Comparing Online and Offline Classes - Essay Example

I. Introduction: Definition of the topic:Online and traditional classes are modes of learning available to people seeking to advance their level of education. Past/Present Thesis Statement:In this essay, the author discusses similarities and differences between online and traditional classes. Similarities: Quality of education and time management Differences: Nature of assessments, student participation and student-instructor relationships II. Body Para: 1 Topic sentence: The first similarity between the two classes is that the quality of education is the same. Supporting sentence: The lecturers who offer classes via traditional classes are the same lecturers who offer classes via online platforms Evidence:The outcome of their learning is uniform, regardless of the learning mode chosen. Para: 2 Topic sentence:Secondly, time management is important in both traditional and online classes. Supporting sentence:Students are required to complete their assignments in time to allow for an effective assessment of their progress. Evidence:According to Weber and Lennon (2007) students in both online and traditional classes have to adhere to the deadlines in order to complete their courses in time. Para: 3 Topic sentence: Instructors in a traditional classroom can use a variety of assessments to evaluate learners while online class instructors can only use a limited number of assessments for evaluation purposes Supporting sentence: While a traditional class mode can provide multiple ways of assessing students, online class format can only allow the assessment of students using methods like term papers and open-book examinations. Evidence: According to Northcental University reports, online students consider open-book examinations and evaluation basing on online group discussions more effective than cramming for quizzes administered in the traditional classes. Para: 4 Topic sentence:In traditional classes, the participation of students in classes is voluntary while in an online class setting, participation is mandatory. Supporting sentence: It is mandatory for online students to participate in class discussions using the online platform. Evidence:Since class discussion is voluntary, some students may shy away from taking part in the discussion, leaving the entire to class to a few members of the class. Para: 5 Topic sentence:The relationship between students and teachers in traditional class is different from the relationship in an online platform. Supporting sentence:Students in a traditional classroom can have a face-to-face interaction with their teachers as opposed to the students in an online class room. Evidence:Students in a traditional class can also get personalized guidance from teachers emanating from their personal relationships with teachers while students from an online class cannot obtain such support from instructors. III. Conclusion 1. A short summary: Both online and traditional classes are important to people’s academic advancement. They have a number of similarities and differences 2. Similarities are in respect to quality of education which is the same in both cases and the need for time management. Differences exist in terms of assessment criterion, student participation and the student-instructor relationship 3. Students are required to assess their level of commitment before enrolling for an online course because it requires personal initiative to successfully complete the course. Introduction Online and traditional classes are modes of learning available to people seeking to advance their level of education. Learners can choose any mode basing on the level of convenience desired, the cost among other factors. In the past, learning was only available via traditional classes. However, as a result of technological advancement, people can attend classes via the internet platform without necessarily having to physically attend classes.The proliferation of the internet communication platform has made it possible for people to attend classes without their physical presence on the campus. Online and traditional classes have a number of differences and similarities. In this essay, the author discusses similarities and differences between online and traditional classes. Similarities and Differences between Online and Traditional Classes The first similarity between the two classes is that the quality of education is the same. It is important to note that the quality of education obtained from a university would be similar whether or not the leaner chooses to use either online or traditional classes. The lecturers who offer classes via traditional classes are the same lecturers who offer classes via online platforms. Consequently, the quality of education is the same irrespective of whether the learner uses online or traditional classes. In both online and traditional classes, assignments are used to evaluate students. The students’ progress in both cases is evaluated by use of individual and group assignments. Learners are required to attain a set score in order to progress to the next stage of their learning. This, therefore, means that the outcome of their learning is uniform, regardless of the chosen mode of learning. Secondly, time management is important in both traditional and online classes. Students are required to complete their assignments in time in order to allow for an effective assessment of their progress. Learners who attend traditional classes are required to schedule their time appropriately in order to conduct personal studies, complete projects and work on assignments. Likewise, online students are required to acquire learning materials on their own and make sure that they learn and keep at pace with their lecturers. Even though online students have a greater convenient and flexibility in their studies, it does not preclude them from meeting the deadlines set for their courses. Indeed, online students have the freedom to choose the most convenient deadlines. According to Weber and Lennon (2-5) students in both online and traditional classes have to adhere to the deadlines in order to complete their courses in time. There are a number of differences between online and traditional classes. Instructors in a traditional classroom can use a variety of assessments to evaluate learners while online class instructors can only use a limited number of assessments for evaluation purposes.Instructors in a traditional class environment can use different assessment methods that might include; written assignments, presentations and oral examinations in order to evaluate their performances (Arbaugh, 223-226). Online class instructors are limited because they cannot use presentations and oral examinations to assess their learners’ performance.While a traditional class mode can provide multiple ways of assessing students, online class format can only allow the assessment of students using such methods as provision of term papers and open-book examinations. The manner in which a learner contributes to an online discussion can also be used as a criterion for evaluating their immediate performance levels. It can, therefore, be argued that the method of evaluating students is one of the factors that distinguish online from traditional class formats. According to Northcental University reports, online students consider open-book examinations and evaluations that are based on online group discussions being more effective than cramming for quizzes administered in their respective traditional classes. The difference between online and traditional classes can also be attributed to the level of student participation. In traditional classes, the participation of students in classes is voluntary while in an online class setting, participation is mandatory. Students can, therefore, choose to either participate in the discussion or not. Since class discussion is voluntary, some students may shy away from taking part in the discussion, leaving the entire to class to a few members of the class. However, the situation is completely different in an online class environment where it is mandatory for students to participate in class discussions using the online platform (McLaren 3-7). Students are required to participate in classes through chat rooms or message boards. The difference between participation in an online and traditional platform rests with the fact that in the latter students can conduct oral discussions whereas in an online class, students can only participate using written discussions that are conducted via chat rooms. The relationship between students and teachers in traditional class is different from the relationship that is created within an online platform. Students in a traditional classroom can have a face-to-face interaction with their teachers as opposed to the students in an online class room. Students in a traditional classroom have the ability to obtain full support from their teachers (Sitzmann et al 633-629). Students in a traditional class can also get customized level of guidance from teachers emanating from their personal relationships with teachers while students from an online class cannot obtain such support from instructors. The relationship between students and their instructors is purely formal whereby communication is conducted via chat rooms, email and even text messages. Students that use online classes are, therefore, required to have higher sense of commitment since they would be required to work without the full support of their teachers. The high level of autonomy associated with online classes also calls for a higher sense of commitment from students. Conclusion Both online and traditional classes are important to people’s academic advancement. These two class formats have a number of similarities and differences. The first similarity is the fact that the quality of education in each case is the same. Secondly, students are required to effectively manage time in both in both in order to complete their courses within the schedule. One of the differences is the fact that instructors in a traditional class can use presentations and oral examinations evaluate students whereas their online counterparts can only use written modes of assessments but no oral examinations. In a traditional class, student participation is voluntary while it is mandatory in an online class. Students in a traditional class can have a face-to-face interaction with their instructors, privilege that cannot be enjoyed by students in an online class.Since an online class format is autonomous, students are required to assess their level of commitment before enrolling for an online course because it requires personal initiative to successfully complete the course. Works Cited Arbaugh, J. B. Virtual classroom versus physical classroom: An exploratory study of class discussion patterns and student learning in an asynchronous internet-based MBA course. Journal of Management Education, 24(2), (2000), 213-233. McLaren, C. H. A comparison of student persistence and performance in online and classroom business statistics experiences Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, 2, (2004), 1-10. Sitzmann, T., Kraiger, K., Stewart, D., & Wisher, R. The comparative effectiveness of Web-based and classroom instruction: A meta-analysis. Personnel Psychology, 59, (2006), 623-664. Smith, L. J. Content and delivery: A comparison and contrast of electronic and traditional MBA marketing planning courses. Journal of Marketing Education, 23(1), (2001), 35-44. Weber, J. M., & Lennon, R. Multi-course comparison of traditional versus web-based course delivery systems. Journal of Educators Online, 4(2), (2007). Read More