Generally speaking when attending an online school over a campus college, the participation grades are based differently. In online schools your participation grade is based on meeting the posting requirements and posting on the required discussion questions. Most of the time grades for schools online are based on points. A student’s professor will post a rubric in your materials for the student to follow to meet all the points. A large concern to some students may have when considering attending college online is the fact that it may be harder to get personal help and learn the material through your professor.
In today’s world you almost need a college education for most jobs offered on- the- job market. No matter what field of study that is chosen, time and effort will need to be applied in order to get the best education possible. Both online versus traditional education have pros and cons; the teacher’s presence, the classroom settings, and time taken to complete courses to get a degree. In both educational settings teachers are needed factors for many reasons; guidance, teaching material to the class, and just there to help students in general. Going to either traditional or online college is a big step in a student’s life, and teachers are there to help and guide them through any situations that arise.
Students can interact directly with classmates. An additional aspect to classroom learning is that students prefer the social aspect of a classroom setting. When thinking about attending an online school, the preparation time a fast paced process. Online classes are usually offered in shortened semesters. When taking online classes the students usually determine the time of day and location for participating in activities.
When trying to compare online verse traditional education you really want to look at the many similarities and differences that benefit you as an individual. You really want to do as much research as possible before you make a final decision on what it is that you want to do. Either way you will get a college education with a degree under your belt. I want readers to learn and understand that no matter which one you choose to do, either way you will get the best education possible that is convenient for you. You don’t have to live up to the stereotypical everyday student and go to a traditional campus-based college; you have the option to do online schooling also.
There were a lot factors to consider. The most important question to answer for myself was, should I attend school in a classroom environment or take an online course to get my degree? The decision was not easy because there were lots of ups and downs. Let us look at a few of the things to consider. In a classroom we have the typical routine of an hour of class in most cases.
Attending class in person is beneficial because you have interaction with the instructor and other students. This allows you time to ask the professor questions with immediate response compared to online classes where you have to wait for a response back, which could take twenty-four hours. Unlike online classes, traditional classes require a lot of time and could cost more money to attend because of the maintenance that’s required, so the college can continue being operational. Commuting becomes an issue for everyone who attends traditional college. However, face to face interaction can encourage max participation and increase learning in a proper setting.
Let’s take a look at both options. Let’s start off by looking at flexibility, online learning offers flexibility which allows students to complete their education on their own time and in a place that they chose. This type of learning is great for working students or single parents. However, student who need to be motivated and struggle to get into a groove on their own than classroom learning is the way to go. When it comes to communication online learning now has the opportunities for instant communication such as message boards, online chatting, and even video conferencing, but this does not replace the experience of face to face interaction.
Even though the two different ways of obtaining an education are very similar, the teaching technique is slightly different. To me online education has been one of the relaxed ways to get through many of my college classes. I can absorb what I want to learn whenever or wherever I would like. I began taking online classes because it was tough for me to meet the expense of daycare for my children, transportation to and from my school was hectic; and taking off from work or cutting my days and hours back was just not in my budget, just to attend a classroom lesson. I had many personal commitments to deal with on a regular basis that did not allow me to sit in a classroom for several hours.
The Value of Taking Online Courses There are many drawbacks as well as advantages to taking an online course. Before you start you must weigh both sides carefully to make sure that online learning is right for you. The advantages are based around convenience. The drawbacks are mainly based on your ability to adapt and on the type of learning styles you are accustomed to. When it comes to scheduling it can be great for those with families and jobs, online classes allow students to complete coursework on their own schedules to a very flexible extent.
Recently, we have working on the WebQuest “Recycle City”. http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/ On this WebQuest, there is a lot of reading and graphics which may cause a problem for this student. This student puts much effort into his everyday class work. Even completing experiments in class can be challenging to him. Using the Internet is also a challenge and I need to be aware continuously of these challenges and implement every possible way to include him in these activities.