Online Education Vs Online Learning

Although many universities argue online learning is more beneficial because of lower cost and time constraints, based on the student’s perspective, there is no comparison to in-class learning. The educational quality of online learning is not equal across all degrees or universities, and the face-to-face interactions between the students and teachers cannot be replaced by technology. The personal connection enhances what is learned because of the ability to ask questions and interact with peers who have different opinions. Certain universities recognize this and will not give out a full degree when classes are only taken online. Learning through a computer also means there is a significant loss of hands-on experience that could be applied to

Many people advertise online education as a more cost-effective alternative to attending a university. However, when examining the value of a degree and the education being received, online learning loses much of its appeal. Traditional education will remain superior because effective online learning is hard to establish, there is a lack of personal connection with teachers, and students typically learn less online. Online learning can be commonly defined as an alternative way to earn a degree from anywhere by completing the required coursework. The students sign up at a university and log in to classes at their convenience. The entire course can be completed from a computer. In contrast, in-class education involves working with peers and spending a set amount of time learning in a particular space. Being involved in a classroom environment changes how the student is able to learn because of the interactions between peers and

The enhanced ability to work with peers and instructors face-to-face puts education on a more personal level and gives more depth to the education. As Gupta and Lei state, with online learning, “… students often lose a number of key resources. For instance, instructors are not able to help students with impromptu questions; there is a delayed feedback from instructors. There is also a lack of direct assistance and explanation from instructors” (2010). When a student simply completes the assigned work, there is a loss of vital learning through interaction, such as collaborating on a presentation or building a project in a