Comparing the Effectiveness of Classroom and Online Learning

This report will be helpful for writing the research paper because it has statistics about the effectiveness of online learning.

The topic I have chosen to focus on for my final project is Online Learning vs Traditional Learning

I chose to discuss Online Learning vs. Traditional Learning for this final project. Since 1999, the debate on the differences and similarities between traditional and online learning has been ongoing. Notably, this was the time when institutes began to use internet as a way of conveying distant education. Despite the differences that are there, it is worth noting that they are being narrowed down since technology is emerging prevalently. These facts beg the question; how do the two learning formats differ and what can one expect during transition to eLearning? Before seeking answers to this question, it is worth mentioning that I chose this topic because even though I am currently taking online classes, I wanted to research and learn more about the different benefits of online learning. Also, I am interested in researching on the major differences between online learning and traditional learning.

It’s no wonder why millions of students from all around the world opt for online degree programs or take at least one college course through an online platform. Online learning has to be the greatest revolution in contemporary education. It made a huge change in the system and opened great opportunities for everyone who wants to learn

When deciding to take college courses there are many choices you have to make. One of the more important choices is where you plan to take your classes. Online classes are becoming increasingly popular because they can be easier to fit into a busy schedule, but some people still argue that nothing beats a traditional classroom setting. Having the option of online classes makes continuing an education more appealing to people that have to balance many other responsibilities like family, jobs, etc.

Wendy Conaway and Barbara Zorn-Arnold. (n.d.). The Key to Online Learning for Adults . Distance Learning, Volume12, issue 4,

Caruso, C. (2008). Bringing Online Learning to Life. Educational Leadership, 65(8) 70. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Central to an online learning community needs to be a core set of community values that develop a learning atmosphere and an environment that respects the opinion of each of its members. The foundation of this set of values should be a dedication to mutual respect of all members of the community. A learning environment can only be established when every member of the community feels that they are free to express ideas and opinions without the judgement or harassment of fellow members. The proliferation of online learning communities has led to increasingly diverse student populations, in my opinion, one of the more beneficial aspects of learning in an online environment. This diversity can only benefit the collective when those who participate

Currently, the United States is ranked 14th in its educational standard, 17th in educational performance and 24th in literacy (Mark). Compared to the rest of the world, we are behind countries like Poland, China, Finland and New Zealand. For a country that prides itself on its successful western society, what is stopping us from having an education system to match the standards we have put on the rest of our amenities. However, a solution is closer than it seems. According to Rasmussen College, there are 6.7 million students currently enrolled in online courses, therefore with an increasing number of students attending these classes, it is not a question on whether or not these classes will become normal, but when and how these classes will revolutionize our education system (Bird). Online courses offer students the ability to create an education based around their schedule, and allow students who may struggle or may not be able to attend a traditional school environment the chance to have an equal education. Not only can the students benefit from an online education environment, but both schools and professors can gain from an online system. Moreover, such courses can help create a global education system that allows anyone to have the same access to an education anywhere in the world as long as they have a connection to the internet.

"Distance Education and the Evolution of Online Learning in the United States." Curriculum & Teaching Dialogue, vol. 17, no. 1/2, Sept. 2015, pp. 21-(Sp)34.

There are many questions still trying to be answered about the future of online learning. “Considering current trends, it is safe to assume that the number of schools and programs that provide distance education courses will increase in the foreseeable future (Vernon, Pittman-Munke, Vakalahi, Adkins, Pierce, 2009).” Even though education is primarily about the student, and what they are learning, one of the most important factors of education is the educator. The educator is one of the key points that various institutions are focusing on, ongoing education for the teacher is immensely important. There have been various recent reports about online enrollments for higher education and distance learning, the results have exceeded projections with little to no decreases expected for the future. Using the Learning on Demand report:

The Colorado Community College (2001) or CCC found that students were "older, more mature" meaning perhaps that they were not the usual age ranges of eighteen to twenty-one. The gender was 63% female, and 37% male, as opposed to the ratio of 40% females and 60% males for CPU (Drews, 2001, personal communication) which includes not only Americans, but Asian and Southeast Asian students as well. Ten percent of CCC students are from abroad from countries in South America, Africa, and in the Caribbean (CCC, 2001). Lakeland College (2001), gave a profile of online students as forty-four percent being between the ages of twenty-six to forty. Sixty-five percent female, 52% have a family income of $25,000 to $50,000 per year, 60% employed for thirty or more hours per week, 83% having their own computers, and 79% accessing the Internet from the home (LLC, 2001). Dille et al. (1997) noted that in the community college studied, the more academically successful student is likely to be married, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, completed more than thirty college credit hours, with an internal locus of control and an abstract learning style. For CPU, as confirmed by the president and administrator, the students are also older, ranging from mid-twenties to sixties, with full-time employment, good computer skills, and some college experience and

Among schools with 12th-grade students during the 2010–11 school year, the average percentage of 12th-grade students who graduated with a high school diploma was 89 percent for traditional public schools, 91 percent for public charter schools, and 92 percent for private schools (Institute of Educational Sciences). Traditional on campus classes are those in which a student earns a diploma or a degree in a classroom environment taught by a professor. Students are provided with high amounts of social interaction with students and faculty to prepare them for careers outside of the classroom. From the time children are enrolled in kindergarten up to graduation, the familiarity of a classroom atmosphere sets up structural support to help them through their studies as well as provide students a sense of societal discipline. Traditional on campus classes are more beneficial to a student’s education than online courses.

Online education programs have grown tremendously in the past 10 years. From 1991 to 2004, online enrollments have grown from virtually zero to over 2.35 million students (Allen & Seaman, 2006). Based on reports by over 2,200 colleges and universities, Allen and Seaman estimate growth in post-secondary online education to be more than 10 times that of other post-secondary markets. Over 4.6 million students were taking at least one online course during the fall 2008 term; a 17 percent increase

Education has undergone significant changes because of the development of information and communication technology over the 21st century (Lin & Jou, 2012:2). As a convenient and inexpensive way to gain knowledge while pursuing higher education, online learning, a form of training or teaching that takes place over the Internet, has been considered as an alternative to traditional classroom learning (Zhang et al, 2004). This essay will argue that even though online learning has benefit such as flexibility which could outweigh traditional learning, traditional classroom learning might still not be entirely replaced. This essay will discuss positive and negative aspects of online and traditional learning in terms of four criteria: