They say everything new is a well-forgotten old. But does this statement apply to the field of education and its methods? Innovative technology permeates all spheres of life, including changing the approach to the education system. Along with traditional universities, online courses are gaining more and more popularity.They allow students to develop critical thinking skills, get a specialist certificate, and get a job, all from the comfort of their own homes.To understand the benefits of each method, consider them in more detail.
Pros and Сons Of Offline Learning
Proponents of offline learning highlight the following advantages of this form of education:
- Feedback - During a classroom session, questions often arise on new material. In such cases, you can directly ask the teacher a question and instantly get an answer to it.
- Discipline - Since teachers are responsible for the education of their students, they control the completion of homework and the process of studying the material, so it will be harder for students to abandon their studies or fall behind.
- Easy connection with classmates - You can make new acquaintances, find friends, and exchange experiences and knowledge with them.
Offline learning also has its downsides. These include:
- Geographic location - Very often, students have to travel long distances to get to the educational institution. This can take a lot of time.
- Price - Offline training is often more expensive than online. This is due to the fact that educational institutions want to compensate for their costs for renting the premises, handouts for students, etc.
- Systematic attendance - Few educational institutions record offline classes on video. Therefore, if you did not come to the lesson for some reason, no one will repeat the material that was covered, which means that the opportunity to study this information will be missed.
Advantages and Disadvantages Of Online Learning
There are many benefits of online learning. Among them are:
- Accessibility - Training can be done from anywhere in the world. It is enough to have an electronic device with internet access. One’s training schedule can also be planned independently.
- Cost - Online education is much cheaper than offline learning because it excludes the cost of travel and food, and tuition is often cheaper as well.
- Individual pace of learning - Each person has their own rate of mastering the material. With online learning, you can always return to a topic you have studied by re-watching the video or listening to (or reading) a lecture. This significantly increases your chances of assimilating the new information.
The disadvantages of online learning include the following:
Less communication - Communication in chats will not replace live dialogues with classmates. There’s often no real opportunity to discuss the topics being studied, to hear different points of view on a problem, or to work in a group, which will not allow students to form team communication skills.
Lack of discipline - Without adequate willpower, it’s very easy for a student to abandon their online training, especially since teachers are not required to control the educational process.
What To Choose: Online or Offline?
Online and offline learning both have their advantages and disadvantages, which must be taken into account when choosing which form of education is best for you. The answer to this question depends on your preferences and needs because you determine the result of your learning, whether offline or online.
Distance courses require high motivation and self-organization on the part of the student. But if you want to study offline, be prepared for additional financial and time costs. If you have little free time but great willpower and serious motivation for learning, then online education will suit you perfectly. On the other hand, if you have problems with self-discipline, offline learning may be a better fit.