Online Courses and Traditional Courses - Essay Example

? Online s and Traditional s Thesis ment With the increased sprouting of internet es, there has been a raging debate about the learning process and their effectiveness. One can choose to enroll in a traditional program where they will attend classes and access educational resources on campus libraries. On the other hand, students can chose to enroll in an all-online program where they will do their schoolwork and communicate with their tutors through the internet. However, the decision to the choice of the educational course relies on many internal and external factors. Ideally, there are various online educational methods, which are relevantly effective to well-organized, mature, motivated, and self-disciplined students with perfect time management skills. This is an argumentative essay on online courses and traditional courses. Body Merits and Demerits of Traditional Courses The traditional courses have various merits that include the presence of networking opportunities. Indeed, as students meet face-to-face, they develop contacts that will lead to more networking opportunities. Moreover, students in traditional universities have the opportunity of using the campus facilities that may include libraries, stadiums, gyms, student’s unions that work to the benefit of the student. In addition, this form of education creates a discovery experience where international students mature, embrace diversity, and grow socially. Most, assuredly, the direct interaction with lecturers and fellow students ensures that the student gets quality education through discussions and availability of instructions (Sorrentino, 2011). Furthermore, traditional education compels students to abide with the set rules and regulations as well as following timetables. This has long-term benefits where such students become organized, law-abiding citizens, and creates a rational society. However, there are many demerits attached to traditional a course that makes one to reconsider the idea of enrolling in traditional university. For instance, traditional courses are very expensive as compared to online courses. Indeed, traditional course will require a student to pay tuition fees and other additional fees that may include transport fees, accommodation fees, costs for food, and recreational fees. As such, for poor families, affording quality traditional education becomes a huge challenge especially where there are no government subsidies or social welfare assistance. Indeed, there is a high likelihood of schooling abandonment due to lack of fees to traditional courses. At the same time, traditional courses are so stationary and immobile since students follow a set program, assessment measures, set timetables, and set rules and regulations that are not flexible (Sorrentino, 2011). This inflexibility sometimes annoys and stresses students leading to poor performance and school abandonment. As such, this may lead to serious scheduling challenges where students must travel and attend classes despite transport problems or commitments to other activities. Indeed, for students pursuing higher education and working at the same time, traditional courses may limit their success. Additionally, the immobility requires all resources and activities to congest in one room. At the same time, traditional courses may bear aspects of limited personal attention especially where colleges and universities admit so many students in one program. This leads to poor quality of education as the lecturer-student interaction becomes ineffective. With this, we can argue that traditional courses are not entirely effective. Indeed, if we consider the merits of online courses, we would seemingly prefer the latter. Effectiveness of Online courses Actually, there is rampant growth of online enrollment in the modern education system. This resulted from the global recession that led to poor economic status leading to inability to further education in traditional courses. In addition, the growth in technology and flexibility of the online courses has led to the switch to online education. Indeed, in the online courses, students have an opportunity of studying anywhere in the world at the comfort of their rooms as long as they can access internet connection. Indeed, in online courses, location is not a factor as communication is through message boards, videoconferencing, emails, and online chatting. This proves the convenience of online courses (Montgomery College, 2011). At the same time, online colleges and courses are now available all over the world and they continue increasing every year (North Carolina State University, 2010). Actually, there is no limit to the variety of classes offered through online schools. As such, willing students can enroll in online courses in any part of the world. This may further lead to diversity as students from various backgrounds interact via internet as they attend same classes. The flexibility of online course ensures that students attend classes, work, and attend their families at the same periods. Another beneficial aspect of online courses revolves around the costs accrued to accessing education. Notably, students who enroll in online courses exempt themselves from transport, food, accommodation, and other fees that traditional students must pay. As such, it is less expensive to further online course that traditional courses (Sorrentino, 2011). Another notable aspect of online courses is the advantage of allowing students to learn at their own pace. Indeed, students in this case area t liberty control their duration and pace of learning. For smart students, they can take a relatively shorter time to study a given course while other can balance between work and studies. This ensures that students don not directly compete with others, as they possess different attributes. Indeed, online course allow student to apply learning styles that are comfortable to them (University of Illinois, 2013). This may involve various learning activities and learning styles that may lack in traditional courses. Quite significant is the fact that written lectures are available throughout the course of the semester and thus students can refer to them and any other new information for purposes attaining quality education. Upon completion of an online course, students develop a sense of confidence, self-knowledge, and responsibility. Indeed, the program ensures the acquisition of advanced the internet and computers skills significant for future use. Of concern is the fact that governments accept online degrees just as traditional degrees (Montgomery College, 2011). As such, online courses are seemingly more appropriate than traditional courses. However, online courses have few demerits that relate to limited Social Interaction where students and lectures rarely interact and the social interaction experienced in a campus environment is not there (University of Illinois, 2013). Additionally, only self-motivated and disciplined students with good time management skills can succeed in this program. Furthermore, there are costs that relate to technology establishment and use that may limit access to online courses (Sorrentino, 2011). More so, slow internet connection may demean the delivery of such education and governments offer no financial aid to online students. Conclusion In conclusion, I find that people think that online courses are more effective than traditional courses. Indeed, the cost effect, immobility, and other demerits supersede the merits of traditional courses. However, we can establish that the success on an online course heavily relies on the student’s motivation, confidence, time management skills, and discipline. As such, even though online courses are appropriate, flexible, less expensive, and convenient, it is quite challenging to succeed in such courses. References Montgomery College (2011). Ten Advantages of Online Courses. Retrieved from: http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/distance/onlineadv/ North Carolina State University (2010). Pros and Cons of Online. Retrieved from: http://www.ies.ncsu.edu/successes/research-and-white-papers/pros-and-cons-of-online-education Sorrentino, E (2011). Traditional University vs. Online. Retrieved from: http://blog.grantham.edu/blog/bid/102373/Traditional-University-vs-Online-For-A-Degree-Pros-and-Cons University of Illinois (2013). Strengths of Online Learning. Retrieved from: http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/overview/strengths.asp Read More