowledge, clear doubts and sharpen their interpersonal skills.

In addition, teacher-driven instruction tends to favor auditory and kinesthetic learning styles. In fact, a studies have found that auditory learners, who learn best by listening, and kinesthetic learners, who learn best by hands-on engagement with the material, fare best in traditional courses.

As online learning is more student driven it allows the student a more independent style of learning. Online learning encourages or rather expects students to motivate themselves to complete the course of their choice .This skill of being self-motivated is what distinguishes employees in many companies and is  considered as a must when being hired. Online education helps you to enhance this particular skill set.  Online education requires the student to take up the courses while managing other important responsibilities as well. 

Students in online course environments tend to share certain characteristics, including strong preferences for organization, as compared with traditional students. Visual learners, who learn best by processing information by what they can see, perform well in online courses.

With time Traditional learning methods are also being modernized. There are several mechanisms being introduced to such form of learning. Technology is being integrated, right from learning and teaching methods to automated attendance management systems and even school administration system.

In the near future there would be an amalgamation of both learning methods. Both the plus point from each would be included to better the educational system.

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