Online Learning Vs. Traditional Learning
With high-speed internet now available to students of all economic levels, universities
have made it possible to students to have different options to earn a degree. Students have a
choice between attending online classes or traditional classroom classes, whichever option is
most suitable to their lifestyle. Earning a degree can benefit a person to gain a better career
choice, or to enhance their current knowledge. Overcoming the demands of life situations, and to
be focusing on education can become difficult for some. Going to college for the first time or
even ones that are a returning student can be overwhelmed when it comes to choosing classes.
Each student will have to make a decision for themselves. There is no wrong choice when
making the decision between the two. When a student is evaluating the classes with one another,
there are factors to take into consideration, such as the comparison of the advantages and
disadvantages of each class, whether it be online or in a traditional classroom setting.
A critical advantage of taking online classes is the fact that an individual can complete
their course or full degree in the comfort of their own home. According to Online Schools
Center, “Out of 20.2 million total college university students in America, almost 5.8 million of
them, close to 30%, are enrolled in some form of distance education” (“25 Surprising or”). This
number has increased within the past few years since the research had been conducted and
continues to increase. With distance education, students are able to move faster through their
studies, being able to shorten the length of sessions to 5, 8, or 10 weeks instead of the traditional
16-week session in traditional classroom settings (“How Long Does it Take”). This can help
those that are already in a place of work and are wanting to continue their studies in order to earn
a higher degree, enhancing their career opportunities in their jobs and increasing their
qualifications. It is also helpful for individuals who are wanting to start their career in a shorter
amount of time. Many people may think that online college is for people who do not have the
desire to learning, but a recent study has found that “on average, students in online learning
conditions performed modestly better than those receiving face-to–face instruction” (“25
Surprising or”). It has also been found that online learning has been extremely beneficial to
students who have a disability and that undergraduate students with disabilities are more likely to
enroll in distance education. “26% of all undergraduates who enroll in distance education have
some form of mobility impairment, and 21% of all undergraduates enrolled in distance education
have a form of sensory impairment” (“25 Surprising or”). With online courses, students with
disabilities are able to earn their degree at their own pace and in a quiet environment instead of
being in a crowded classroom with other students.
