What to Choose: Online Classes vs Traditional Classes
Originally published at Online Classes vs Traditional Classes
Online learning is growing at a high speed. The reason is that today people are busy to hurry from this training center to that. They prefer to take part in online classes, learn from online video courses, and make use of other benefits e-learning offers. If you want to find out which classes are more required and effective, then you are in the right place. This article covers the comparison of online classes vs traditional classes. Firstly, let’s discuss each industry separately, then pass on the comparative analysis.
Everything about Online Classes
These days we may speak much about online education as it is a fastly growing industry that covers more and more features every day. Let’s pass on the pros and cons of online classes.
Pros
1. Online Teaching is Time-consuming
Online education saves time both for teachers and students. You save the time you have to spend on the way. Instead, you organize the classes from wherever you like. For instance, there is no need to go out of the home. The same benefit is available for the learners as well. They may take part in the classes, even during the break at the workplace.
Online video courses are even better. The trainer record videos once and publishes them on online platforms. It’s better to present and sell it on a personal educational platform. Once the courses are available, the learners buy them and start learning whenever they have the appropriate time.
2. There are no Distance Limitations
Online education breaks all the bearers related to geographical location. The teacher doesn’t have to be in a specific classroom to start the lesson. And neither do the students. As the lesson is organized and held through digital devices connected to the internet, the participants may join from whatever part of the world they are in.
Students may take part in the lessons without leaving the home. They do not even have to be in a specific location, city, and even country. In this case, the learning platform becomes an educational institution.
3. Availability for a Huge Audience
Availability increases the number of potential learners.
Thanks to online education, your teaching material is available at any time and in any location. Worldwide accessibility increases the number of potential learners. Users buy courses online and learn whenever and wherever they like. Literally, they “attend” your classes and complete courses from everywhere.
The flexibility online education offers is the key factor in gaining a huge audience. This type of teaching is also beneficial for people for whom online education is like a second work that provides additional income.
4. Comfort
Online classes are always in the pocket. Both teachers and learners complete educational tasks from their comfort zone, as they may learn a new profession, lying in bed in pajamas.
This is also comfortable for people with disabilities. A person may have a piece of great knowledge and experience in marketing but they cannot leave the home and participate in classes because of having walking problems. On the other hand, students with disabilities may also take part in online classes. This will be another advantage to include such people.
5. Accessibility
Once recorded classes or published video courses become accessible for the learners who take part in them. Even if a student doesn’t understand any topic or point, they may rewatch the recorded video as much as they want. This helps education providers save time. They don’t have to repeat and explain the same topic again and again for different and even the same students.
Surely, this kind of valuable material isn’t available to everybody. The courses are always accessible for the user who has already bought them. And the live class records are available for the learners who have taken part in them. These days, nothing valuable is free. Surely, you may offer some pieces to engage new people and gain new students․
Cons
1. Little or No Face-to-face Communication
One disadvantage I may mention about online teaching is the lack of face-to-face communication. Therefore, today we get used to it. The students don’t need anybody to sit in front of them and check their mistakes. Everything is done through online channels.
This may be a disadvantage for people who use to organize traditional pieces of training and classes. They won’t feel comfortable in front of the screens. However, once they get the advantages and learn about student preferences, everything becomes clear and easy.
2. Requirement for Self-direction
Some learners need to have an advisor or trainer to guide them and plan a path in the learning process. However, this isn’t a problem in every situation. Most of all, it is required for children who have just started to attend school or college. And if you decide on offering online teaching services, then you have a clear image of the target audience and they aren’t beginners at school. Accordingly, you realize your vision of the teaching process and structure the courses and lessons logically.
A mature learner will easily get the right direction through every course. They don’t need somebody’s guidance in order to go in the right direction and avoid failure. I think, your target students have a sense of self-discipline.
3. Not All Majors are Possible to Teach Online
Some professions are very difficult to learn online, such as agriculture, nursing, music, or theatre. The learners need to have access to laboratories or be in a studio with the master. However, this approach is going to be updated. Today there are so many technological innovations that are going to change the opinions and break the stereotypes.
It is possible to do something following some videos. So why it isn’t possible to learn it and use it in everyday life.
Everything about Traditional Classes
Although the world is going digital and the educational industry is one of the most available in this trend, many people still prefer traditional classes over online ones. Now we’ll discuss the point from the perspective of traditional classes.
Pros
1. Social Interaction
People, who use to work at schools and training centers, find it very important to keep social interaction with the students regularly. This is a must needed action to be present in a classroom and follow how attentive the students listen to, learn, and take part in the lesson.
However, along with time, the educational process becomes more and more independent. It requires self-discipline. And if the learner really has that desire to get educated, they don’t need somebody to follow every step they make.
2. Immediate Answers
When the teacher and students take part in a class in a traditional classroom, the process passes more smoothly. In case the students have any questions, they ask and get answers at the very moment.
Some traditional tutors think this isn’t possible to realize during the online class as a teacher isn’t able to pay attention to all the students on the other side of the screen. This may be an advantage for some teachers. However, those students who prefer free and independent learning, don’t see a need for the constant following.
3. Access to Real Life Libraries
In the daily learning process, we need to have access to different libraries to have specific books and all the educational material to make research. This was especially required years ago when I was a student. Today the image is different. Students do not have to go to libraries and face long lines to get their required book or even miss the chance.
Online teaching solves this problem as well. The teacher provides the educational material in digital form and all the students get access to it.
Cons
1. Inconsistence
Usually, traditional schools have some rules and curriculum to follow. However, all of this differs depending on culture, belief, and traditions accepted in that specific location.
Sometimes, these rules become limits and the learner seems to be in a prison. It may prevent the growth of creativity and critical thinking. When the learners have to learn something they don’t need, they start to lose interest in learning and find other interests.
All the students need is to learn “how to think” and not “what to think”. Limitations make people believe in stereotypes and follow the natural flow. Yet, it is the out of the box thinking that gives birth to the real talents.
2. Discrimination
Traditional teaching follows some approaches to discrimination. These students who are the best in a class are praised and get all the attention. While those who have a little less education but tend to gain more, are left behind.
Such an approach is based on favoritism towards the learners. Teachers tend to get their favorite students and organize the lesson across them. If we go deeper into the issue, we may also come across racism, sexism, or any other type of discrimination.
3. Shortage in Educational Material and Availability
Although some people think traditional education is more beneficial as students may visit libraries and get whatever book or resource they need, this isn’t such an easy process. Learners may waste time running from this library to that and find out that all the books are already taken.
This is a disadvantage that prevents many learners from achieving their goals. They may even have to spend money on buying or copying required books. Such an approach doesn’t happen during the online teaching process. All the material is available in digital format and every student gets access. They may check it out whenever and wherever they like.
To Sum Up
Both online and traditional classes have their advantages and disadvantages. It’s up to us to choose this or that one, taking into account the specific requirements we have and need to meet. In any case, we should also consider the current trends in the market.
In this case, as an education provider, you should focus on online teaching. It is what the learners need and what is fastly growing in the market. The digital industry covers many aspects of human life. Teaching is a process that is possible to fully implement in digital. This is the future of education.
If you need to start your online teaching platform today and want some pieces of advice, then schedule a free consultation or get familiar with the platform Uteach offers.
