These days, online courses/training have become extremely popular, as more and more institutes and companies are offering courses online. However, despite the popularity of online education, vast groups of people consciously stay away from such methods, mostly due to misconception. At the same time, despite the rising popularity of online courses, traditional (classroom) training is fighting back and trying to adopt newer means of retaining learners’ interest. There are always two sides of a coin. For some individuals, online training is more appropriate, while for others classroom training is the preferred delivery method. In addition, evaluation needs to take in consideration the particularities of online teaching and traditional teaching, to the purpose of identifying in an accurate manner the level of students’ performance.
The era of online education means that your ability to obtain higher education is just a mouse click away. Online education is one of the best options for those who want to get a degree and work at the same time. Within the past ten years, online education and internet training has provided many people with a new incentive to learn.
Online education saves time, money, and offers new opportunities to those who may have never had it in the past. It may truly be the wave of the future. Helping students to succeed in both education and career aspirations, online education is fast becoming a convenient, but credible educational tool of the modern era. Online education usually provides an opportunity for lecturers and students to interact with one another through an online portal or video conferencing software. With the use of such online meeting software as Talks Meetings, it is easier to hold or attend classes online from anywhere at any time. The platform not only allows students to enjoy live streaming of full HD and crystal clear audio classes, but also gives them the opportunity to attend lessons with minimal distractions. Teachers can also take advantage of screen sharing feature to easily begin their lessons by using the software.
When it comes to discipline and motivation, traditional education does have an advantage in the eyes of many. The structured schedule of attending class a handful of times per week and having routine face-to-face interactions with instructors can help keep students on task. Students in traditional, on-campus settings have more opportunities to be reminded of upcoming assignments, which can help if you tend to get involved in large, time-consuming assignments.
Despite technological advances, traditional education is still the better option for those who thrive on face-to-face communication. Seeing and interacting with your instructors on a regular basis can be motivating for some — it is a little easier to go the extra mile if you know your instructor is likeable and invested in your education. Traditionally, in-class settings may also offer more opportunities for spur-of-the-moment questioning or interesting tangents that may help a concept “click” in the minds of students.
Attending a physical class not only allows students to have a one-on-one experience with the teacher, but also exposes them to practical skills that can be beneficial to their future career. In essence, each of these learning options comes with its fair share of challenges. It is all about finding an option that works best for your education needs. The traditional brick-and-mortar college or school is a great option for those looking for face-to-face communication. It makes it possible for students to have direct engagements with instructors and students. With this mode of learning, students are capable of having detailed discussions, asking lots of questions and covering many concepts in one topic. That will, in the long run, improve student performance and competence in the field of specialization.
Students who are not in a position to attend classes in person can, through the benefit of online classes, improve the quality of their education and even earn a degree. Students who live far from any institute of higher education, who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to go to college, can attend a college online and expose themselves to an entirely different world. In either situation, evaluation is an essential component of the teaching process.
To conclude, both online and traditional educational institutions offer their own unique advantages. They equally come with their own set of challenges and evaluation techniques. This means that any student wishing to enroll for any degree program must weigh between online vs traditional education benefits. A student can look at it from the perspective of flexibility, affordability, practicality and discipline of taking classes. It is upon the student to decide which education system, between online and traditional, is worth choosing. It is all about getting practical skills on a given field of career or expertise. The online system of education can work better for some students, while for others the traditional on-campus education is the best for pursuing degree course.
BUȘU ADRIAN-FLORIN CAROL I NATIONAL COLLEGE, CRAIOVA
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