Online Education vs. Traditional Learning
Online education, also known as distance learning, is a form of online learning that encourages students to be learned without physically attending courses. Distance learning is convenient for students who have a busy life and don't have time to attend school, or who live a long distance away from the learning institution. Distance schooling is also advantageous for students who work full-time and have significant family commitments. Traditional schooling, on the other hand, is a style of education that takes place in formal classrooms and allows students to physically attend class lessons. Traditional education is the most common form of learning, but the advent of technology and the internet have made distance learning more popular in recent years. The current popularity of online education can also be attributed to the flexibility and convenience it offers (Li & Irby, 2008). This paper is going to argue for traditional learning by outlining its benefits over distance learning.
Benefits of Traditional Learning
Traditional learning programs provide more quality education than distance learning. Traditional programs utilize established, tried and tested techniques of equipping students with the required knowledge and skills. Through traditional education, learners meet in classrooms, libraries, and laboratories. As such, students interact with each other and their instructors. Even though technology has enhanced the availability of distance education, there is still value in the traditional format of learning. Meeting in classrooms, coffee and lunch breaks, and other forums provide the opportunity to share and learn more. Aside from just learning, classes and other school events provide a chance of networking and socializing (Rovai & Jordan, 2004).
Benefits for Younger Students
The traditional format of education is more beneficial to the younger generation of learners who apparently require more guidance from the teaching personnel. It is also more convenient for students with no access to computers. For older students who appear to be less tech-savvy than the younger learners, a traditional form of education is a good fit for them. There are other experiences in schools and campuses like sporting events and concerts that make traditional education more enjoyable.
Hands-on Training and Discipline
Traditional education provides a better learning environment for programs or courses that require hands-on training like engineering, medicine, and nursing. The traditional form of education imparts more discipline in students than distance learning. Discipline means the student's ability to complete assignments and other tasks on time. Students also get support from the instructors in instances where they have a problem doing their assignments. Compared to distance education, traditional education provides more exposure to students through interactions and learning facilities. It teaches students the spirit of teamwork and nurtures the leadership quality of students. The teamwork spirit and leadership are taught through student study groups. Teamwork enhances the confidence and the skills of students and prepares them for professional life. Traditional learning ensures that federal and state education standards are met. Traditional schools also get funding from state and federal governments, thus providing quality education to students (Rovai & Jordan, 2004).
The Value of Traditional Education
Alternatives to traditional education are now many, and students are eager to explore different options. However, the traditional form of education is more familiar and guarantees quality education. A classroom provides face-to-face communication with teachers and interaction with fellow students, therefore enhancing the social and communication skills of the students.
Conclusion
Though critics have raised different concerns about the traditional format of education like cost and convenience, it is still by far the most reliable form of education in the market. It is an efficiently structured type of education with a well-developed curriculum, ensuring that students get equipped with the necessary skills for employment.
References
Li, C. S., & Irby, B. (2008). An overview of online education: Attractiveness, benefits, challenges, concerns and recommendations. College Student Journal, 42(2), 449.
Rovai, A. P., & Jordan, H. (2004). Blended learning and sense of community: A comparative analysis with traditional and fully online graduate courses. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 5(2).
