Traditional verss Online Classes - Coursework Example

O.L.T.L Online Learning vs. Traditional Learning Introduction In an age when the internet is not a novel phenomenon anymore and has come to be a necessity for large sections of societies all across the globe, one question still remains. Despite the boundless information available on the internet regarding any subject under the sky, it remains to be proven whether the internet can as efficiently be a source or medium of formal learning as regular classes have been for time immemorial. The learning process involves several factors which affect the learning process or ability of a student to learn. In a survey conducted on a group of 14 people, the most pertinent of these questions were brought up, with some surprising and other more predictable responses towards the internet in comparison to a classroom. Survey When the group of 14 was asked whether the success of online learning depends on the age of the student, two (14.3 percent) ‘strongly agreed’ that it does, three (21.4 percent) only ‘agreed’, another two (14.3 percent) remained ‘neutral’, seven (50 percent) of the group responded that it does not or ‘disagreed’, while none of the group ‘strongly disagreed’. When asked whether the success of learning through an online method depends greatly on the subject studied, five (35.7 percent) ‘strongly agreed’ that O.L.T.L.2 it does, seven (50 percent) ‘agreed’, and a mere two (14.3 percent) people ‘disagreed’. There were no ‘strongly disagree’ or ‘neutral’ responses. To the question of the gender of the student being an important factor in successful online learning, it was noted that one (7.7 percent) even ‘strongly agreed’, none ‘agreed’, two (14.3 percent) were ‘neutral’, and a predictably large number, nine (64.3 percent) ‘disagreed’. None, however, ‘strongly disagreed’. The question of the success of online learning being a much more effective way of learning a foreign language than a regular classroom setting had one (7.7 percent) person responding who ‘strongly agreed’, one (7.7 percent) who just ‘agreed’, a majority of six (42.9 percent) who remained ‘neutral’, four (28.6 percent) who ‘disagreed’ and two (14.3 percent) who ‘strongly disagreed’. A statement related to the last one, that a person could become fluent in another language just by using online learning if the online services were adequate; the person would not need any private lessons and/or traditional classroom teaching, elicited the following responses. One (7.7 percent) said they ‘strongly agree’, two (15.4 percent) said they ‘agree’, seven (53.8 percent) maintained a ‘neutral’ position, two (15.4 percent) said they disagree and one (7.7 percent) said they ‘strongly disagree’. One subject did not participate. The question that learning a foreign language using an online approach would be much easier and likely to work for a younger student (35 years and younger) than an older student (older than 36) due to the student’s familiarization with technology, was answered by one (7.7 percent) saying they ‘strongly agree’, O.L.T.L.3 four (28.6%) said they ‘agree’, three (21.4 percent) gave a ‘neutral’ reply and an interesting majority of five (35.7 percent) said they ‘disagree’. One subject even said they ‘strongly disagree’. The next question proposed that applied mathematics and sciences are much too complicated to be learned only through online learning. To this, none said that they ‘strongly agree’, though a whopping eleven (84.6 percent) said they ‘agree’, one (7.7 percent) remained ‘neutral’, one (7.7 percent) replied they ‘disagree’ whereas none said they ‘strongly disagree’. One subject did not respond. The question proposed next was that because of the absolute and unchangeable nature of mathematics and sciences, persons interested in learning more about them can feel quite comfortable using a strictly online learning method; no face-to-face instruction with a teacher is necessary. To this statement, one (7.7 percent) said they ‘strongly agree’, four (28.6 percent) said they ‘agree’, none had a ‘neutral’ opinion and as suggested by the response to the last question and in keeping with it, nine (64.3 percent) said they ‘disagree’. They were no responses in the ‘strongly disagree’ category. The next question proposed that an employer should be just as confident in the abilities of a candidate that earns a degree in applied mathematics or sciences solely through online learning as one who studied in a traditional classroom setting. Five (35.7 percent) responded that they ‘strongly agree’ with O.L.T.L.4 that statement and another seven (50 percent) ‘agreed’. Two (14.3 percent) were ‘neutral’. None of the subjects said they ‘disagree’ or ‘strongly disagree’. The last question of the survey made the suggestion that because of the practical, everyday need and use of subjects such as foreign languages and applied sciences/mathematics, people can feel comfortable studying them through the readily available resources of general online learning instead of paying for a specialized face-to-face course. In response to this, two (14.3 percent) replied that they ‘strongly agree’, six (42.9 percent) said they ‘agree’, four (28.6 percent) took a ‘neutral’ position, two (14.3 percent) said that they ‘disagree’ while none of the subjects aid that they ‘strongly disagree’ with the proposed statement. Analysis Upon examining the results of these questions, we find that there is an overall optimistic feeling regarding the internet as a medium for successful learning. The trend seems to be that issues like age and gender, as can be expected, are more or less non-factors in relation to the question at hand. The majority of respondents did agree, quite expectedly, that gender is of negligible or no importance. In regard to the question of age, a study even furthers the fact that older people may not be handicapped when it comes to using the internet but do so very avidly. “Both men and women use online education and training and they come from all age groups, but especially older adults. As people age, they tend to use the internet more as a source of education. People in the over O.L.T.L.5 50 age group participated more than others, while women were more apt to participate in online discussion groups, regardless of whether they live in an urban or rural environment. The under-20 set is heavily engaged in full-time education now and the trend is growing” (Embrey, 2003). The respondents agreed that the subject which is to be learned is itself a pertinent factor in determining whether online methods of education will be of any benefit to the student. This is quite true as certain subjects will require intensive one-on-one interaction between a teacher and student than others and merely being provided with information about a subject with which the student is utterly unacquainted will be of little help. A larger section of the respondents did not have an opinion this way or that, when told that online methods of learning a foreign language are more beneficial than conventional classroom. A prominent percentage, however, did believe this idea to be untrue and a significant percentage were even in strong disagreement. The question of becoming fluent in such a language by relying on the internet and without requiring human interaction was again met with a largely ambiguous response. That learning a language online is free of the age factor, was agreed upon by most of the subjects. It can be deduced from this that most people, while not being clearly supportive of it, are also not averse to the idea of learning a new language online. Research does suggest that learning a new language online can be as, or even more successful than regular class, provided we are exposed to a verbal form of it. “Our ability to learn new words is directly O.L.T.L.6 related to how often we have been exposed to the particular combinations of the sounds which make up the words. If you want to learn Spanish, for example, frequently listening to a Spanish language radio station on the internet will dramatically boost your ability to pick up the language and learn new words" (Sulzberger,2008). In keeping with conventional thought, most of the respondents agreed that specialized subjects such as applied mathematics and sciences require the regular method of teaching, in the classroom, with the instructor and student physically present. As is widely believed, these subjects require a regular approach and involve a great degree of discipline to be exhibited by the student. “In the virtual classroom students instructors come and go at all hours. Some learners are sure to discover that this form of communication is difficult for them. How well they do at learning on their own will have a significant bearing on performance” (Reid, 2000). The respondents are of the opinion that such subjects are far too technical and complicated for a student to grasp just by accessing information, regardless of the fact that such subjects are absolute and constant. They did seem to believe, although, that if a person was successful in learning such subjects online and attains an online degree, then such a degree holder must be treated at par with people who possess regular degrees when it comes to preference in employment. Formal learning aside, the bigger portion of the respondents did believe that questions regarding these fields of study could be researched online for general everyday use and applications. O.L.T.L.7 Conclusion This survey helps us in ascertaining that the worldwide web is a limitless and most convenient source of information for the common individual for day to day purposes, regardless of gender and age factors. Online material and facilities have provided the world with lightning quick communication and research ability. And as far as the question of formal education in languages, technical subjects and the like is concerned, it cannot be refuted that countless people have successfully utilized online facilities for such purposes, even though the general public maybe be unsure as yet. O.L.T.L.8 References Embrey, Bob. (2003). Who Uses Online Learning. Sulzberger, Paul. (2000). New study may Revolutionize Language Learning. Reid, John E., Jr. (2008). What Every Student should know about Online Learning. Read More