Introduction
Online classes are said to have emerged in 1982 but have gained momentum only in the past decade. The variety of courses offered by state and regionally recognized universities makes them reliable and accepted worldwide. The growth of this form of learning has been accredited to the quality of tutoring. Let us know ‘Traditional Vs Online Classes’.
Traditional Vs Online Classes
Education is something that gives you a sense of advancement and accomplishment in life. Knowledge can be imparted either conventionally or through the newly originated online format. Both these forms are effective in their ways. Traditional classes on one hand are beneficial for school and classroom teaching; online is usually preferred by working classes who aim to continue learning along with fulfilling their responsibilities.
Covid 19 has proved to be a boon for online platforms and educators as more people switched to “learning through the internet”. It enabled people to learn and develop new skills by utilizing their free time in the convenience and comfort of their homes. But it does not completely replace traditional classes and will never do.
Online learning has the following traits:
- Interactive features: these platforms offer elements like chapter quizzes, audio and video explanations of topics, meanings of technical words, and options to bookmark important pages and highlight certain sentences. These add-ons make learning engrossing.
- Offline accessibility: the content in some cases is also made available offline. There is a possibility of slow or no internet for some duration of time, so if the students can download it to be used later, it is advantageous for them.
- Device compatibility: the platforms are usually workable on all kinds of devices including android, IOS, and windows.
- Evaluation tests: quick diagnostic questions are provided after each unit to make the students analyze their learning. These can be in the form of MCQs, short-answer type questions, matching the columns, etc.
Traditional classes
These are the basic and regular forms of teaching and training that is being practiced for ages. It allows face-to-face interactions between the teacher and students in a proper classroom setup. There is a straightforward flow of ideas from the teacher which makes it easy for the students to understand the concept.
Here, students study under the guidance of expert teachers and observe their actions to learn from them. There forms a relationship of trust and understanding between the two. The teacher not just provides them with the syllabus knowledge but also guides them, motivates them, and helps them become a better human.
Online classes
Online teaching-learning is a newly accepted phenomenon where educators and students connect without the need of being present together at the same time and same place. It facilitates the transfer of skills and cognition between people residing in any part of the world. There are numerous short-term and long-term courses available for learners.
People can continually upgrade their knowledge to keep up pace with the ever-changing society. Online learning can be either through video conferencing, recorded videos, or content notes. This form of learning is more suitable for adults and professionals rather than for school children. There is no specific time for the classes to be conducted, giving it an edge over the physical classes.
Pros and cons of traditional learning: –
Pros-
- Development of interpersonal skills: since the learners in a classroom get to interact with the people around them, they learn the importance of teamwork and how to behave in a group in different situations. These interpersonal skills are one of the topmost qualities that every employer expects in employees nowadays.
- Scheduled and time-bound learning: here, teaching, learning, and evaluation all have to be performed within the specified duration, usually as per the curriculum. It makes the learners complete all their tasks, projects, assessments, and so on, on time without delaying things. It makes them punctual as well as efficient.
- More supervision: instructors can better observe the activities of students and guide them whenever necessary. It not only helps in identifying inaccuracies but also provides them with corrective measures at the right time. For instance, taking surprise tests or conducting small quizzes to assess their understanding.
- Enhancing communication skills: asking questions, conducting group discussions, and having role plays are some of the simplest activities that make classroom learning fun and engage students. It encourages them to speak up in class, making them better communicators, and reduces their fear of public speaking.
- Best in case of learning practical skills: lab experiments and projects may need to be done in subjects like physics, chemistry, and others which require people to be present there in person to perform them. Practical knowledge of using types of equipment or software can be gained only when performed manually.
Cons-
- Passive learning: learning is more unidirectional i.e. students are mere receivers of information, not providing any significant input from their end. Thus, it leads to monotony among students as they lack creativity and application of mind.
- Not economical: the number of expenses included to get a full-time education. These include tuition fees, examination fees, extra-curricular activities costs, etc. it becomes difficult for low-income families to provide quality education to their children.
- Lack of flexibility: there is a fixed time to attend classes which generally consumes most of the time of students and they have less time for other activities.
- Poor teacher-student ratio: generally there exist more students who can be effectively handled by one teacher. The ideal teacher-student ratio is 1:15, but in most schools, it is found higher than this.
Pros and cons of online learning: –
Pros-
- Convenience: the internet has made education reachable to one and all. People can study from anywhere and at any time.
- Self-paced learning: learners themselves decide the duration for completing a particular course. They study according to their daily routine and free available time.
- Suitable for working adults: there are no regular classes in online mode, so people can study along with their job. They can continue to learn and upgrade their skills and utilize their weekends.
- Low cost of education: The fee to be paid for such courses is minimal. Also, there is no cost of transportation and course material expenses involved. It can be easily afforded by all the classes.
- More technical skills: certain professions require some particular scientific or mechanical skills which are not taught in traditional classes. By acquiring these strengths, people can give a boost to their professional lives.
Cons-
- Lack of discipline: procrastination is a common human tendency. Students postpone their work unless they have pressure or a strict deadline to adhere to. In online learning, there are no such conditions.
- Hiked screen time: people spend more time on PCs and phones to study, which increases their already high screen time. This not only affects their eyes but also reduces their attention and concentration power.
- Technological issues: there may be connectivity issues in some cities or places. The problem of software incompatibility may also exist. These hamper the continuity of learning.
- Educators’ training: teachers are available but may not be technically and digitally sound. They require training to be able to take online lectures and use this platform to its full potential.
A quick comparison between Traditional Vs Online Classes:
| Basis | Traditional classes | Online classes |
|---|---|---|
| flexibility | Rigid in nature | More flexible |
| Type of learning | Students are passive learners | Students are active learners |
| Cost involved | costly | Comparatively economical |
| convenience | Less than online | Highly convenient |
| Life cycle | Generally suited for schoolchildren | Can be used in every stage of life |
| Feedback | Immediate feedback is possible | No or delayed feedback |
| Style of teaching | More use of traditional teaching methods | Use of innovative and creative methods |
Conclusion
As seen above, both education systems have their own set of positive and negative impacts. Traditional classes are being followed all over the world. It provides a common site where students from different backgrounds and value systems come together to learn. Online classes have emerged as a blessing for people who cannot devote hours to study in a formal setting but hopes to continue learning. It would be unjustified to mark one better than the other. Both are equally good and necessary for the development of mankind. Different factors play a crucial role in a person to decide to pursue either of the two.
Frequently asked questions
- Why face-to-face learning is better than online education?
When people study in conventional classes, they learn more by looking at the body language of the teachers, communicating and interacting with fellow students, and solving problems together, which does not happen in online mode.
- Has the pandemic contributed to an increase in web-based learning?
E-learning apps and MOOCs have already been quite popular among the youth. The pandemic has given a boost to these platforms because people could pursue something of value in their idle time.
- Can online learning completely replace traditional classes?
About 70% of educators believe that online education is equally good as traditional. But school learning cannot completely vanish because it is an important part of every childhood and will continue to do so.
- Can blended learning bridge the gap between the two?
Since both these forms offer some benefits, if combined, they will result in synergy. So yes, if education is possible in the blended mode where students can take advantage of both these forms, it would be remarkable progress.
