Earning degrees on-line vs. through traditional brick-and-mortar education - Admission/Application Essay Example

Argue the advantages and disadvantages of earning degrees on-line vs. through traditional brick-and-mortar education. All over the world, for centuries, traditional education has taken place in brick and mortar institutions. Most of the most reputable institutions in the world today are traditional brick and mortar educational institutions; take, for example, the top five universities in the world: University of Cambridge, the United Kingdom; Harvard University, the United States; MIT, the United States; Yale University, the United States; University of Oxford, the United Kingdom (Worlds Best Universities 2012). These are places that require the physical presence of their students within their bounds. However, with the passage of time and the advent of modern technology, a new concept in the arena of providing education to the masses has begun to take concrete shape. On-line degrees and universities are becoming more and more common with every passing day and also more widely accepted. Previously, people were skeptical of the idea of getting educated over the World Wide Web; although they have now warmed up considerably to the idea of on-line degrees and education. Nevertheless, some people still remain wary of the concept. The debate between acquiring an education through traditional means or via the internet is quite pertinent to the current age and of immense importance because it discusses the underlying pros and cons that are inherent to each medium of education respectively. This debate also discusses how and what each medium contributes or fails to contribute to society. It is particularly pertinent to this day and age because society is making a paradigm shift from a manually operable society to a fully technologically savvy, mechanized one. With changes in the society at this level, other things at the building block level, like the provision of education, also undergo radical change as a natural part of this process. There are some inherent differences between on-line and traditional education styles. Firstly, they differ in their scope. On-line education can be full time or supplementary. If a student is enrolled full time in an on-line institution, he/she doesn’t need to attend a traditional brick and mortar institution. However, if he/she attends a traditional brick and mortar institution and wants additional help, he/she can enroll for a supplementary course. Another aspect of difference is teacher-student interaction. In traditional education models, there is constant face to face interaction between the faculty and student body. However, with virtual long distance learning, this interaction is minimized. Sometimes teachers conduct video conferences, but mostly, students are allowed to study at their own pace and time with the only interaction between teacher and student taking place through e-mail and telephone etcetera. A third difference between these two models is aspect of physical location. Traditional schools have definite physical locations and enrolled students are expected and required to physically come in to classes in the allotted times. With on-line education, however, the rules of physical location bend a little. Most times colleges have no physical location for the student body to visit; however, sometimes they may be operating from a physical location, for example, a school. Furthermore, there are differences in jurisdiction. Traditional schools come under specific jurisdictions according to their physical locations; however, most on-line schools escape that affiliation because they cater to a student body that is spread over the whole world, often with no definite physical location. Lastly, there is the difference concerning the range of students catered to. In traditional brick and mortar schools, the range of students catered to is limited because of the physical and geographical limitations but because virtual education surpasses these boundaries, the range of students that can be accommodated increases multifold (Dan 2012). There are, of course, advantages and disadvantages related to each respective medium that stem from the basic nature of the medium’s operation. These issues influence in what manner and how much the person benefits from the education and how much they are able to contribute back to society as a result. There is no black and white answer when addressing the debate between on-line and traditional education methods. This doesn’t mean that the compass can’t point into a direction in either way. Each way is not without its pros or cons, but the direction of the compass can be found out to a very precise degree if all the concerned facts and statistics are laid bare and objectively analyzed. There are several benefits of on-line education which have convinced people of the worthiness of this medium. On-line education provides a very wide range of degrees and programs to its student base. This means that there is a higher possibility that a particular student will find a degree and/or program that is very closely suited to their need in the area. Another really important aspect is concerning the reduction in cost. Tuition costs for on-line institutions and classes are generally lower compared to those for traditional institutions. Other costs that get eliminated with shifting from a traditional system to an on-line education system include a reduction in transport costs, because no commute is required back and forth from campus and also a reduction in paper cost, because the syllabus is generally available on-line and there is, thus, no more need to buy hard copies of books. One of the biggest reasons that add to the allure of the on-line education system is the fact that there are no physical boundaries and neither is the students’ time bound. They don’t have to attend class in actual classrooms at a preannounced time; neither do they have to cut through their daily schedule to make time for class. With on-line education, students can study from their bedrooms if they so choose and at a time that is convenient for them. The course material is available for download online and students are not going to be bound by time or place. Since on-line education is preferred by employed individuals, it makes special exceptions for those who are working while getting an education on the side. There is greater flexibility in turning in assignments; students can work on them at their own pace and at a time of their choice as long as they turn them in by the given deadline. On-line degrees are very useful for people who want to stay connected with and in the near future rejoin their chosen field but have to stay at home to a family commitment or something similar, for example, when woman has a baby, she takes a break from her job to look after her ward but does not want to disconnect with her job so she furthers her education in the same field by using on-line degrees/colleges and meanwhile staying at home and taking care of her baby. This way she and in general all parents in the same position have a better chance to get back their jobs when they return to the industry. On-line education is also highly suitable for people who are juggling a job and education together. With the convenience that an on-line education affords them, they can work in the day and study whenever they have time after office hours without the exhaustion and hassle of night school because this way you sidestep the commute to and from the place of education. Furthermore, people who opt for an on-line education don’t have to go through the bother of bad weather, delayed or cancelled or make up classes because they are essentially taking classes at their own convenience normally and since they are working from the comfort of their homes travel and bad weather don’t appear as part of the equation. Another major advantage of an on-line education is the possibility of transferring educational credits from an on-line setting to a traditional setting. This way any student can earn on-line credits at an affiliated college and then transfer credits to the primary college of choice later (Nudo 2012). However, with all the acclaimed benefits of on-line education, it is unfair to over look the advantage of attending a traditional brick and mortar educational institution. The main benefit is that with brick and mortar institutions, students have the choice to choose from the top most colleges in the world. These colleges have the best available faculty which guarantees the students a top notch education. Furthermore, attending a college in a physical setting allows the students real time interaction with their peers and faculty which is imperative to their learning process because this teaches them how to interact with and behave around people when they finally join the corporate world after the completion of their education. The public sphere is becoming more and more people centered as the world progresses and to be compatible with this type of a world it is necessary that the concerned populace hone their people skills. Another thing that turns out as an advantage of traditional education is that it teaches students to be better time managers and better presenters. With timed classes that students have to attend, traditional colleges teach students a very important lesson. Later on in life, they will be working according to the world’s clock. They will have to keep other people’s time and issues in mind and working at their ‘own convenience’ will not be an option. Timed classes prepare students for such scenarios in the future. Traditional colleges also teach students better presentation of themselves and their work. Most institutions require a basic dress code and need students work to be presented by them in a certain way, this prepares students for the atmosphere in the corporate world where they will also be required to maintain the dress code of the place of work and present their work every now and then. There are some myths associated with on-line education. Myth#1 is that people normally think that opting for an on-line education is like ‘settling’ for a lesser education. This is a prevalent perception among people, but studies and results are showing the contrary. The online curriculum is set to match any curriculum in a traditional institution and in some cases may even be better than the curriculum provided at brick and mortar institutions. So in addition to quality education, it provides students with the option of greater level of interaction on-line and a wider variety of styles that they can learn in. These are some of the many reasons students enrolled in on-line programs are more satisfied with their education than those enrolled in traditional brick and mortar situations. Myth#2 is that on-line education is overwhelming. Most students are anxious when they first start off with on-line learning, this can, however, be attributed mostly to the factor of being introduced to something new and wears off after the initial period. It will take some time adjusting to a routine where the student has to designate time to education and other activities so that nothing experiences an eclipse and not be forced to study with in time and bounds like in a brick and mortar college. However, this anxiety will disappear along with the adjustment period and is nothing to fear. Myth#3 is that students need a lot of knowledge of the computer and internet to succeed at on-line education. This is not true at all, because success in an on-line education requires basic computer skills and much more dedication otherwise learning. People who aren’t comfortable around computers shouldn’t be scared, fellow students are always a good source of help and if that fails, most on-line universities have a technical support number that can be called for assistance. Myth#4 is that online students feel isolated. People tend to think that since the factor of face to face interaction that is so vital to traditional education models and almost absent from on-line education models, this means that there is no interaction with people when enrolled in on-line education and this makes students feel isolated and like they’re doing all that work all alone, by themselves, with no support system. However, this is not the complete truth. True, as an on-line student you are not part of a physical class, but there are numerous other people in different places who are doing the same curriculum as you are. These people are part of your class. There is a whole network of people at the disposal of on-line students, instructors who can be reached through e-mail or telephone. On-line colleges also provide a plethora of ways for the on-line student body to communicate and interact with itself. Myth#5 is that on-line education requires less effort and students will be able to get work done just because they are on-line. This is a common misconception that needs to be cleared. On-line education is only logistically easier than traditional brick and mortar education, the curriculum is just as challenging. The only thing that will help a student who is regularly on-line is the use of use he/she will experience because of the familiarity with working on a computer and/or on-line. Myth#6 is that on-line education requires less devotion of time as compared to brick and mortar education systems. While it is true that on-line education is more convenient because it allows to students to study at times of their own convenience and at a pace that they are comfortable with, it is not true that on-line education requires lesser time as compared to traditional education. The time saved is due to pure logistics and the elimination of commute time. Students still need to devote time religiously to their on-line courses if they want to get good grades; the semantics are the same as traditional education. On-line education is not an easy short cut; it is just a more convenient method of education. Myth#7 is that students can complete the coursework whenever they want because they are enrolled on-line. It is true that students can allocate times convenient to them to study but they cannot relax completely. Students are required to log in a specified number of times each week and meet deadlines for course work submissions which are spread over the duration of the semester. This practice is not to put a strain on students with jobs and other responsibilities, it is to help the students pace their work and keep up pace with the rest of the enrolled class so the work doesn’t keep piling up and they end up lagging behind. Myth#8 is that on-line course work is not given much importance as compared to course work completed in lieu of a traditional education. This used to be partially true when on-line education had not gained popularity and people were still apprehensive about its credibility. However, with the likes of MIT and Harvard joining the bandwagon of on-line education, the on-line education sector is gaining credibility and acceptance from the masses. Three determinants have contributed to this paradigm shift. First, the line between traditional and on-line education has blurred over the period of time. Second, the on-line education sector has experienced phenomenal growth and collected acceptance from the public to go with it. This might have been because of personal experiences and word of mouth advertisement but also by the fact that well established traditional educational institutions have also joined the banner. Third, educational administrations are slowly realizing the power yielded by on-line education and that it can accomplish what sometimes traditional education in classrooms can not just by surpassing the boundaries of physical presence. Online education, thus, appears to be a new wave for the education sector, a pretty strong wave that is catching on to the masses with time (Globokar 2010). However, the picture is not all rosy on either side. Where each medium of education has its advantages there are attached to them disadvantages which complete the whole picture. On-line education, though it boasts several advantages also has some disadvantages. When students who have attained an on-line education go looking for employment, they are often faced with the difficult scenario of proving or at least discussing the validity of their degree. The students should, therefore, keep documentation with them that will prove their case in such scenarios. In addition, while in the course of getting an on-line education, students might begin to miss face-to-face interaction with peers and teachers since almost all communication will be one electronically through the internet. Another downside to on-line education is that unusual courses may not be available readily on-line and that may be a bother for someone interested in a field that is not mainstream (Tara 2012). Additionally, students have to have a high level of self motivation, because in a study environment so relaxed and unbinding students tend to lag behind if they lose their motivation. Other important things are responsibility and time management, because with no one pushing on-line students around and no time bounds they might lose interest quickly if self discipline isn’t high and consistent. Another important issue is that of accessibility and availability not everyone has 24 hour access to an internet connection or a personal computer that they can use at a time of their own convenience to study their courses online, spend hours doing assignments and handing in on-line quizzes. Therefore, it is quite evident that disadvantages are closely tied to the many advantages inherent to an on-line system of education (Dean 2012). Another point to ponder is the reason or reasons more accurately that can be labeled as the short comings of traditional brick and mortar education. Traditional education tends to be more costly and is not affordable by most people. It includes high costs of tuition, hostel and food charges, charges for books, library and computer lab usage. Most students end up taking on hefty loans to make their way through a traditional college education and they will be paying off these loans well into their middle age. Also location can sometimes be an issue; traditional colleges require a long commute to their premises on a daily basis and there is also the added expectation from students to be on time to class. Such frequent long distance travel can cause hassles, distress and exhaustion for the concerned student. Students may sometimes have to travel to college in bad weather, at odd times, for make-up classes on days that were normally a holiday and have to face other inconveniences that are inherent to be required to be present physically in a place to acquire an education. Traditional education is also very difficult for parents and people who are juggling employment and education because what these people require is flexibility in time and the option to pace them according to their schedule but brick and mortar education in all its rigidity cannot allow for that liberty. Some people have even ventured out to wonder out loud if traditional education is becoming out-dated with the rising popularity of on-line education. In the past, colleges and universities were ideals with physical shape, their buildings, campuses and lawns enchanted prospective students and formed important determinants in whether a particular student wanted to attend that college or university. However, with modern times have bought with them modern thought. The physical aspect of education has dimmed in this pragmatic age, where students are more concerned with quality and convenience over lawns and buildings. This is how on-line education has gained popularity. The cost of traditional quality education has soared way out of reach of the common man and forced him to think if it is worth paying all that money just for the physical aspect of a college experience, something that will not lend any credibility to the student or the degree. On-line education has become a more lucrative option for the common man because it provides quality education at the student’s convenience at a fraction of the price that traditional institutions charge. Even though the traditional education sector is on a precipice because of the growing significance of on-line education, it is not yet out dated. The popularity of on-line education can be attributed to the growth of the Information Technology sector and the growth of population. In addition to the benefits it affords students, on-line education is also of great benefit to institutions. However, traditional education is not going completely on-line any time in the near future. A good proportion of students will keep being attracted by and opting for traditional education and the beautiful buildings and campuses that come with it (Hicks 2012). Based on the facts of the matter and the consequent analysis a decisive statement can be made about which one is the better option, given the choice between traditional and on-line education. On-line education gives its students greater flexibility and a choice to pace themselves according to their capabilities and situations. It is less burdensome on the pocket and hassle free when it comes to commuting and travel. However, traditional education offers its own incentives; it gives its students strong and valuable lessons in interpersonal communication, it offers them the best faculty and educational standards and a much necessary ‘college experience’. However, there are disadvantages attached to both options. Online schools are not as well recognized and leave much to be desired in the arena of the development of interpersonal skills. They require high self discipline because they are so unregulated and sometimes the extra flexibility afforded by on-line educational systems becomes a weak point for them. Traditional schools have their own demons; they are unbearably costly for the masses, are rigid in terms of time and place and force students to catch up instead of letting them maintain their own pace. Based on the evidence, the more persuasive argument is provided by on-line education. This is because it keeps its premise in line with modern times and the requirements of modern times. It allows students flexibility while taking care to not compromise the education standards, this allows modern professionals and new parents and other people in similar situations to continue with their educations without the hindrance caused by the requirement of a physical setting. In times that are economically and financially hard on the masses, on-line education provides quality education in a fraction of the cost of traditional education. This system is relatively new however, and therefore not as well recognized as traditional education. Humans, by inherent virtue are always wary of change and prefer the stability of staying constant over the possible chaos of change. Therefore, there has been some resistance in accepting virtual education, but with the benefits it promotes the trend is catching on strongly and surely. And from the current state of things, future prospects of on-line education appear to flourish. According to an article on dawn.com, Harvard and MIT are coming together to expand into the avenue of on-line education as well (Dawn News 2012). The first set of courses taught by Harvard and MIT professors is set to start in September 2012. Courses will be free of charge; however, people who want a degree will have to remunerate the university program. The main aim of this program is education and not profit and in the future, the people heading this initiative plan to expand their horizons in terms of educational avenues. This step shows that even universities as big and famous as Harvard and MIT have felt the need to adapt to changing times and expand into online education. A great advantage to an on-line program backed by such reputable universities will be that it will provide students all the benefits of on-line education while eliminating the biggest drawback, that of recognition and authenticity. An on-line degree from a Harvard and MIT backed program will have a good standing in the job market, and it’ll be easier for prospective employees with an on-line education to secure a job. Other disadvantages posed by on-line education are also marginal in effect. The issue of a lack of face-to-face communication can be resolved by creating an option to transfer credits to a university or by creating optional web-cam or physical meetings between peers and also between students and faculty. The remaining issue of self discipline is one that varies from person to person and is a benefit that needs to be inculcated personally as a character trait and is one that is required in both education mediums if the student wants to attain success. The success of on-line education has been more apparent in some regions as compared to others. Africa is one such region where on-line education is being used to bridge the extensive knowledge gap. On-line education is also being used in the informal education sector and for community development and restructuring. However, in the past it had little effect in the region because of the shortage or infrastructure and availability of finances etcetera. Things have picked up significantly in the last five years. The Arab States have also adopted the on-line education system in the recent past, but the system is not being used very extensively in the area yet. On-line education has great prospects of meeting the demand of the masses for distance learning, foreign institutions have also entered the arena in Arab States because of the excessive demand for higher education in the region. Asia and the Pacific represent the regions greatly interested in the prospects and benefits offered by on-line education. Australia has been using the open and distance learning for quite some time now; these programs aim to provide education to the disadvantaged and less affluent population of the area. With the demand of modern times, these education systems have incorporated the internet element to streamline themselves to the world’s pace and reap the benefits of on-line education. Bangladesh is another area that is utilizing the benefits of on-line education. The Bangladesh Open University has a student body of around 200,000 and offers degrees and diplomas in a variety of subjects in formal and informal education. In China, on-line education has increased access to higher education for the general population. The education programs in China focus more on secondary and tertiary education. China was the first country to provide distance learning over media channels like the TV and radio. Hong Kong is another example which is viewed as a cultural hub. It has eight universities that provide traditional education and one Open University that provides local and off-shore programs. The government provides funding to the Open University, but most of the funds come from students’ fee. India has also entered the club, and the distance learning sector was fuelled by the government’s desire to make education more accessible to the masses and integrate it as a vital part of society. Recently the demand for on-line education has grown due to the worldwide trends of globalization and privatization etcetera and the government had helped this sector out by being the major source of funding. Indonesia has an exponentially growing number of enrollments in the on-line education institutions available there and the program has gained much credibility. The Japanese have also embraced the practice, with a large number of enrolled students and future plans for expansion in numbers and variety of degrees to be studied. In Europe, legislative measures have been taken to ensure the quality of the provision of on-line education. The extensiveness of uses depends from country to country, however the general trend is on the positive. In Latin America, teacher education programs online are very common. Most on-line programs in this area though suffer from little political backing and poor funding, but the people working on these projects are committed to their work and, thus, the future of the on-line education sector in this region still looks bright. In North America, on-line education institutes are using all the latest technology including video conferencing, satellite transmission and web-based instruction for example and they can be said to have the most technologically advanced on-line education sector. North American institutions often help bring about international cooperation. Such co operations will increase the competitiveness of on-line education programs in North America and the rest of the world (Daniel, 2002). In sum, on-line education is a better alternative compared to traditional education taking into account the way the world is progressing and the direction it is headed in. The future for on-line education is predicted to flourish. The coming era will be very significant for on-line teaching and learning and the virtual education industry is expected to experience a boom. Most educational institutions have agreed to the fact that a blended mix of on-line education and traditional education is the way to proceed. According to predictions we are moving towards an age where learning tools will be at our fingertips because this is becoming a basic requirement as the post modern world evolves (Kim & Bonk 2006). The benefits of on-line education to the people who enroll in on-line programs are transparent and so is this system’s compatibility with the technologically modern world. While traditional educational institutions still remain important and prominent, even leading traditional educational institutions have realized the importance of exploring this avenue and are, thus, moving towards a mode of education which is a blend of virtual and traditional education methods. Combined with these facts and the factors of convenience that on-line education affords its students without compromising quality, it has become apparent that virtual education is a comparatively better alternative when measured up against traditional education. Bibliography Daniel, J. "Open and distant learning." N.p., 2002. Web. 30 May 2012. . Globokar, Julie L. Introduction to Online Learning: A Guide for Students. Los Angeles: Sage Publications, 2010. Print. "Harvard, MIT unite to expand online education.” Dawn.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2012. . Hicks, Jesse. "Penn State Live - Probing Question: Is a brick-and-mortar education passe?" Penn State Live - The Universitys Official News Source. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2012. . Iggo, Dean. "What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online Courses?" SG & Singapore Map - Singapura, Singapur, Singapore Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2012. Read More