Online Education

Heta K. Sheth

PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident

MedStar Union Memorial Hospital

“A high quality degree earned in an online format should not fundamentally differ from a campus-based degree ... The only significant difference should be the way that the classes are delivered.”
- Robert Monroe, Director of the Online Hybrid MBA, Tepper School of Business

Online education is the newest and most popular form of distance education today. It is a type of educational instruction that is delivered via the internet to students using their home computers. Within the past decade it has had a major impact on postsecondary education and the trend is only increasing. Online degrees and courses have become popular alternative for a wide range of nontraditional students, including those who want to continue working full-time or raising families. In fact, nearly 5.8 million people are enrolled in online college courses, with 28% of all college students enrolling in at least one online course. It is often referred to as “elearning” among other terms. However, online learning is just one type of “distance learning” - the umbrella term for any learning that takes place across distance and not in a traditional classroom. Online education is catalyzing a pedagogical shift in how we teach and learn. There is a shift away from top-down lecturing and passive students to a more interactive, collaborative approach in which students and instructor co-create the learning process. The Instructor’s role is changing from the “sage on the stage” to “the guide on the side.”

In fact, online and distance learning has steadily grown in popularity among college students, but does that mean it’s a good choice for everyone? In order to answer that question, let’s take some time to compare and contrast traditional versus online education.

Online Education: Pros and Cons

One of the advantages of online education is flexible scheduling. Most online courses provide more flexibility than traditional on-campus classes. This means that a student can complete their coursework, chose when to study and ultimately complete degree while balancing work and family responsibilities, rather than needing to attend a 9:00 am class every week, as long as you submit your work by the deadlines given. Moreover, a large number of colleges and universities now offer shorter semesters. Instead of having to attend classes for 16 weeks, students can enroll in 8-week online courses and spend half the time earning all credits in that subject. Online courses start every month or every other month giving students the opportunity to start classes now instead of waiting until the beginning of the traditional fall or spring semester. Furthermore, with online classes, students have the ability to study on the fly. A learner can fit studying in throughout the day. Students can log on to the message boards while eating breakfast, listen to a lecture on the drive to work, read a few chapters during lunch hour, or take a practice test while preparing dinner. Studies show that learning in shorter bursts is actually better than long study sessions because it promotes retention and genuine understanding. Because online courses allow students to login from anywhere, they can enjoy the convenience of getting to live where they want to or need to, and even travel while studying. Through online learning, a student can have an easy access to courses or programs at a college which is thousands of miles away without the inconvenience of needing to uproot your entire life. In addition to this, another advantage of online schooling is affordability. Not all online degrees are more affordable than traditional or community college rates, but some are. Enrolling in an online degree program ensures students don’t have to spend money on gas, parking or child care. Last but not the least, online learning offers technology benefits. Taking classes online and becoming familiar with modern technology will help students to succeed in their career.

One of the disadvantages of online education is lack of face-to-face interaction. Online learning can’t adequately replicate the relationship and human experience that develops in a face-to-face learning environment. When a professor is physically in front of students, they can read his or her body language, mannerisms, gestures, tone, volume and so on. These things help to interpret and recall the information being presented. Students are also able to engage in natural, spontaneous conversations with classmates that can enrich the learning experience. Moreover, with online education, there is an increased personal responsibility. You’re on your own! No one is going to remind when an assignment is due, which classes one must take next, or when to fill out financial aid application. And it will be up to the student when to log in to class message boards or do the assigned reading. To juggle it all, a learner will need to be organized and manage time efficiently. Smart phone apps can be helpful tools to help keep you on track! Another disadvantage of distant learning is networking challenges. On campus, students are surrounded by professionals, can introduce themselves to and chat with professors (even if they are not in their class), faculty, fellow students, guest lecturers and can get involved in on-campus professional organizations that can connect them with real-life professionals. Those face-to-face meetings, no matter how brief, can leave an impression and may eventually lead to a job offer. Online students don’t have the same opportunities to make connections, but they don’t have to miss out on networking entirely. In addition to this, online education requires self-direction. As an online learner, a student must be able and willing to self-direct his/her own educational journey. This means taking full control. Students must determine their course load and the pace they will work at, what their educational goals are and how to handle setbacks. They will need to take the initiative to connect with advisors, professors and classmates to ensure that expectations are met. As an on-campus student, there are reminders and safeguards to help keep students on track, but as an online learner, a student will need to be in charge of his/her own education. 2

Traditional Education: Pros and Cons

One of the advantages of traditional education is networking opportunities. Students meet more people face-to-face while attending a traditional university. As a result, their contacts grow and networking opportunities increase. Moreover, traditional schooling gives students opportunities to experience new places. This holds greater significance for out-of-state students who are not familiar with their university’s town. For some students, experiencing a different part of the country (or the world) is a valuable part of going to school that assists in areas of maturity, diversity and social opportunity. Furthermore, students who enroll in a traditional university have the opportunity to take advantage of the institution’s many facilities, including the student union, gym, and athletic stadium.

One of the disadvantages of traditional schooling is students have to follow strict scheduling. Sometimes enrolling in a specific course at a traditional university can present scheduling challenges, particularly for non-traditional students. If a desired course is only offered during the day, it’s difficult for working adults to set aside their full-time job just to sign up. Another disadvantage of traditional university is affordability. Cost will vary, but admission into a traditional university, especially if it’s out of state, won’t come cheap. Moreover, students sometimes get limited personal attention in traditional schooling. This is particularly true in bigger state universities, where lecture halls packed to the brim with 400-500 students is commonplace. One-on-one instruction doesn’t exist as much in these types of settings.3

Overall Results and Preferences

While some studies show online students slightly outperforming their traditional classroom counterparts, most indicate that there is little difference in overall performance between the two formats, according to the American Sociology Association. However, one major difference is that student-learning style plays a role in each format's success. Students who are highly self-directed, organized and autonomous will likely thrive in an online environment, while those who tend to rely on instructors for direction may struggle. Similarly, extroverted students who enjoy face-to-face classroom interactions may do best in a traditional environment, while introverted students may welcome the solitary qualities of online classes.


Ultimately, the decision is yours!!!

Both online education and its traditional counterpart have pros and cons. There is no right or wrong answer. So it’s important for students to understand what to expect before they step foot or log into the classroom. Much of it comes down to personal preference and knowing how a student learns best. It’s important to do some self-evaluation before diving into a full college course load.1 As technology progresses substantially, it has bearings on every area of our life, even on the way of learning. At present, we could either attend traditional classes in brick-and-mortar learning institutions, or virtual classes in online universities and colleges. Despite sharing some superficial similarities, the differences between a traditional class and an online class are remarkable. Both types of learning require instruction from teachers, and have comparable method of assessments. Though, they differ from one another in terms of scheduling, learning process, and communication.4 In my personal opinion, I would choose to take hybrid or blended classes, which will provide both online and in-personal learning opportunities.

References:

1. Rasmussen.edu. (2018). Online vs. Traditional Education: What You Need to Know. [online] Available at: https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-life/blogs/college-life/online-vs-traditional-education-answer-never-expected/ [Accessed 20 Oct. 2018].
2. My College Guide. (2018). Online Classes vs. Traditional Classes: Pros and Cons. [online] Available at: https://mycollegeguide.org/blog/2017/05/online-classes-vs-traditional-classes/ [Accessed 20 Oct. 2018].
3. Grantham University. (2018). Traditional University vs. Online For A Degree: Pros and Cons. [online] Available at: https://www.grantham.edu/blog/traditional-university-vs-online-for-a-degree-pros-and-cons/ [Accessed 21 Oct. 2018].
4. Scribd. (2018). Compare and Contrast Essay: A Traditional Class vs An Online Class | Educational Technology | Distance Education. [online] Available at: https://www.scribd.com/doc/171387903/Compare-and-Contrast-Essay-A-Traditional-Class-vs-An-Online-Class [Accessed 21 Oct. 2018].
5. Stern, J. (2018). [online] Wlac.edu. Available at: http://www.wlac.edu/online/documents/otl.pdf [Accessed 21 Oct. 2018].