Traditional education as we now know has been present for decades.
Our parents and their parents have gone through the same process at school. But modern students have more freedom in choosing what and how to study.
The education system is changing, now more than ever. New techniques and methods are being implemented throughout the whole world. Progressive education is more than a couple of schools rebelling against the rules. This is a huge movement that reaches more and more establishments. This is a new approach to teaching and studying. The whole process is built on different principles, and the goals have changed as well.
If you are not a part of it, special education may seem strange to you. Yet, where would we be without changes? Without progress? It is never late to embrace something new. Modern education is not necessarily against all those traditionalist values. It just alters them to suit the present reality.
Today, we see a novel approach both in the process of studying and in its forms. Students have become active participants in discussions, planning, and learning in general. Teachers are not “dictators” who constantly lecture students. They are now the facilitators and the support network that guides and encourages thinking. Knowledge is assembled through interactive tasks, games, and social cooperation. Today, we perceive intelligence as a multi-dimensional thing that is expressed not only by grades and academic abilities.
Technological progress brought us computers, the Internet, and many multimedia devices that are largely used in modern studying. Online education is becoming more and more popular as well. People are looking for new ways to be more efficient, and this form of education suits us the most. Online courses are especially valuable for adult education that has to be short yet effective considering the hectic lives we lead.
Online Education: Pros and Cons
Online classes are gradually conquering the education world. Students find them to be as good as the regular ones. Their rising popularity convinces more and more people to choose this way of studying.
Let’s take a closer look at them, compare online education statistics, and determine their benefits.
Among all pros and cons of online classes, flexibility is one of the most important factors. When taking the regular classes, we have to stick to strict schedules and tailor our lives to fit them. Online classes, on the contrary, are more flexible. Often, you can choose your own schedule and shape your learning process the way you like. Depending on the courses, you may sit down to listen the material whenever you like. This is a great assist to people who work and don’t want education to interfere with their job too much.
Another advantage mentioned a lot is studying anywhere you want. You don’t have to move to a campus on the other side of the country anymore. You can take a class online at home. Even if you are not a working student or do not live across the globe, you surely can see the appealing side of studying anywhere you want. This makes your life so much easier even when you have a set schedule for your classes.
Unlike sitting in a stuffy building and only listening to the materials a professor gives you, studying online brings many additional benefits. You can search the web for auxiliary materials, read countless essays, and ask for help at ed forums. Finding information in this endless storage is easy. Those “ask questions get answers” websites are great for seeing the full picture of an issue and getting professional opinions.
Besides, online education usually means more affordable prices. Is it not a crucial point to help you choose this way of studying?
There are many other benefits of online classes, but let’s have a look at its downsides to get deeper understanding.
The main disadvantage of remote classes is the lack of face-to-face interactions. Usually, speaking with a teacher and classmates directly gives you better motivation to study and provides better understanding of materials. Besides, schools are meant to give social experiences. Human interaction enriches the learning process. Luckily, many online courses have already found a solution—every once in a while students have to participate in scheduled online classrooms that imitate the regular ones.
Another thing to worry about is the lack of self-control. With remote studies, you are completely in charge. Usually, you decide when and how to study yourself. Unfortunately, it can be very hard to make yourself quit lazing around and start working. You have to be highly motivated and have the strength to keep your self-discipline.
Unfortunately, when it comes to getting a college degree online, not all disciplines are available yet. Most are, but not all of them. In time, when online courses become even more popular, the number of disciplines will rise.
There is also an issue of network connection. Though we are lucky to have a stable connection most of the time, incidents happen.
An Equal Match
As you see, there are few things that can mar your online education experience. Besides, even those disadvantages that come at the first thought can be dealt with. Anyway, the benefits of remote studying are way more important than its small cons.
More and more young people are choosing online studies over the regular ones. But is online learning as good as face-to-face learning? Is it really worth the fuss and can it give you what traditional education can?
According to the statistics, more than a quarter of students have enrolled in online courses during the previous couple of years. The numbers continue to grow as more and more companies are willing to hire candidates with an online degree. The figures show just how effective online studies are.
Considering the credibility of remote education, the traditional school system is becoming the “plan B” option for many people. If you get the same knowledge and experience, why not try going for online classes?
The difference between the traditional education and the online one is not as huge as we have thought. Both options are equally efficient. You can get the same degree sitting at home as you would on campus. You interact with the same professors. Those teachers who participate in online classes are willing to help the students and do their best. Modern online classrooms compensate the lack of face-to-face interaction and give you a chance to do the same things as you would do in a regular classroom. Even the curriculum is often the same for all students.
In some cases, traditional learning even yields to its modern forms. Online education makes you a disciplined person who knows how to take responsibility for their actions. You learn to keep your laziness under control and how to be independent. You also become a professional in time management and find new ways to motivate yourself. This is what helps you to feel like an adult.
In both cases, you learn to research and find more information on any subject. There is always a limit to what a professor can teach you. Both the regular studies and the online ones cannot give you every little detail of a topic. You have to resort to interactive sites for education to find extra information. With remote courses, it can be even easier as you always have access to the Internet.
Even considering all pros and cons, you cannot say that we should forget about the traditional education and immediately switch to the progressive school approach. One is as good as the other. You just have to find the way that suits you the most.
A Constant in Our Lives
No matter what age you are, education is a part of your life. Studying is a universal process that sees no age, race, or ethnic differences. It is for all and everybody. And we have many options to choose from. When it comes to enriching your knowledge, finding the most suitable approach can be hard.
Modern students have a lot to think about. The diversity of options confuses. Do I choose traditional studies because they are time-proved? Do I choose online courses because I have no time to go to all those classes?
There are many factors to consider, but the choice is yours.
If you choose online courses, make sure it’s because you see the benefits for you. When thinking about what school to choose for your child, traditional or progressive one, make sure you support their methods, goals, and principles.
Our modern world is full of options, and the freedom to choose one of them. Do not be afraid to try something new. We are moving forward, and the education system is trying to adapt as well. Become a part of it.
Now, when you have heard the pros and cons of online learning and progressive studies, ask yourself a couple of questions. Is it really important for me? Do I need this?
Education is a part of our world during our whole lives. And so, you can try it in various shapes and styles.
