Traditional or Online classes, what’s your choice?

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Students listen to a class lecture in a traditional classroom setting.
Students listen to a class lecture in a traditional classroom setting.
Students listen to a class lecture in a traditional classroom setting.

There are vast differences between online and traditional classroom settings.

Each has its own pros and cons. For example, online classes are extremely convenient and cost much less than traditional college courses, whereas in traditional classes, pupils can easily get direct help from their instructor and simultaneously work on basic relationship skills that are needed by everyone in society.

Traditional classroom settings are very direct and hands-on. The general perception of classroom is that there is a set schedule of when to be there each day. While in a classroom, students can receive visual and hands on experience and the instructor is always there to directly help students. I know that for me, being in a traditional classroom means I get to see my friends everyday and make new ones. It also gets me out of the house, which inspires me to get out more and participate in new extracurricular activities.

But traditional classrooms don’t meet everyone’s needs. Their set schedules may not always allow students to have the time they need to go to work, do hobbies, or any other extracurricular activities that they desire. Distractions, although they are present in both classroom settings, can set students back. Another con to traditional schooling is that students must be present most of the time in order to keep up with their work. Unlike online classes, you cannot go back and see what the day’s lesson was unless you have an instructor who records it.

Online classes are becoming very popular very quickly. Unlike traditional classrooms, “ They allow for so much flexibility.” said an anonymous source on Bellevue College’s article, “What I wish I’d known…”  students can customize them to fit their schedule instead of having to work around them, which means they can get more work hours in during the day and still have time to go out with their friends that evening. Online classes allow students to work more independently. Technology is becoming a bigger and bigger part of everyone’s daily lives, so with online classes they’ll be doing their work while simultaneously increasing computer skills.

Online classes usually cost less than traditional classes, not just because of tuition but also you don’t have to pay for transportation, supplies for notetaking, and textbooks, instead students are given the ability to just download assignments and lectures.

Although online classes seem like the way to go, they still have their cons. Instructors in online courses are not available to help students in person if they have questions, which makes the chance of misinterpretations much greater. Also, online courses require a strong sense of self-discipline and motivation for students to get their work done.

Another anonymous source from ‘What I wish I’d known…’ said, “The most difficult thing about online courses is being self disciplined.  It is easy to fall behind and once you do that, it’s very difficult to catch up.”

Items like phones and T.V.’s are not good to have around because they can be very tempting distractions. Unlike traditional  classrooms, moreover, students don’t have the ability to work on relationship skills, something needed by many fields of employment.

In my opinion, we need both online and traditional classes. For children to younger teens, a traditional classroom will be better. Everyone needs to know what basic relationship skills are, especially young children. This is something that you cannot get through the internet. Since younger teens may not be mature enough to do their work without an adult watching over them, they need instructors in the room.

Once people have matured enough to where they can hold their own, I feel that an online classroom setting would be more efficient. When students are older, they have jobs they have to go to, something that online classroom hours can work around. They will be able to work more hours and make more money, or have more time to spend with friends and doing extracurricular activities. Online classes can also teach young adults at this age good self discipline skills. If they get a bad grade or fail a class, that’s sure to get their attention. It teaches them not to rely on others to make them do their work and that they must take responsibility for their actions.

Both traditional and online classes are needed for students. When they’re young they learn the basic relationship skills that people need to know and as they mature and begin taking on hobbies and jobs they can use online classes to fit their schedules.

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