Whether or Not Virtual Distance Learning Will Replace Traditional Classroom Teaching - Essay Example

Traditional or physical classroom refers to the conventional learning system that relies on actual and physical student-teacher interaction to facilitate learning, whereas virtual learning sustains the student-teacher interaction via electronic media, for the same purpose. It is also expedient to address key information questions that will help answer this question accurately and debate it cogently.

The information questions are about the future of the physical classroom; the future of the virtual classroom; whether or not, virtual classrooms will come to include video-chat classrooms; and the statistics between graduates of online degrees vs. in-school degrees. What is the future of the physical classroom and will it include instructors via web presentation? Unlike other primordial socio-economic constructions, physical classrooms cannot be done away with; the values that virtual learning brings, are notwithstanding.

Extensive discussions, consultations, debates, and the upholding of educational standards are some of the facets of traditional learning that will bar virtual learning from overtaking its traditional counterpart. The crux of the matter is that extensive discussions and consultations, especially after exams enable learners to correct their mistakes or misconstruction of a concept. Nevertheless, it is most plausible and tenable that the traditional classroom will include instruction via web input; not as an end in itself, but to complement the lecturer’s input and role.

What is the future of the virtual classroom? Indeed, it is dishonest to discount the fact that virtual classroom is becoming increasingly popular and will continue to do so. For instance, in a research finding that was tabled by the SRI International for the Department of Education in 2009, from 1996 to 2008, the number of students who do online coursework accounted for 59% (Lohr, 1). Secondly, because of the convenience that comes with online classes, this alternative to traditional learning is bound to get more popular.

Nevertheless, this does not mean that it will face out its physical counterpart. Will virtual classrooms include video-chat classrooms? It is most likely that virtual classrooms will include video-chat classrooms as an artifice to make up for the absence of discussions, consultations, and debates. What are the statistics between graduates of online degrees vs. in-school degrees? As already stated, according to research results that the SRI International for Department of Education tabled, between 1996 and 2008, students who have done online courses accounted for 59% (Lohr, 1).

This means that traditional classrooms could be ceding ground to virtual education since learners who have strictly used it account for 41%. These findings applied to learners from K-12 grade to the postgraduate level. Is there a difference in the curriculum? Technically, there is no difference in curriculum between virtual and traditional classes. However, the difference between the two is brought about by elements of efficiency and deficiency in tools of learning. Particularly, even though virtual and traditional learning uses the same syllabus, the former is presently derelict on extensive discussions, consultations, and debates.

Monitoring and imposition of guidelines, rules, and regulations are all emphasized in the traditional classroom but paradoxically sidestepped in virtual learning where their absence is termed as a convenience. Extensive discussions, consultations, debates, close monitoring of students, and imposition of guidelines, rules, and regulations are all important in the production of an all-round student, and not a half-baked one.