Traditional Vs Distance Education

Education is an essential element in societies throughout the world. For many years education has been provided in classrooms on campuses worldwide, but there has been a change made to the conventional method of classroom learning. With the advancements in technology, education has been restructured so that it may be accessible to everyone through taking courses online.

Distance learning takes place when the teacher and student are separated from one another due to their physical location and technology is used to communicate instructions to the student and to communicate feedback to the instructor. The virtual classroom is one of the various forms of technology used as an alternative to the traditional classroom settings. Other tools used to educate from a distance include audio, video, data, and print.

Accessibility to technology and knowledge of certain software application are needed to be able to successfully take an online course. A student must know how to use a computer, so that they can communicate with an instructor, submit any assignments, and also communicate with peers. The other requirement a student must meet is having access to a computer system. Having a system at home is the best method, but being able to use a computer at work or another reliable location may be beneficial as well.

The effectiveness of online education is constantly being analyzed. Since online education is fairly new, research on it is critical at this time. Findings are showing that online education is just as effective as traditional education, based on the comparison of grades, but online education is not surpassing traditional education at this time. Depending on the proper implementation of technological tools used for online courses, it can have a great impact on the effectiveness of distance learning.

Only a selective few are ideal candidates for online education. Self motivated and

Distance learning through online education is a great alternative to traditional education, but it cannot replace the experience of a traditional education.

Many professors are weary that online courses may be the fall of universities and campuses. Others think that it is a fad and once it is proven to be not as supportive as having teacher to student contact in person, it will lack the credibility that is needed and it will become a thing of the past. Although these views may be a reality one day, there is not enough evidence to rule them as being true or untrue.

However to every up there is a down and to every in there is an out; everything will not be perfect. Online education, no matter how convenient, does not offer the social grounding and exposure most college campuses have to offer. That is the one advantage that universities have over distance learning. Many prefer the campus lifestyle versus the distance learning because they can use campus resources for their everyday life.

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