Arguments for Traditional Education - Essay Example

Argument for traditional learning method Introduction With advanced technology, the world today has adopted everything to be digital. With learning institutions not left behind, today traditional form of learning is being replaced with online learning (Curtis 3). Many higher learning institutions and colleges are offering Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) where students register and learn online. This massive education does not provide the actual course contents like group discussion, group assignment, and educator-driven information. Initially, people get updated with dynamic changing demands in profession, education, industries and commerce. There is more use of blogs, e-portfolios, and smart phones, projectors among others (Zane and Lin 357). Online education is widely used by people aging between 30 years and above since they find it hard to be in a classroom with young people. In addition, online courses offer freedom to learners as they can attend classes at their own convenience. That is there is no time table as to the time and venue where the course will be taken. This makes it flexible and convenient to full time workers, employers, parents and any other person who cannot afford time to attend classes. Online education discriminates the poor who cannot access internet or computers at their homes (Rina 55). Since every development and advancement has both benefits and limitations, online learning has social, economic, social and technological limitations. By comparing the traditional mode of learning and the online education, traditional learning method has more beneficial factors to online education. Traditional education was not only gaining knowledge but it encouraged social interaction. By interacting with other people, one is able to gain courage and understand the real life experiences. In addition, group discussion is a motivating factor that helps students to face life with courage. Majority of those who support online education argue that it is time saving and cost effective. To be relevant, it saves the traveling time to students but to educators, it is not time saving compared to traditional education. This is because the educator has to respond to every student’s query which is all different. It is difficult to address the requirements of students’ different backgrounds and cultural beliefs which might be different from the educational culture provided online (Siddiqui 92). In addition, online education is not convincing enough since the learner does not get the argumentative point to a response. To support traditional method, students and teachers are more exposed to subjects as they learn from each other (Yukiko 96). For instance, a student learns from another student views, the teacher’s stand, and this leads to better educators, therefore, better system. In addition, in one has access to a variety of materials to study like student’s centre, library, laboratories and writing centre. These facilities are not available in online learning and the learning environment may not be conducive for learning due to interruptions of children, unexpected visitors among other family issues. Online education limits thinking capacity and narrows the development process of children (Dominguez 17). In the growth and development of children, it is important for them to interact socially and play together. With the introduction of online education, children sit behind a computer and perform his or her task. This is so boring to them and they may end up developing some flimsy characteristics. Traditional education gives room for interaction and sharing of idea in and out of classroom. This is because all students participate in group discussions and during break time, they are able to interact freely. Additionally, learning is not only books and exams, there is need to discuss factors affecting like. In traditional learning, instructors teach students social life as he or share life experiences (Beers 512). This is a way of guiding students on how to go about life and the challenges they might face. Online education does not provide this essential knowledge to student and the main relationship between tutor and learner is solving academic problems. Human beings are social creatures who cannot survive on their own. It is impracticable to live, learn, survive and be successful on our own. Traditional learning method provides students with resources to ensure they grow and develop in an open environment (Robin and ?Marie-Noelle 88). For example, there are competition games like sports, running, swimming, and music among others in traditional context (Andrea 6). These recreational facilities provide students with chances to discover their talents outside academic courses. Online education does not have this provision which makes it less beneficial to students. In addition, it does not open up thinking capacity of students since they have no time to think as answers are provided online. Courses relating to computation and other practical practices require physical appearance of educators and students to ensure better understanding (Ellis and Taylor 240). It is hard to explain how to undergo a surgical process online compared to performing it practically. Engineering courses, accounting and medicine demand much attention as they are challenging (Ellis and Taylor 240). According to research done in US, online students perform poorly in these courses compared to traditional learning students. There is high possibility of online students performing poorly in job market compared to students undertaking traditional method (Steve 23). Conclusion The world today is changing drastically in all sectors of life. With the digital era, education has changed its traditional form and everything is being done online. Online education is spreading at a high rate and almost all courses are available online. With technology leading to rapid changes in the world, it is important to pay proper attention and explore the methods and manner in which online education is being provided. This is to ensure that there are adequate resources in provision of this type of education which will have sustainable benefits in the future. As we adopt technology in education, let us not risk the quality of education being provided. There is need to combine both methods of learning in our learning institutions to ensure adaptability in both modern and traditional life. In addition, online education should only be provided to graduates after undergoing traditional methods. Young people in developing stages should only be taught basic skills on how to use computers. I stand my grounds that traditional learning methods are better and beneficial to online learning method. Work cited: Andrea, Edmundson. Globalized E-learning Cultural Challenges. Hershey: Idea Group Inc (IGI), 2007. Print Beers, Bowden. The effects of teaching methods on long term knowledge retention. Journal of nursing education 4. 11 (2005: 511-514). Print Curtis, Bonk. The World Is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. 2009. Print Dominguez , Ridley. Assessing distance education courses and discipline in their effectiveness’. Journal of instructions psychology. 28 (2001: 15-19). Print Ellis, Marcus and Taylor. Learning through inquiry: student difficulties with online course-based materials. Journal of computer assisted learning 7. 2 (2005: 239-250). Print Rina, Coronel. Disabled Online Learners: Benefits and Drawbacks of Online Education and Learning Platforms when Pursuing Higher Education. Kansas: ProQuest. 2008. Print Robin, Goodfellow and ?Marie-Noelle, Lamy. Open Learning Cultures. New York: Springer. 2009. Print Siddiqui. Challenges Of Educational Technology. New Delhi: APH Publishing. 2012. Print Steve, Roussas. The Effect of Online Education Versus Traditional Education on Employee Productivity: A Quantitative Analysis Within a High-tech Company. Kansas: ProQuest, 2006. Print Yukiko, Inoue. Online Education for Lifelong Learning. Hershey: Idea Group Inc (IGI). 2007. Print Zane, Berge and Lin, Muilenburg. Handbook of Mobile Education. Mamaroneck, NY: Routledge. 2013. Print Read More