Assignment 5.3

Insert Introduction As the world keeps getting intensely globalised and advanced in information technology (IT) sector, all spheres of human existence including education are undergoing radical and irreversible metamorphoses. Particularly, following the end of Cold War, 1990 did not only open up an epoch of a more politically and socioeconomically close-knit globe, but it also heralded an era where global audience became a reality. The realization of a timeless, instantaneous and global audience has obviously made virtual learning increasingly popular. This necessitates the consideration of the issue question that is whether or not virtual distance learning will one day replace traditional classroom teaching. Traditional or physical classroom refers to the conventional learning system that relies on actual and physical student-teacher interaction to facilitate learning, whereas virtual learning sustains the student-teacher interaction via electronic media, for the same purpose.
It is also expedient to address key information questions that will help answer this question accurately and debate it cogently.
The information questions are: the future of the physical classroom; the future of the virtual classroom; whether or not, virtual classroom will come to include video-chat classrooms; and the statistics between graduates of online degrees vs. in-school degrees.
What is the future of the physical classroom and will it include instructors via web presentation?
Unlike other primordial socio-economic constructions, physical classrooms cannot be done away with; the values that virtual learning brings, notwithstanding. Extensive discussions, consultations, debates and the upholding of educational standards are some of the facets of traditional learning that will bar virtual learning from overtaking its traditional counterpart. The crux of the matter is that extensive discussions and consultations, especially after exams enable learners to correct their mistake or misconstruction of a concept.
Nevertheless, it is most plausible and tenable that the traditional classroom will include instruction via web input; not as an end in itself, but to complement the lecturer’s input and role.
What is the future of the virtual classroom?
Indeed, it is dishonest to discount the fact that virtual classroom is becoming increasingly popular and will continue to do so. For instance, in a research finding that was tabled by the SRI International for Department of Education in 2009, from 1996 to 2008, the number of students who do online course work accounted for 59% (Lohr, 1). Secondly, because of the convenience that comes with online classes, this alternative to traditional learning is bound to get more popular. Nevertheless, this does not mean that it will face out its physical counterpart.
Will virtual classroom include video-chat classrooms?
It is most likely that virtual classrooms will include video-chat classrooms as an artifice to make up for the absence of discussions, consultations and debates.
What are the statistics between graduates of online degrees vs. in-school degrees?
As already stated, according to research results that the SRI International for Department of Education tabled, between 1996 and 2008, students who have done online courses accounted for 59% (Lohr, 1). This means that traditional classroom could be ceding ground to virtual education, since learners who have strictly used it account for 41%. These findings applied to learners from K-12 grade to postgraduate level.
Is there a difference in curriculum?
Technically, there is no difference in curriculum between virtual and traditional classes. However, the difference between the two is brought about by elements of efficiency and deficiency in tools of learning. Particularly, despite the fact that virtual and traditional learning use the same syllabus, the former is presently derelict of extensive discussions, consultations and debates. Monitoring, imposition of guidelines, rules and regulation are all emphasized in the traditional classroom but paradoxically sidestepped in virtual learning where their absence is termed as convenience. Extensive discussions, consultations, debates, close monitoring of students, imposition of guidelines, rules and regulation are all important in the production of an all-round student, and not a half-baked one.
Conclusion
It is against the backdrop of the aforementioned deficiencies that court virtual learning, together with the failure to stick to educational standards that will keep virtual learning from fully elbowing out traditional classroom.
Works Cited
Lohr, Steve. “ Study Finds that Online Education Beats Classroom Learning.” New York Times, August 19th, 2009. Electronic.