Since ancient times, a classroom is known for a teacher with a bunch of students who are eagerly taking their lessons, interacting with each other, asking questions in between, and spending a specified amount of time in the same environment. But as we have come across the ages, science, and technology have improved tremendously, and significant changes in classroom teaching, as well as online learning, can be seen. However, every method of education comes with its cons, but the question that ultimately lingers in our head is what will prevail in the battle of online vs. traditional classes.
Though we were sticking to traditional classes so far, the year 2020 had something else planned for us. The world is battling hard with a pandemic situation and trying to keep their schedule just like before. Similar is the case with the education industry! Teachers and students are combined, so that knowledge never stops even when the world is resting for some peace.
Through this article, I would like to place my opinion in the game and make sure that at least one of them wins the battle at the end. Would you like to join in too?
Will Online Classes Take Over Traditionalism Shortly?
| Index |
| Part 1: Comparison Between Traditional vs. Online Classes Part 2: Overview Of Traditional and Online Classes |
Part 1: Comparison Between Traditional vs. Online Classes
Let’s see who scores more points when we compare history with the future.
| Attributes | Traditional Learning | Online Learning | Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
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Commuting to school or college every day might not work for everyone (especially those who live in remote locations) | Your home and internet backed device is all that is required for easy access. | Online Learning |
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Teachers from another end of the world cannot visit you. | Teachers/trainers from anywhere in the world are right in front of you at your screen. | Online Learning |
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Classes could be attended only at a specific time. If missed, lectures cannot be gone through again. | Classes could be attended at any time when you like. If missed, you can either play the video anytime or record live video to watch at your convenience. | Online Learning |
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Those who need to work along with study have to manage hard in between classes and the workplace. | Those who need to work along with study can manage between classes and the workplace comparatively easily. | Online Learning |
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Resources are limited to textbooks, library books, and teachers. | Resources are unlimited as you get study material online. | Online Learning |
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Any kind of barriers like bullying, economic conditions, etc. may stop students from going to school. | Economic and social barriers are comparatively lower on the side of e-learning. | Online Learning |
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Commuting charges, luncheons, uniform shopping, etc. add to the school fees. | Apart from course fees, the rest of the cost could be minimized as per personal needs. | Online Learning |
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Interaction with expressions could be seen clearly. | Low interaction and low expression aren’t so healthy. | Traditional Learning |
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Apart from learning, gaining insights on how to deal with various situations, getting into co-curricular activities, sports, etc. are only possible with traditional learning. | One can learn the courses but may fail for overall personality development. | Traditional Learning |
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Meeting new people, making them friends, going out for coffee, etc. is essential for a person to grow. | One may be able to catch up with one or two friends at a time and cannot stay connected for longer hours. | Traditional Learning |
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Being in a school or college makes teamwork efficient and exciting. | Less communication may make teamwork poor. | Traditional Learning |
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Being in a learning environment induces better learning opportunities and less distraction. | More distractions and ‘not feeling like studying’ are more likely to happen. | Traditional Learning |
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The difference between formal and informal could be learned more. | It might not be so quickly learned until one is into the formal environment. | Traditional Learning |
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One doesn’t need fast internet service on their device to indulge in learning as well as performing in co-curricular activities. | A fast internet connection is required, or else ‘Poor connection’ is pretty annoying. | Traditional Learning |
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Being surrounded by different kind of human beings helps in growing you exceptionally and make choices for life. The interaction, sharing happiness, and spending time together is how a person evolves for better. | When there are no peers around, one cannot find out his level of achievement or failures in every aspect of educational life. | BONUS:
Traditional Learning |
So, we can see that bonus points are taken over by Traditional classes in the first table after reaching 7:7 on both sides.
But we do not need to stop here! Let’s move ahead to the next round.
Part 2: Overview Of Traditional and Online Classes
Though we have already learned the basics of both parties above, this quick overview could help in understanding the details of both sides.
Traditional Classes:
When the day begins with a face to face interaction with teachers and students, the brain can better understand the human relationship. Learning each other’s body language, manners, gestures, tone, volume, and other formal/informal characteristics is majorly essential and possible with traditional classes.
The role of technology may get lowered during the session, but you surely do not need that to evolve yourself. However, it is not that technology is wholly ignored in traditional classes. Use of mobile phones to record lectures, click blackboard pictures, to download e-books, etc. still prevail. No field is devoid of reality, well.
As discussed, overall personality development is in favor of traditional classes when you pick the right attributes of someone else for yourself and leave the negatives behind. Moreover, studying in a similar environment keeps you focused and helps in winning competitions amongst others.
Online Classes
Even if an individual teacher cannot afford to build an infrastructure and still wishes to contribute to society, all he needs is the support of online classes to reach students. These classes are more student-centric and allow them to explore the world around them on their own. Teachers are more or less a mentor, unlike a guide in traditional methods.
Students can save their time and cost, but they must be prepared with an active internet connection when willing to study. One can reach any resource around the world, but lack of digital literacy may become a hindering factor. Yet where traditional classes fail to set up during the corona outbreak, the winner, in this case, is online classes. As amidst this pandemic, students can take classes online and avoid the sudden interruption in learning
Part 3: Need Of The Hour- Best Online Classes Tools
Since we are talking about the situation of the year 2020, a few upcoming months or maybe another year could need the best online classes tools. It is highly advisable to not collect in one location to stop the spread of transmission; online classes is the last resort option. So, let me tell you some tools that help in bringing teachers, visiting faculties, students, and other interested parties on one single platform. You may also check the best video calling software for Windows.
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Google Classroom
A free web-based service, as well as application, was developed to set up teachers and students in one location. Its ease of use lets the teachers go for a simple and paperless assignment, check them, and review quickly. Teachers can make announcements just like in a physical classroom.
Google Classroom combines Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets and Slides for writing, Gmail for interaction (now even Google Meet), and Google calendar for scheduling.
Visit: Google Classroom
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Edmodo
This distance learning toolkit is a superb tool to manage your classrooms and students’ engagement. One can send messages, share class materials, make learning accessible, etc. by making learning accessible. Parents also get updates on what teachers want to tell them and stay in overall sync.
Visit: Edmodo
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Showbie
Keeping your classrooms connected through, Showbie is a fantastic online class tool. Online discussion, portfolio making, collaboration, assignment, grade book; everything from your school comes on your screen itself. Enjoy this community classroom that makes online learning different from others.
Visit: Showbie
Part 4: Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner
Well, after reading the above points, you must have already formed an opinion. Listen to mine as well. I am inclined towards traditional learning, and the most significant reason behind it is human to human connection. But I am certainly not against online learning as it can fill in the gaps where traditional learning is lagging.
Moreover, situations during coronavirus have already taught us that technology is the most important thing to lead us in future. So I would like to say that this chicken dinner must be shared with traditional as well as online classes.
Online learning vs traditional learning: What is your opinion? Let us all know in the comment section below! Also for more reading, check out:
- 7 best Zoom alternatives
- How to record Skype video calls on Windows?
- How to change your background during a video call?