Advantages of Online and Traditional Education - Essay Example

Online Education vs. Traditional Education Name Course Name and Code Instructor’s Name Date Unlike in the past, today a person can access higher education via varied means (Roussas & Capella University, 2006). One can decide to enrol in a traditional program where he/she will attend classes and access teaching and learning resources at the institution. On the other hand, a person may decide to enrol in an online program where most of his/her coursework and communication will be via the internet (Johnson & Manning, 2009). Some colleges also allow people to blend the two programs whereby an individual partly completes his/her schoolwork while at campus while the rest is done online (Inoue, 2007). Both online and traditional education has advantages and disadvantages. In this essay I argue that online education is more advantageous as opposed to traditional education as illustrated below. Online education is also referred to as e-learning or distance learning. Under this type of education one is not expected to sit in real classroom and listen face to face to his/her instructor (Globokar, 2010). One receives instructions via computers and study materials include audios, animations, PDF formats with discussions and many more. Many institutions of higher learning employ the software “Moodle” to manage courses. This allows institutions to share materials in addition doing class tests, issuance of certificates and progress reports. There are other software which are used for online learning including One of the main advantages of on line education is that it is cost effective. As opposed to traditional educational environment, online education is more affordable. This is because online education allows an individual to save on costs such as transportation costs. This may include saving on things like bus passes, gads and parking fees (Roussas & Capella University, 2006). In addition, one does not incur costs of housing and meal plans while on campus as it happens in the case of traditional education. This is because one carries out his/her studies while at home and is not required to be at the campus (Johnson & Manning, 2009). Furthermore, a person undertaking online studies is likely to pay less in terms of tuition as compared to a person attending traditional education (Globokar, 2010). This is because the individual is able to search the internet for the field he/she is interested in and then look for institutions offering the program. Once this is done the individual has several options to choose from based on both quality of the program and the cost of tuition (Inoue, 2007). Moreover, people who opt for online education do not incur costs of acquiring expensive reading materials since they can be able to download all the materials they need from the internet cheaply (Roussas & Capella University, 2006). Thus, overall online education is cheaper than traditional education. Online education is also advantageous because it is convenient. Some authors have attributed the rapid growth of online education to convenience it offers to individuals who pursue it (Inoue, 2007). An individual has the freedom to set his/her study schedule to fit his/her personal needs. Thus online program is much flexible than traditional education where the schedule is planned by the institution’s administration (Roussas & Capella University, 2006). Thus a person undertaking online education can still carry out his/her roles as a full time employee or as a parent unlike in the traditional education where the individual may have to relinquish some of such roles (Johnson & Manning, 2009). The person also has the freedom to decide on when and where to study provided he/she has access to a computer and the internet. In addition, the student has a wider pool of courses, schools and teachers to choose from since more than 80% of institutions in countries such as America offer some form of online education materials (Inoue, 2007). The programs offered by these institutions are rapidly gaining respect just like regular degree courses. Furthermore, geographical barriers are non-existent in online learning since one is not required to drive to schools within his/her reach to earn a degree or a diploma (Johnson & Manning, 2009). Furthermore, online education provides one with a level playing field. Even though many authors have ignored this to be one of the advantages of online education, studies shows that increased adoption of online education is credited to this advantage. This is because when one registers for online program he/she is partially anonymous (Roussas & Capella University, 2006). Thus, the individual is not prone to certain discrimination factors such as gender, race, physical appearance, age or even disabilities (Johnson & Manning, 2009). This implies that students are identified by what they think and not what they look like or where they sit in the classroom. The atmosphere created by online education is liberating too many students (Johnson & Manning, 2009). Thus students who would otherwise be reserved if they attended traditional education are empowered to express their opinions and thoughts without prejudice or discrimination during online discussions (Inoue, 2007). Researchers have found that such liberating atmosphere helps to boost students’ self esteem and therefore success in their studies. Online education also allows one to embrace change. This is because students use computers and internet to communicate and research with technologies which are being used currently n transacting businesses (Roussas & Capella University, 2006). Thus one gets better via adoption of modern technology as he/she learns about old and new subjects. In addition it fosters teamwork rather than in traditional education where the instructor is the boss (Johnson & Manning, 2009). Thus each individual has the opportunity to express himself among group members during discussion forums and videoconferencing communication (Inoue, 2007). Thus students have a higher participation chance in online learning as opposed to traditional education. Students also have an opportunity to learn from experts who have very rare knowledge of transacting business when learning online. This is because instructors can be located anywhere in the world in online learning (Roussas & Capella University, 2006). Thus, even if there are few experts in the field, they can reach very many people via online education as opposed to traditional learning where the instructor has to be physically present in order to instruct (Vroeginday, 2005). Moreover, online education is advantageous because it allows the students to set their own pace (Johnson & Manning, 2009). Students are able to study flexibly at the pace which is comfortable to them in online education unlike in traditional classroom based education where one is expected to study at the speed set by program planners. It allows an individual the freedom to decide on how much time to allocate to his/her studies (Roussas & Capella University, 2006). On average one can complete an online degree within two to three years as opposed to the average four years in traditional education (Vroeginday, 2005). One always has control over the situation in online education in spite of the institution he/she chooses to enrol in on how many courses to choose during a single session (Inoue, 2007). Depended on the prevailing situation a student may decide to speed up or slow down his speed when enrolled for an online program something that cannot happen under regular traditional education programs. In spite the advantages of online education it has some disadvantages (Johnson & Manning, 2009). For instance, it lacks social interaction which is one of major aspects of college experience (Vroeginday, 2005). One cannot make new friends and expand his or her professional and social networks unless he/she decides to undertake traditional on campus education. it is argued that online learning does not permit one to develop his/her oral communication skills and may result in creating individuals who are not able to communicate and socialize with others appropriately (Roussas & Capella University, 2006). Even though online education has some form of interaction such as videoconferencing; these cannot replace face to face interactions (Johnson & Manning, 2009). Such kind of education may thus not be convenience for students who thrive on faster exchange of information between themselves and their instructors. In addition, graduates of online only education have difficulties in acquiring a job because many employers are usually sceptical while hiring such individuals because of the short history of being acceptable by employers. Another disadvantage of online education is that it is inaccessible for individuals who live and work in rural or lower socio-economic areas where internet accessibility is not adequate (Inoue, 2007). Such limitation hampers one from undertaking and successful completing an online course (Roussas & Capella University, 2006). Furthermore, one needs to have some level of computer knowledge to allow him/her to undertake an online course. This requires one to know how to use varied kinds of search engines and to navigate the World Wide Web (Johnson & Manning, 2009). Thus technology may limit the number of those enrolling for such programs (Vroeginday, 2005). In conclusion, online is more advantageous than traditional education. This is because; first online education is inexpensive since one can avoid certain expenses such as acquisition of expensive reading materials and accommodation costs. Second, online education is convenient since it allows one to continue with his/her usual activities such as fully time job while learning. Third, online education offers one level playing field since the individual remains anonymous and hence it avoids prejudice and discrimination that is common in traditional education. Fourth, online education allows one to embrace change since the individual uses modern technologies during the learning process. Fifth, online education is flexible since it allows the students to set their own pace. Reference Globokar, J. (2010). Introduction to Online Learning: A Guide for Students. Sydney: SAGE Publications Inoue, Y. (2007). Technology and diversity in higher education: New challenges. London: Idea Group Inc (IGI). Johnson, K., & Manning, S. (2009). Online Education for Dummies. Chicago: For Dummies. Roussas, S., & Capella University. (2006). The effect of online education versus traditional education on employee productivity: A quantitative analysis within a high-tech company. New York: ProQuest Vroeginday, B. (2005). Traditional vs. online education: a comparative analysis of learner outcomes. London: Fielding Graduate University. Read More