More and more schools are offering online classes and full online programs to earn a degree than even before! However, with education being readily available online, why do some students still prefer to complete their education in-person?
Benefits of In-Person Learning
The “college experience” - the biggest benefit and probably the number 1 reason is the overall lifestyle or the atmosphere that going to school in person gives. Going to school in person creates a sense of accomplishment and independence that you can feel. It gives young adults a taste of the real world without being them being overwhelmed with real-world challenges that most young adults may not be ready for. For example, having a full-time job or career, paying rent or a mortgage, marriage life, or having children. For older adults with real-world experience, it gives them a second chance of achieving their dreams. It reignites a spark to be hungry for life and ambitious not to settle.
A physical building - having a physical campus to retreat can be helpful for studying, verifying your school, or even for having a temporary place to home (for living in dorms on campus).
Meeting new people - meeting your peers face-to-face increases your chances of making friends
Faster communication - being able to talk to your counselor, teachers, or so on immediately (no wait time for a response online)
Participating in events - most schools offer a wide-range of activities and events to keep students busy. To name a few, finding an internship, browsing through an on-campus job fair, joining a fraternity, attending sport competitions, joining an after-school club, finding side jobs to make some extra money, selling or buying textbooks, and so much more.
With all these benefits, what could possibly be the disadvantages of attending school in person?
As with anything worth doing, there is a price to pay when you attend school in person. For some students, this price is just too high or doesn’t work with their current situation or schedule.
Disadvantages of In-Person Learning
Higher tuition rates - the cost of tuition of going to school in person is higher than attending school online. In some cases, the tuition rates for on-site learning are 5 times higher than attending the same school online, earning the same degree.
Higher preparation costs - attending school in person means you will need more supplies for school than you would if you were only attending school online. Expenses can be from pens, paper, bookbags, and calculators or it could be from living on campus where things like sheets, towels, a mini fridge, a small dresser, and so on may also be needed as well.
Unflexible schedule - in person classes start and end at specific non-flexible dates and times. It is easier than you think to miss a class or two due to the unpredictability of life. This is especially true if you do not have a flexible work schedule or have children with their own schedules to follow.
Unhealthy eating habits - attending school in person means your schedule will be tight, this can lead to eating fast food and unhealthy snacking on the go. There is a saying in college that talks about this, it’s called the “freshmen 15”. In short, it is common for freshmen students to gain 15 pounds their first year, or sometimes in only their first semester, due to lack of readily healthy options available and the lack of time to focus of better eating habits.
Increased risk of the unforeseen - with more exposure to other people, you have an increased chance of getting into arguments, having your property get lost, damaged or stolen, having your car scratched or broken into, getting sick, and many of things you would not be a risk of having when safely attending school online.
Now, that we know the advantages and disadvantages of in person learning, here are some of the biggest advantages and disadvantages of online learning.
Advantages of Online Learning
Flexibility of schedule - among the many benefits of an online learning, you’ll find virtual classrooms are great for people who are advancing their education while working. In a traditional classroom, lectures will be scheduled at a specific time of day and your schedule will be formed around the availability of classes. If you’re currently employed and courses aren’t available after your working hours, it can be difficult to juggle a course load in addition to your work duties. When attending a virtual campus, online learning allows for far more autonomy in deciding your own schedule. That means you can study whenever it’s convenient for you. Live with some noisy roommates? Having more control over your schedule also means you can avoid distractions easier.
Reduced costs - education can be expensive, but virtual learning can provide a number of ways for students to save. Not having to commute to campus can help you save on transportation costs. Every year, the average student spends more than a thousand dollars on textbooks and course materials. Virtual coursework often takes advantage of virtual resources, which translates into less money spent on textbooks. Tuition costs can also vary between online and on-campus programs. Most online programs offered by the school are also financial aid eligible. Between all these sources of ways to save, a student can save enormously benefit of online classes.
More free time - because your schedule isn’t dictated by classes, you can spend more time doing the things you want. Plus, in addition to saving money, not having to commute also means saving time because you don’t need to travel to-and-from campus. That extra time can be used in any way you want, such as focusing on your career or spending time with your family. All you need is a digital device and an internet connection, and you have access to the necessary tools to further your education and earn your degree on your own time.
Increased course variety - another reason why online school is better for some is the increased variety of education options. Since students are not required to travel to campus for courses schedule on specific days and times, students can enroll in the courses they are most interested in. There’s no need to rearrange schedules, students in an online program can take the course they want and complete the coursework at a time that is most convenient for them. Through online courses, students can gain the knowledge they need to earn their degree or grow in their profession. Online courses allow you to earn essentially the same range of different degrees that can be earned from a traditional educational environment. That includes learning certificates and professional certifications to master’s degrees or doctoral degrees. Students who find their focus suffers from classroom activity may benefit from online classes. Students who aren’t as assertive may have better opportunities to participate in class discussions when communicating online. Working from your own choice of environment, with self-paced learning, the result can be a more personalized learning experience.
Career advancement opportunities - just like courses taken in a traditional classroom setting, virtual learning can provide you with a number of career advancement opportunities. Because you’re the master of your own schedule, students of virtual learning are better prepared to continue working while pursuing academic credentials. And for students who aren’t employed, academic work can serve to explain any discontinuity or gaps in a resume. In either case, the advantages of virtual learning can be clearly seen on a resume.
Increased collaboration - online students have better opportunities to collaborate with classmates through virtual group work and meetings. One of the benefits of online courses are the message boards and grouping tools that allow students to post their feedback on readings and other assignments and respond to their classmates. Students may also receive more one-on-one time with their professor with virtual learning, which is beneficial for both learning and networking. Students can communicate director with their professor and upload assignments for review.
Personalized education - in online courses, students to choose the time that works best for them to complete readings and assignments. Since the coursework is online, courses can be completed anywhere there is an internet connection.
Enhanced time management skills - while the benefits of online learning include the flexibility to complete assignments at a time that is most convenient to the student, the student still needs to manage their time wisely to ensure they complete their assignments by the deadlines set by the professor. Online courses teach students how to manage their time better since the student bears the responsibility of engaging with the course instead of simply showing up to class on an assigned day and time. As a result, students not only gain knowledge from the coursework, but they also sharpen their time management skills.
Immediate feedback - integrating coursework with technology provides a number of advantages. Rather than waiting days or weeks after exams, you can often get immediate feedback. In online courses, students upload assignments digitally for review by their professor. Professors review student work online and submit feedback electronically. As a result, students receive feedback right away. In a traditional classroom setting, students may need to wait a week or two to receive feedback on their assignments. By receiving feedback sooner, students can learn faster and adjust for future assignments.
Repeated access to course materials - where a traditional lecturing leaves you at the mercy of your best note-taking skills, video presentations can be watched and revisited as necessary. If a student didn’t quite understand some of the content covered in a video lecture, they can go back and listen to it again. Students can use lecture videos as a supplemental tool to help with competing assignments.
Disadvantages of Online Learning
May cause isolation - everyone learns in their own manner. Some students possess the ability to work independently, while others find comfort in their community on campus with easy access to professors or their fellow students. Students may feel isolated when learning online, since they can only absorb knowledge through a screen. This can be detrimental to learning, as most people learn better in an interactive environment.
Lack of face-to-face guidance - one of the primary challenges of online education is the lack of face-to-face interaction between students and instructors. This can lead to a sense of isolation and make it difficult for students to get the support and guidance they need to succeed. Additionally, the absence of physical classrooms and in-person discussions can impact the quality of the learning experience.
Requires more self-discipline - the requirement for students to possess self-motivation and discipline presents another obstacle in online education. Online learning requires students to manage their time effectively and stay on track with their coursework, which can be difficult for those who struggle with self-discipline.
Requires more self-motivation - lack of motivation may be a big issue for online learners. In fact, it is common among all students and even professionals. It can be hard to juggle many things, maintain a life-work balance and still be on track to complete the online degree program.
Technical issues - technical problems and the unavailability of the Internet is a major issue that makes online classes a problematic way of education. Having a bad network can make students lack in studies. Even sometimes the devices they use can also disrupt their studies because of some physical and internal issues.
Since every student learns differently and has different educational needs, it is important that the student chooses the option that works best for them and their situation. May this be learning from the brick-and-mortar tier 1 facility or learning from the comfort of home in pajamas. The end goal is the same, to prepare students for the next level in their life, may this be continuing their education by earning a PhD or by continuing to the workforce to start a new career.
This article was written by Brittney Lucas
Manager of Student Services at EIPCS
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