Online or Classroom Study: Which Option is Best for You?
These days just about anything can be done online, including getting an education. You can complete courses and even full degrees from the comfort of your own living room.
Schools and Universities around the globe are recognising the myriad of learning styles that vary between individuals. With all of these options available it can be difficult to discern which mode of learning is best for you. This article will simplify the process. By describing the advantages and disadvantages of online learning and classroom study, we’ll help you decide which option is the right fit for you.
Online Study
If you’re looking into completing your education online, you need to consider the different benefits and costs this learning platform provides. We have compiled a list of five advantageous and disadvantageous aspects of online learning to help you decide if it suits you.
ADVANTAGES
No travel time
Forget the stress of waking up at 7am every morning to head into rush-hour traffic. Online education means you can plan your schedule around your day.
Convenient
One of the best things about being an online student is that you can open your laptop and begin class anywhere you want. Perhaps you have a full-time job or busy schedule, online classes mean your classroom is portable.
Variation of eLearning
Online study comes in many different forms. Some people like to interact with a live tutor, watch live classroom sessions or simply do personal study. This means you cant suit the learning environment to your own pace.
Higher information retention
Statistics have proved that eLearning courses have increased college students information retention rates by approximately 30% according to the Research Institute of New Zealand.
Personalised environment
Lastly, receiving an education online allows you to design a learning environment that will allow you to study optimally.
DISADVANTAGES
Remaining disciplined
One of the main disadvantages of online study is that you have to be extremely disciplined to put in the work. If you don’t have the self-motivation to study you won’t get anything done.
It can be lonely
Online study is a very personal mode of learning. Therefore, you could be missing out on forming real connections and friendships.
Greater workload
Online courses often require a greater amount of reading and assignments than classroom study. It is not uncommon for a single course to have a work schedule of between 15-20/wk.
Computer time increases
An online course is completed through your laptop which means your time spent sitting at a desk will increase dramatically. This can cause poor vision, strains and back problems.
Impersonal
Lastly, you don’t have the luxury of being face-to-face with an educator who can help answer your questions or solve problems. This can have a heavy impact on the learning ability for some individuals.
Classroom Study
Despite the rise of online learning, the traditional classroom setting is still a favourite for many students. But is it truly the most effective way to learn? The answer to that is different for everyone, so have a read through the pros and cons of classroom learning and see what resonates with you.
ADVANTAGES
Face to face instruction
Classroom study allows you to have direct social interaction with your teacher.
Friendships and networking
In a classroom environment, you have the opportunity to meet people that have similar interests and form deeper connections than online.
Asking questions
You can ask questions and receive instant answers or strategies to deal with problems to enhance your learning experience.
Relationships
Allows you to develop a personal relationship with the teacher so they can better evaluate your skills and weaknesses.
Sharing notes
Classroom study enables you to share notes and study techniques with other classmates which has been proven to lead to better results.
DISADVANTAGES
Travel
The early morning commute in rush hour traffic is part in parcel with traditional learning.
Limited flexibility
Each lesson will be on a strict time schedule meaning you don’t have the flexibility in your day.
Work at the class' speed
If you have trouble keeping up with the lessons or, on the other hand, are way ahead of the curve, you are limited by having to work at the speed of the classroom.
Less one-on-one time
With classroom study, you are one of about 30 students a teacher may have. This could mean less one-on-one interaction with your teacher than an online tutor.
Controlled environment
Lastly, the classroom environment may not be optimal for your learning and distractions could hinder your progress.
Ultimately, the decision is in your hands. The best way to figure out which way you prefer to learn is to give both classroom instruction and online learning a try. Only then will you truly be able to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of both for you personally.
But don’t forget, each mode of learning requires an equal amount of time, energy and commitment. Successful students in both classroom and e-learning respect and understand that in order to achieve their educational goals, they must be willing to work.
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