The debate of online courses - Essay Example

One can also engage in web-based education whereby educational resources, communications, and accomplish all schoolwork activities via the internet. The following essay covers the main similarities and differences between online and traditional-based forms of education in order to enable learners decide which method best meets their needs. Similarities Everyone knows that obtaining a degree is not that easy and one has to struggle a lot. With the argument of joining a college, many learners wonder, which form of education, is better to pursue, whether online or on-campus.

Although, both form of education are different from each other, there are a number of similarities seen in both (Bourne, 2004: 63). In both methods, there are assignments, teacher student interaction, and availability of reference materials. To begin with, the principal similarity of asynchronous online education vs. traditional education is availability of assignments. In any learning environment, assignments are very important. Schools would not be good learning opportunity if the learners do not incorporate what they learn in assignments.

In both forms of education, there are individual and group discussion assignments. Such assignments include doing researches, answering group discussion questions, writing essays, and participating in class work, which are present in both online and traditional form of educations. For instance, presentations are not favorite top everybody, but they are given in class and online in a similar format of preparing to deliver certain information to the students. Even though assignments may be dissimilar in both education setting, both has similar intentions to help the learners acquire learning materials.

Secondly, reference materials are highly valuable in any learning environment to help the learners acquire extra information especially when doing researches. The best form of reference materials are books, which are accessible in both online and tradition educational settings. In online learning, E-books make learning and referencing much easier and better. Students do not have to experience the burden of carrying heavy textbooks around (Bourne, 2004: 60). No matter whether one engages in online or traditional form of education, library will remain to be the main source of reference materials.

This is because, in library, students have access to many textbooks and internet. Although every student requires his own reference materials relating to the course he is pursuing, internet is widely used and has become the main source of reference materials since one can access plenty of online books easily. Teacher student interaction is also another similarity found in both asynchronous and traditional form of education. With many learners, social interaction is a principal aspect of the campus experience.

If one is planning to meet new friends and expand his social and professional networks, it is then essential to attend classes on campus. However, web-based education is not totally devoid of social interaction. Online learning involves video conferencing, and message boards, which ensures link between the students, classmate, and the tutors. In addition, online learning involves people form all the United States, giving student’s opportunity to interact with new people whom one would never meet on campus.

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