Traditional vs online education

In today’s rapidly evolving society both traditional and online education are viable options for Anyone who wants to further their education. Many of the learning institutions are offering online Courses vs. traditional education. Students who are full time employees with time constraints may be drawn to online education and some students may prefer a traditional education which offers a more rigid format of set times. There are several things that should be considered such as cost difference, flexibility and learning styles.

When considering to return to college, especially for adults, there are many pro & cons that one needs to consider. Many adults who may be thinking about going back to school might find online classes more attractive. However, the cost of returning to school may be something that would hold them back from their educational goals. The tuition rates can vary widely depending on the institution you would like to attend. From a community college to a major university, the cost can range from a few thousand to over twenty thousand depending on what degree you are trying to obtain.

The tuition rates may be similar inrange between traditional and online, often the savings can be seen on the periphery. Online courses do not require a lab or equipment fees, but traditional learning does. Online students do not have to worry about travel expenses, where as students who shoes traditional education have spend money to travel back and forth to school. Another thing that traditional students have to pay for is student housing in relation to the school, the cost of mileage, gas, and or commuting expenses, also for the cost of food while away from home.

Online students do not have to pay for fuel and they can prepare something to eat in their own home and then return to their computer. A traditional school also has an added cost to maintain the facilities and the overhead of the campus, while an online school does not have this added cost. When thinking about what works for you in considering which type of schooling you want to move forwar with there are some important points to look at such as flexibility and time constraints.

Students who choose to attend online courses need to keep in mind the amount of time needed to be at you computer to study, do assignments, and also to do participation for each course that you take and also the technical requirements that need to be met. Also with online classes generally most of the work pertaining to school is online. Traditional schools have people who canwalk you through your orientation and filing loan and grant document. With online schooling all this has to be done on the computer and you do not get fafce to face contact with the people who are helping you.

Students can spend so much time at the computer doing schoolwork that it can feel at times like a full time job. Although an online student doesn’t have to worry about commuting or traffic, the time that they spend on the computer is not necessarily free, the extra time that they have should be put towards doing research and assignments. Another thing about traditional classes is that you are under such pressure with attendance and structure in the classroom that it can be overwhelming. In online classes there is no worry about appearance (of any kind) and students do not have to worry about making it to class to avoid absences and late assignments. Of course absences affect financial aid and loans so this is very critical with traditional schooling. Not having to show up in class is definitely a plus. A student does have to worry about keeping an email address, having a personal computer or making sure that there is a special workstation that work can be completed properly on with traditional classes.

Online classes require one to make sure that a computer is kept, for obvious reasons, such as to receive correspondence regarding grades, scheduled assignments, and for general communication purposes with your instructor and peers, the student needs to make sure they have a valid email address. Learning styles vary widely from student to student. Each individual has a style that works best for them, and with communicating their personal style with their instructor can produce a better learning environment and outcome.

Another aspect of education that students also need to take into consideration is their overall learning style. If one looks online, there is a plethora of learning style inventories, as well as literature and research about them, designed to give learners insight into how they may best assimilate information. A traditional learning environment offers a vast array of sensory inputs that an on-line learning environment cannot. For example, auditory and tactile learners may benefit from being able to see and hear an instructor, feed off of peers questions, and being in a structured learning environment.

Arguments have been made that teachers should “ inventory” their students learning styles and adapt their teaching methods and curriculum to each individual student. More and more learning institutions are introducing learning styles inventories as part of orientation in order to ensure a student’s success. Students and teachers can work together to present course materials, in either an online or traditional environment, that will allow students to learn in a format that is beneficial to their success.

In some cases, a traditional learning environment includes, , a classroom with nearly thirty students with one teacher, and about forty-five minutes to get through the day’s work. This allows only a little longer than a minute for each student to converse with their instructor on a personal level. With online courses they offer more one-on-one time that helps the student to gain a better understandking of the material covered and be able to ask the instructor or the other students questions at any time they need.

The interaction with the professors is different also, considering there is no opportunity to go to their office after hours or see them after class. Generally, communication with the professors are set up through emails, or designated chat and/or discussion boards. When looking into going back to school it is very important to weigh the pros and cons between an online or traditional education. Some of the things that you should look at are the cost difference, flexibility, and learning styles. After doing this comparison you will be able to make the best decision for yourself and the one that you will receive the most rewards from.