Online vs Traditional Education: Differences and Advantages

Technology has taken our life, action, and every matter into the internet and we can do everything in a very short time with a tap of our fingertips on android or iOS-based mobiles. Though traditional classroom learning is still the major educational force yet the eLearning is covering a major portion and it’s rising aggressively which is believed to be an avenue for educational revolution. It often heard that people ask questions about the differences and advantages of eLearning and classroom learning and we are going to discuss this issue in this blog.

Not all learning environments are created equally. In modern times, multiple factors have an impact on effective learning, be it the methods used, the content design, or simply other factors such as the tools and means used to promote teaching. Although studies have continuously shown that learning on a virtual platform is as effective as what happens in traditional classrooms, the quality of how content is presented is more important. Online learning programs can be effective if its content is presented in a way that enhances students’ understanding of concepts and information, after which they can truly revolutionize their training and study.

E-learning and traditional classrooms require different skills and methods to deliver the content of their courses. Despite sharing certain similarities, each one has its own unique characteristics, as well as its own pros and cons that must be taken into account depending on the environment in which teaching is needed. For example, a classroom may be more viable for a small group in the same location, while an online degree program is best applied to individual students in different locations. Below, we elaborate on more differences between online teaching and traditional classrooms.

What is E-education?

The e-learning contemplates the use of computer technologies and the Internet to offer a wide range of solutions that facilitate learning and improve performance. Distance learning is carried out in the teaching-learning process for each of the students through new technologies, such as computers, tablets, or even smart mobile phones or smartphones.

The e-learning eliminates the physical relationship between student and teacher, as the only contact through technical means that every platform is available. With this learning model, the student is the central nucleus and all the knowledge revolves around it. Being the protagonist, each person can choose what knowledge they want to acquire, at what time and in what way, something that until the arrival of distance training had been impossible.

Cost of Education

The cost of traditional education is very high and this is a single reason, a lot of people cannot afford education from education providers. In terms of higher education, the cost goes high and those who do not have the financial aid are not capable of attending good educational institutes. For thousands of years, educational institutes are teaching students and in the present time, the cost has gone beyond many people’s reach. But it seems like, it is time to get that cost down again and e-education platforms are making that happen. The basic difference between classroom education and e-education hugely differs in terms of cost. Where classroom education from top educational institutes are skyrocketing, the eLearning platforms are coming beneficial for more and more people around the world. With the blessing of e-education, learning is accessible at a very affordable cost.

The flexibility of Time and Space

Attending class in a busy schedule is a tough job when an individual is working full time. Each person has a world, with their own customs and schedules. E-learning training breaks the barrier of time and space by adapting to your specific needs, both in hours and in geographical location. Not to unnecessary classrooms, not to teachers’ offices or long trips to schools. All training at the click of a button for better optimization of your time. Is there something more valuable than your time? Training and learning is your ally in this regard. On the other hand, classroom education is not flexible regarding time and space because they happen at a specific time at a certain place and you are required to be present in that setting if you want to attend the class.

Group Interaction and Communication

In a traditional environment, there is a lot of interaction between students in the same class which highly impacts and benefits our social interaction further. On the other hand, an online teaching environment may require greater efforts to sustain teacher-student interactions as well as student-to-student communication but through online groups, this problem can be dealt with. The incorporation of tools such as discussion tables, conversation boxes, and emails can help a lot to stimulate the sense of community within the online students.

Use of Tools and Media

While the traditional environment tends to make more use of textbooks and written instructions, it can also incorporate graphics and media to encourage the interest and participation of your students. However, there are numerous barriers to using the media in the traditional environment. Lack of resources and time constraints make the instructor stick to easy-to-use methods such as talks and books. Therefore, the traditional environment fails to capture the interest and participation of students with the course content. In contrast, online teaching presents an ideal environment in which there is a wide variety of tools and media that can be used to promote teaching. Images, Motion graphics, documentaries, simulations, audio tools, and many other methods are easy to incorporate into computer-based learning. Currently, online learning platforms are using augmented reality to make learning more effective, and working on something more efficient to make things even more interactive. Using a variety of media also helps different types of learners to more easily cope with and acquire an understanding of various concepts and skills required by the course.

Rhythm and Personalization

There is no doubt that one of the greatest challenges of traditional teaching is being able to meet the needs of each of the students. In a typical classroom, a teacher cannot pay the same attention to each student. Furthermore, a conventional classroom cannot satisfy every type of student, resulting in the failure of trying to make each student understand the course content effectively. Students differ in their pace and learning ability, and a classroom environment simply cannot establish a rhythm and teaching style that meets the needs of individual students. One positive thing about e-learning is that, when used optimally, it is capable of satisfying each of the individual rhythms and styles of the students.

Language and Content

The usual classroom environment uses mostly words and written content to convey information. The words and language used can be easily modified to fit the technicalities and content of the course, and the written material can contain only the important aspects of the topic, as it can be supplemented with talks and discussions by the teacher. By contrast, the written content of online teaching should be designed differently as online learners rely heavily on this material. Content written for online courses requires more detail and careful design, ensuring that each concept has the correct meaning, is clear and easy to understand.

We have to understand that online teaching and traditional teaching have the same goal, which is nothing more than to ensure effective learning. Finally, each method will be effective when used optimally and in line with the human learning process. Despite having a lot of similarities, there are a lot of differences between online learning and classroom learning. The biggest difference comes in the cost of education while eLearning is also providing effective education with the help of advanced tools and media.