Online or in the Classroom: Which is Better?

Do you want to learn in a classroom or online?

Around

students more than one online class in 2016

It’s anticipated that the eLearning market
will be valued at

By 2020

Classroom Learning

The Positives

• Purpose-Built Environment

  It’s an environment that’s specifically built for learning. Most people find very little in the way of distractions, and you’re more likely to find it easier to separate your work life from your home one.

• Your teacher and fellow pupils are all in the same room

  Communicating via email can lead to confusion. When you work in a classroom, you’ll have access to the lecturer at the end of seminars and lectures. You’ll also feel more socially connected with other students on the course.

• A Defined Timetable

  Almost everyone enjoys their free time. After all, it’s time to binge watch Game of Thrones and play video games. However, they also want to have a concrete work schedule to help plan ahead. For classroom learning to function efficiently, a timetable is almost always produced. You’ll know what you’re doing and when to do it.

The Negatives

• Getting Up and Out

  Sometimes all you’ll want is to have that extra ten minutes in bed. Alternatively, it might be snowing outside, and venturing into the seemingly Siberian landscape will seem like a mission. You’ve got to drag yourself up, and out of your house, otherwise, you might miss some essential information.

• The Speed

  We all learn at different paces. In a classroom, there is a defined pace. You might find the speed too fast or too slow, but often there’s little you can do to change that. Yes, a lecturer or teacher might give you extra tuition, but it’s at their discretion.

Online Learning

The Positives

• Flexibility

  You’re able to arrange your life around your studies. It’s a privilege that not everyone has, and an essential work-life balance must be kept.

• Learn at Your Own Pace

  Whether you’re a fast learner or a slow studier, you can take the course at your speed. Don’t be rushed by overly eager students, and don’t be held back by those not wanting to learn.

• Login Anywhere

  You don’t have to make that trip to the classroom; therefore you can complete your course from anywhere with an internet connection.

• Potentially Lower Costs

  In most cases, the online version of a course is cheaper than the traditional classroom equivalent.

The Negatives

• Motivation

  Some people might find online education harder to stay motivated. If you’re going to enter the online classroom, make sure that you can confidently motivate yourself each day.

• Lack of Face-to-Face Interaction

  Completing the course in front of a computer screen can cause some students to feel disconnected. Many schools combat this detachment with the optional involvement of Skype.

Which educational environment will suit me?

Classroom learning will suit someone who:

• Finds it difficult to motivate themselves.
• Wants the structure of a set timetable.
• Doesn’t mind travelling.
• Wants the face-to-face contact that classroom learning offers

Online learning will suit someone who:

• Does not want a defined classroom.
• Wants the same high-quality qualification without a large price tag.
• Wants to fit their education around their home life.
• Wants to learn at their own pace.