Online Class vs. Traditional Class

Technological advancement gives learners and educators the opportunity to utilize modern devices to acquire knowledge which now transforms how learners and instructors acquire and offer educational information respectively. However, some groups feel that the traditional form of learning is better than online learning which is becoming common in many parts of the globe. Learners and instructors should consider the merits and demerits of both platforms before making a conclusion on the most suitable channel. Ni (200) defines a traditional class to be a type of learning where the instructor and learners come together in a class to change information. He proceeds to describe online learning as a type of learning where the learner majorly uses the internet to access and submit education materials to the instructor (Ni 200). A critical look at the similarities and differences that exist between the two forms of learning will provide insight on how the two work.

Comparison (Similarities)

One of the major similarities between the two forms of learning is that they all aspire to pass educational knowledge from one party to the other. The learner in both cases acquires instructions from the teacher who describes what the student ought to perform. The teacher, in many instances, follows the school’s syllabus which describes what every learner should cover during the entire program. Trainees in both forms must ensure that they acquire information that is relevant to what the instructor or the syllabus requires.

The second similarity between the two forms of classes is that the learner must perform an examination to ascertain their comprehension of the content they acquire within a particular period. The teacher in both scenarios sets the exam and takes charge of the marking and evaluation process (Ni 207). The learner in both instances waits for the outcome which determines whether they have passed or have to undergo through some concepts again.

The third similarity between the two forms of learning is that the instructor and the learner must use similar language to allow effective communication to take place. Ni (209) believes that communication serves an essential purpose in the teaching-learning process, and it is paramount to utilize a mode of communication that would facilitate the transfer of information. Communication hurdles in many instances serve as the major obstacle that obstructs both parties from comprehending what the other tries to put across.

Contrast (Differences)

The two forms of learning largely differ in the sense that whereas learners have to be in the same room with an instructor in the traditional form, the learner, and the instructor are in different locations in the online form of learning (Stack 07). The internet serves as the link between the two parties and it is fundamental for the instructor and the learner to promptly keep the time that they communicate with each other. The traditional class, on the contrary, largely depends on verbal forms of interaction. The teacher can use non-verbal forms of communication to make the message much clear and easy to understand.

The second difference between the two forms of learning is that learners can receive criticism for behaving inappropriately in the classroom setting which is not possible with online learning. The punishment or criticism learners face while in class shape their behavior and may even influence one’s behavior. Stack (10) writes that the direct relationship between the teacher and the student largely contributes towards good performance. Lack of direct intervention gives learners the opportunity to engage in unconstructive activities which ultimately harm the performance. Learners, who use the online form of learning, for instance, may indulge in other online activities such as playing games and watching movies during the times when they should concentrate on their lessons. Some learners even watch films that are undesirable for their age and most of them acquire undesirable values.

Online learning differs from the traditional form of class in the way examinations takes place. The traditional form in many cases requires that learners remain under the teacher’s supervision during the entire examination process (Stack 12). The learner may have limited access to additional resources when doing an examination under the traditional setting, but that may not be the case with online learning.  Students who pursue their pro service course using the online form are in a position to access additional information when conducting a project which also serves as an exam. Learners who have access to additional materials during examination must, however, have to ensure that they cite all the materials that they use in the appropriate format.

The analysis between the two forms of learning shows that they have some similarities and differences. It becomes apparent that learners and instructors who use online learning must utilize the internet as the prime form of connection. Conversely, the traditional form of class requires that the instructor and the learner come together. The comparison shows that the teacher’s presence in the traditional form influences students’ general performance. Students need to be cautious when using online learning because engaging in unconstructive activities over the internet may influence learners in a negative way. It is, therefore, upon every person to identify the ways that they can improve how they gain from the strategy they use.