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compare and contrast online classes and traditional classes
traditional education vs. online education
impacts of technological advancement on education
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In today’s fast paced world of technology, the standard college classroom is branching out from large classrooms and professors, to online courses where a student can earn a degree from the comfort of their home. Advancements in technology have provided schools the ability to teach students the same course content provided to students in the classroom. Some students, such as me, lead very busy lives, and the idea of sitting in a classroom is out of reach when you must also work a full time job and care for a family. While moving my education to an online setting was a difficult transition, the availability of these courses had a profound effect on my education: allowing me to earn my Associates Degree on my time, in any place that had an internet connection, and using the learning style that best worked for me. In 2010, I decided that returning to school to earn a degree was my only choice if I ever wanted to advance my life beyond the meaningless job I was working, to a full time career where I could be happy and provide a good life for my family. My options at the time were limited by the fact that I still needed to work full time to provide for my family. This left me with the option of part time nightly classes in a classroom setting, or enrolling in an online school. I had heard many stories about others who had attended online classes and were either unable to complete the courses, or felt that they had not really learned what was needed in order to succeed in their careers. I discovered, through research of comments by previous users, and through discussing online courses with school counselors that online classes are what you make of them. If I attempted to simply pass the courses and only learn what was needed in order to... ... middle of paper ... ...classroom all of my notes are already in a central location and sorted by class with easy search functions. I managed to complete my Associates Degree in a year and a half, and after completion took time to reflect on my online studies and how they impacted the rest of my life. I was now an entry level candidate for a career level job, and after getting over my initial fears and the stigma that follows online universities, I realized that the online classes not only supplied me with the knowledge needed for my career, but also shaped the way I would study in the future. Even now, as I am returning to school to continue my education, I no longer hold the same fears about online learning that I once did. Instead, I am excited to put what I learned in my first online course to work again as I move through my Bachelor’s Degree program with Western Governors University.
Over the years, these nontraditionals have chosen either slower or faster options to proceed through their chosen curricula. They could work incrementally, taking a few courses per year while taking advantage of workplace tuition reimbursement programs or similar specialized programs to fund their college education. Recently, online education has allowed accelerated progress toward earning degrees. Traditional institutions developed these formats to serve working adults, and the emergence of nontraditional institutions such as the University of Phoenix delivered accelerated education in a variety of flexible formats such as asynchronous learning.
As online learning continues to boost in popularity, more institutions of higher learning are focusing on a common occurrence practiced among universities and colleges offering online courses (Street, n. d.). There is significant growth in the online market because students working full time are the fastest growing part of the learner population and they bring commercial tuition dollars with them. It is estimated that five of six online students have some type of employment and would not be able to attend customary face-to-face classes (Thomas, 2001). The quantity of universities offering online education courses and the amount of students registering for online courses are on the rise.
One of the major advantages of an online degree program is the flexibility it provides to someone working a demanding job, living geographically removed from a college campus, or that simply finds it most convenient for a host of other reasons. These challenges of the modern workforce have in fact been the big driver behind the exponential rise in online degree programs over the past decade. Furthermore, the flexibility provided by an online degree program enables tailoring a program matched to personal learning style and pace.
Although I did not realize it at the time, 1999 was the year that changed my career trajectory for the better. That was the year I was introduced to online instruction at my university, and it has been quite a ride ever since. It was a time when online education was being first offered. Course selection was quite limited, partially due to a general skepticism especially prevalent among faculty questioning the academic rigor of online classes. While it was not my intent to learn more about online instruction, I happened by chance to observe a training workshop for new online instructors. My interest was piqued. Thus, it was just a matter of time before I took the plunge into online education. The level of
When I was fired from my job in February, 2015, it was then that I decided to go to college. I never thought I could, that I would be able to pass my classes, especially college algebra. Being my first semester I thought it would be for the best that I take traditional college classes on campus. I’m sure, throughout the duration of my degree, I will at some point take an online class or two. Because NPC is a 2 year school, most everyone will have to take a few online courses. 91% of all 2 year colleges offer online courses. In comparison, online and traditional courses both have similarities and differences in flexibility, discipline, and social interaction.
The spring 2015 semester at Mount Wachusett Community College was my first attempt at higher education and all four of my classes ended up being online. Initially, only three of my classes were web-based, but being without a vehicle and facing winter weather, I dropped a class in Leominster and picked it up again as a cycle two course. I had not realized that this would be my only option. Had I spoken with an advisor, I may have been able to get into an already established class and catch up. Perhaps not, but the cycle two class didn’t turn out to be as difficult as I’d anticipated. Overall, I have to say that online learning was a good choice for me.
Getting your education is a very important thing to do in your lifetime, and there are many ways to do so. The two most common ways of getting your degree, whether it be a high school diploma or a college degree, are online courses and traditional courses, which is face to face, classroom classes. According to the results of a new national research study (Karambelas 1), 78% of more than 1000 students surveyed still believe that it is easier to learn in a classroom, in other words taking traditional courses. So, when taking online courses rather than traditional courses, you should compare and contrast keeping up with your work, making sure you have a stable place to do your work, and managing your time precisely.
There are so many students in college and high school that believe there are all of these myths about an online course so they will take the course and believe the wrong statements or they will not take the course because they believe statements that are untrue. According to a recent study, 5.3 million students in the United States took an online course in the fall of 2013. Although that number is growing, there are still many students that believe the wrong information which keeps myths abundant. A common myth that is believed is that an online course is easier than an on campus traditional course. This is very untrue because in reality, online courses take much more time management. There are other assignments due in other classes so a student will have to find a time to do those as well as the online assignments. (Williams, 2015) Many students also believe that they can take as much time and they want on online assignments.
There is good reason for the growth in online learning in college environments. Student populations have diversified since the introduction of the personal computer and internet (O’Malley and McCraw). Students with geographic, job, or other constraints are now able to benefit from a college education because advances in technology have enabled learning for those for whom higher education was previously not within the realm of possibility.
When it comes to online learning, students are taking risk to complete degree requirements online without being on the college/university campus. Some challenges online students faces which impact
If so many people pursue a college education in hopes of entering the professional workforce upon graduation why, instead, do we have so many college graduates working in non-college jobs where more than 50% of their peers do not even have degrees? The answer may be that graduates simply lack the skills to compete with the seasoned and more experienced members of their respective fields. This mismatch, in the skills college students have upon leaving graduation and the skills need in the professional workforce, detrimentally undermines the value of a college education. However, there is hope for our long-lived system of higher education in a newer and yet unconventional form of education. Education via the internet has been utilized as a quick and easy means of learning new skills in the past decade. From “how-to-make-a-tie” videos to videos explaining those irksome math problems from freshman Algebra, people have looked online to step in where their available skills fall short. And yet, despite the success of online education, the question remains whether or not the internet is a credible means of education. In spite of the stigma placed online education, there is a vested interested in establishing a standard of credibility within this educational pathway. Specifically, by establishing a standard of credibility within online education, higher education can, once again, complement the skills sought after in the professional workforce.
My journey in the Masters of Distance Education Teaching and Training program began summer of 2009 when I completed the Webtycho introductory course to become familiar with the online course management structure, a course that is mandatory for all new online learners. Although I completed the orientation twice before I decided on a major, I liked the convenience of learning from home, and the opportunity to complete an introductory course to prepare me for the learning infrastructure. This mode of learning presented avenues of convenience and flexibility allowing me to obtain my education, and not have to leave home or my children to attend college.
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,
When students are deciding on where to go to college at they have the option of choosing between online classes and the traditional classroom classes. Today some students are finding it much easier to maintain a job, family and start a college career all by taking online classes. Although some students still prefer to stick with the traditional classroom classes, they still have the option to take online classes. Both online and the traditional classes will provide the educational requirements needed to obtain a college degree and opportunities in the work field.
In the undergraduate educational setting, student proficiency and comfort with technology are stressed, but the essential mission of most undergraduate institutions (especially, liberal arts institutions such as Dartmouth) is on the development of the individual. The nurturing and supportive environment of most undergraduate institutions helps students mature and develop. The rave and fad of online undergraduate learning causes students to miss out on too many intangibles of an on-campus education. Our current theory on education hasn’t adequately dealt with the intricacies of a web-based education, and therefore the effectiveness of such is highly questionable.