The twenty-first century the exponential increase in technology has allowed people to have unprecedented access to seemingly limitless information unlike any other time in human history. Today people from all corners of the globe now have the ability to harness a vast sea of resources at their very fingertips. One of the byproducts of the technological revolution has been the dramatic increase in online, or distance learning, from perspective students looking for a more flexible option to pursue higher education. And although online learning does present a tremendous opportunity for students who may not otherwise
With technology continuously dominating society, it is with no surprise that students are using technology to earn their degree online. An increasing number of colleges and universities are offering degrees that can be earned entirely online. One study (http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED541571.pdf)page 17 indicated a total enrollment of 16,611,710 students in the Fall of 2002 and increasing to 20,994,113 in Fall 2011, with the trend in online enrollment continuing to rise.
“The rate at which enrollments for online classes and education programs is expanding much faster in both the developed and developing worlds than at traditional universities,” claims Reed Karaim. He also states that “Online courses offer the benefits of greater convenience and also a lower total cost. (Karaim, “Expanding Higher Education”). With more online courses being offered on sites such as Udemy and Lynda as well as top universities such as Harvard and MIT, there is less incentive for students to seek education from universities
For a while now, a certain method of teaching has become popular in many colleges across the nation: online education. Online education is learning with the assistance of the Internet and a personal computer in place of attending a classroom with other students. Many online classes offer students the opportunity to learn while not having to leave the comfort of their home. Colleges in America are offering more and more courses online as an alternative to the traditional way of learning in a classroom. However, many disagree with the notion of providing online classes to students.
What are the dissimilarities between traditional classes and online classes? Innumerable people might recall this debate in their head. Although traditional education and online education have the same goal, they are still divergent. Traditional education requires the student’s presence in class, unlike the online classes that is defined as an education process between instructors and their students in independent locating. Most of the students choose to sign up for online classes because of its flexibility. The majority considering taking regular classes in universities is more than the one taking online classes for many reasons. The main differences between traditional classes and online classes are interaction between students and instructors, the equipment that are used, the cost, and the flexibility for both instructors and peers.
...nditions. Students taking online classes might find it easier to attend family gatherings, traveling, and attended to personal needs. An online class allows the students to work on their own time, to whereas the traditional classes they have to stick with a schedule.
With online education, the instructor delivers the content, but students must take greater initiative to access, learn, and understand the material. In addition, students have to actively seek help. Online students may lack the motivation to learn independently. Students, especially those new to higher education, may become easily discouraged when faced with particular academic challenges and drop out. Online education makes it harder to maximize student learning outcomes because the resources that foster learning in face-to-face environments are substantially diminished. In other words, online instruction may not provide sufficient student support. In face-to-face classes, students have their classmates, learning centers on campus, professors ' office hours, tutors, and teaching assistants to support and help them with their various learning needs. These resources guide them, clarify and reinforce the material, and allow them to succeed in their
Some students within society need to have online learning to complete college degrees due to their lifestyles. While it
Many people think online education can be more expensive than a traditional school setting. Previous generations did not have the option for online learning experience, so why should we start now? An interesting point about online education is that LeBaron (2010) states, “The largest school in the U.S. is the University of Phoenix Online, with a whopping 380,232 students. That’s over 5x more than the largest public school, Arizona State University, which has 68,064 students” (para. 7). Despite the cost effectiveness, distance education is becoming the educational model of the future.
Is online education a valuable innovation that improves opportunities for students or is it a poor substitute for traditional, classroom-based teaching? It has long been recognized that students and educators need to use a variety of tools in order to keep up with the skills that are needed in the contemporary world. Online education is becoming popular, but some people raise questions about its effectiveness in comparison to traditional learning. While teachers will always be involved in the education process, there is room also to consider new ways in which teachers, students and technology can work together. Technology is here to stay, and everyone in an industrialized society needs to learn how to make the best use of it. This paper argues that online classes have numerous advantages over traditional classroom learning such as the following: the internet offers faster feedback, more flexibility, convenience, and the opportunity to learn at one’s own pace.
Many students have difficulty choosing an institution to attend. Technology has brought many new ways to earn a degree, which is convenient for many people in modern society. Many students might argue whether online or traditional education is more suitable. Regardless, if a student decides to attend a traditional college or decides to attend online, they are both trying to obtain the same goal; an education. Although traditional education and online education have their own advantages, traditional education offers better communication, opportunities, and flexibility.
Many students say online courses are convenient. Online courses allow students to plan according to their schedule, and the time and location that best works for them. Although online education may seem more “easier,” students should look at the cons of online education. In the feature article "Face-Face or Online Instruction? Face-Face is Better," the author, Arleen R. Bejerano, claims online courses take the students away from the college community and confines them to their home. The students no longer have interaction with the college community, which may cause them to miss out on some important opportunities. This may affect their possibility of succeeding to achieve a degree. The author suggests some students may become discouraged from learning independently, from facing challenges in academics, and fall behind or
Online learning, also known as distance learning or online learning, has become a new and successful means of receiving an education in a highly technologically enhanced environment (Regan, Evmenova, Baker, Jerome, Spencer, Lawson, & Werner, 2012). Kaymak and Horzum (2013) defined online learning as using Internet technology to gain knowledge and skills through the use of synchronous and asynchronous learning tools. Allen and Seaman (2013) stated that about 6.7 million students attending colleges and universities across the United States were successfully enrolled in at least one online course in 2011. There is an increased interest in online learning that continues to grow as a result of the amplified demands from the work place and the escalating availability of nontraditional educational options and providers (Allen & Seaman, 2008).
Today’s generation is like no other. The nation as a whole has completely evolved from past times, with technology being one of the greatest improvements. Traditionally, schooling takes place in a classroom setting, but, with the many modifications in our world’s system, we are able to assimilate more modern means of education, such as online learning. However, with many changes comes differences and requires adjustments. The online learning system has proven to be just as effective as traditional learning, with some minor differences, however, nothing of great significance. A few of those insignificant differences include online learning being convenient, especially for the non-traditional students,
On-Line Learning originated in the 1800’s for academic possibilities to possibly reach people. When online learning was established it was in the form of conformity courses. With the use of television and radio, distance learning grew from 1920 to 1970. The future is currently unfenced for online education now that technology is less expensive and more cordial than it was some 10 years ago. There are many reason people take online courses. The demand for a job with good benefits is scarce in today’s society. Many organizations do not allow their employees to be excused from work to attend school. It is something the employee must do on his or her own time. It is almost impossible for you to get hired on a job without a degree of some form. Some may have a difficult time being away from their families; therefore online learning would be a great asset for those who would rather spend time with family.