Online Education vs Classroom Education - Essay Example

Comparison of online education with room education. Online education, generally known as distance education consists of taking classes via the World Wide Web. More individuals take online classes since it has an overall flexibility along with convenience. Youll be able to sign up for school consultations in the convenience of your residence and attend assignments at any time in the time. A meta-analysis research has been conducted to compare and estimate the academic performances of learners in distance education courses who take them online in relation to those who enrolled in a traditional classroom setting as proven by their final program grade or scores. There before, reports involving online learning concluded that this adopted technology was not considerably different from the regular classroom findings when it came to effectiveness. Policy makers argued that if online instructions was not any worse compared to the traditional instructions, then we are justified to conclude that it is better than the face-to-face traditional classroom setting. (Weber and Lennon 13) Online education versus classroom education There have been so may established sets of criteria standards by which to judge the most effective method of learning. The basis of analysis include cost efficiency or the urge to offer access to students through configurations whereby face-to-face instruction isnt feasible. Other criteria included the period of time given, the quality of a particular study, the introduction of a comparison or a control group, and also the quantitative information of the two groups crucial for analysis. (Friday et al., 66-81). It’s without any element of doubt that online learning is better than all the other modes of delivery throughout all the institutions. The programs are designed to be of the same quality as the traditional classroom pedagogy. Online learning effectiveness has always been guided by certain principles. The academic standards regarding all the online programs should not vary with those of other programs of courses delivered in the same institution where they are offered. Courses offered online and certificate programs and even online degrees are complete. Students who undertake the online programs receive appropriate learning in terms of the breadth and rigor in the academic qualification awarded. Students’ satisfaction is a key area to consider while comparing the online education with the face-to-face learning. Students’ satisfaction will reflect all the aspects of the learning program in terms quality. Online learning also facilitates substantive interaction and thus enhancing the primary goal of undertaking a certain faculty. However, with a classroom setting, it is not possible to interact with other students undertaking the same faculty in other universities. Learners are also in a position to access the teaching habits by other lecturers and professors in other institutions around the globe. This is made possible through the voIP, the emails and also the chatrooms. Online mode of learning has also enhanced the exchange of necessary resources amongst the learners through Online threaded discussions. The traditional classroom setting is also relatively expensive. Online schools are less expensive since the learner does not have to pay for some physical facilities such as the libraries, residential halls and even the dining halls. However, even if one cannot access the physical amenities, determined students will always try to access the virtual libraries. Some accredited online colleges have partnerships with local facilities. Sometimes it may require a student to attend meetings that are scheduled in classrooms. It is also very possible to work virtual classes whenever you want. It is always possible to adjust the program to fit your schedule. Online education has also helped in solving the dilemma of limited physical space especially in institutions of higher learning. It has helped institutions to serve more students without having to invest in more classroom space. It has also helped reduce the hustle created by budget pressures on human resources, classroom space and materials. More students can be served with fewer resources even during the financially stable times. There is also the aspect of improved quality in online education. This is according to a research documented by the Department of Education in the U.S. there was a stronger-student learning outcome in online learning than in the face-to-face classroom environment. There are certain types of online contents that are generally more effective if they are offered only online (Fornaciari 647). This brings about the idea of adopting semi-online learning which mixes both the traditional classroom pedagogy and the online format. This depends on the content of the study material. Individuals who are tied up by family responsibilities and those who have a demanding work schedules are favored by online classes. This is because they do not have to commute. There are also factors to consider with an online education system. These factors include accreditation. An institution must meet all the necessary requirements that are needed to prove that its curriculum can offer academic excellence. Failure to this, an institution cannot offer a valid degree or academic qualification as it is not reputable. One must also consider the cost, besides the flexibility of the schedule. Online learning is quite cheaper that classroom learning but the costs vary between the various institutions. Even at a cheaper cost, some willing students might not be able to pay their fees. Instead they go looking for grants and loans and also scholarships. Others go looking for work study programs that cannot be accessed in online universities and colleges. Online learning efficiency requires far much more preparation and input as compared to the traditional classroom setting. There is a high chance that college students that are attracted to online courses are actually superior self-learners, intrinsically enthusiastic to buy information outside of which is essential to purely pass this training course. The majority of the college students inside the online training course are being self-reported non-traditional college students, which may account for the higher general GPA during the data analysis. (Kock, Verville, & Garza, 333-355). Also, unlike in the traditional classroom education, online learning does not allow immediate feedback and also immediate social environment. It does not also allow for facial expressions and body language In conclusion, online education proves to be a better strategy that should be adopted by institutions. As on the internet learning continues it is fast progress within universities and colleges, an increased review regarding methods for it is successful execution. For instance, case studies explaining successful procedures for developing, financing, and also sustaining the online programs within the college or university. And theres also an expanding analysis based on the delivery of successful internet models which might be scalable, boost learning, and also lower cost. Works Cited Fornaciari, C. J., & Dean, K. L. Experiencing organizational work design: Beyond Hackman and Oldham. Journal of Management Education. (2005). 29: 631-653 Print. Friday, E., Friday-Stroud, S. S., Green, A. L., & Hill, A. Y. A multi-semester comparison of student performance between multiple traditional and online sections of two management courses. Journal of Behavioral and Applied Management, (2006). 8(1), 66-81. Print. Kock, N., Verville, J., & Gaza, V. Media naturalness and online learning: Findings supporting both the significant- and no-significant-difference perspectives. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, (2007). 5(2), 333-355. Print. Read More