OnlineLearning and In-Class Learning
In recent discussions of digital age,the internet has engaged so many aspects in people’s lives, such as social media, medical, shopping, and even education. It has facilitated many online courses, and now people can search for the courses of their choices on Google search engines. Many colleges are opening up several online classes for student’s convenience; more so,the master’s degree program students have significantly benefited through long-distance learning, conducted through online courses. Indeed, it has dramatically revolutionized the education sector. With the emergence of internet magic, online classes have become more convenient and flexible, as it targets more and more students, why don’t you give it a try? Online courses areespeciallysuited for people who do not have time to attend class sessions in the campus premises. It offers many people a chance to continuetheir education. “Confirming data previously published by the National Student Clearinghouse–the number of all students who took at least some of their courses online grew by more than 350,000, a healthy 5.7 percent (Doug).” This reportproves that online courses havebecomemore prevalent and familiar with students.
Nonetheless, other sourceshave proved otherwise, as much as online learning has become more popular;people still prefer face-to-face classes. “Physical interaction is the best way to learn, communicate, and attain memories. It’s a fact that all meaningful relationships are developed through personal interactions, with the strongest connections made when there is time spent together (Banna).”According to this view, it shows how critical in-class learning is to the students. In discussions of online and in-class learning, the controversial concern is whether an online class can replace in-class learning. While some argue that online course has more advantages, others contend that in-class learning is the better way to learn. My view is that both an online class and in-class learningcontribute heavily to the growth and convenience of education. Both systems have impacted the students positively, and thus, they cannot replace each other.
First, the most significant advantage for the online class is that online courses offer convenience to the students. In online classes, students can take courses on their schedules. It gives thembetterchances to continue with their college careers while still working. For the busy and working people with strict and tight schedules during the daytime, they may opt to choose the online classes as theyopen doors for them to continue with their studies again.Some students quit schools because they need to work and make money because they cannot fit intoschool hours. Some students stop schoolsdue to the pressing and inevitable reasons such as taking care of their families; thus, the time is not always suitable to attend class sessions in the school premises. Perhaps, some students have many things that are beyond human control. Therefore, they cannot always participate in all the class sessions. For those kinds of situations, the online class becomes a perfect option.
Consequently, students can continue with their school careers and excel in the future. Additionally, it is more convenient to learn from anywhere with just a laptop and the internet. This way, distance does not become an issue to students anymore; it gives students more chances to take classes just like those who attend school premises.
Second, another distinctivedifference between these two types of education is that online class does not enjoy as many opportunities as in-class learning to build a personal relationship with teachers and classmates.As mentioned in the beginning, physical interaction is the best way to learn; it helps in building good memories, improving communicationskills, and understanding of the knowledge quickly. Besides, when students have a question, they can ask their classmatesand discuss the problem critically and gain more knowledge. When people ponder over an issue together, it always turns out to be more valuable than if it were to use computers and the internet. Students are not isolated by themselves in a room with a computer but join in anactive andfull of an academic atmosphere learning environment. Especially for some special classes, face-to-face couching is a necessary approach, such as speech class and performance class. Equally, sinceteachers know their students better in person, they can pay special attentionto students by helping them help improve their learning skills and problems. More importantly,professors will feel more comfortable to write recommendation letters for their students they know better in person than those for online classes.
Third,on the flip side, online classes may save a significant percentage of money despite it being costly. Online courses savemoney that could have been spent on gasand some materials expenses.Besides, some colleges have cheaper tuition fees for online classes than in-class courses. However, the online type requires students to have a computer or a laptop and an internet connection. It also requires students to have computer skills. Although computer usage has spread widely,some people do not own personal computers. This concern becomes a challenge for them to enroll in online classes.
Nevertheless, students can still get computers and the internet on campusesto use in their learning. As a matter of fact, some schoolshave enough equipment for studentsto use for free. Besides, students have many resources to share on campuses, such as used textbooks, big libraries, lab rooms, free tutors, and job-hiring opportunities. Online studentsmay lose such opportunities to enjoy. Even more, in-class students can join many different clubs on campuses, and this can help them to build goodrelationshipswith each otherand give them more opportunities to have brighter future and economic benefits.
In summary, both online courses and in-class learning can help students complete their school careers. They both have uniqueadvantages; hence they cannot be substituted by each other. Equally, both of them have shortages that need the support of each other to be practical. The advantages of online and in-class learning cannot be denied either. The online class gives students the convenience to choose courses when their time is not available for in-class learning. Face-to-face courses give students more opportunities to communities and have a better environment to learn.For instance, both of them have benefits and drawbacks; hence they are not against each other but supplement each other. They togethergivestudents more options and more chances to continue with their education careers.
Work Cited
Lederman.Doug. (2018, November 7).Online Education, Ascends.
Banna.Salah. Face-to-Face Training Is Still the Better Choice Over Digital Lesson.
https://www.td.org/magazines/td-magazine/face-to-face-training-is-still-the-better-choice-over-
digital-lessons