Online Schooling Versus Traditional Schooling
By: Ashley Weng
Introduction:
In recent years, the debate between online schooling versus traditional schooling has been intensified. During COVID-19, students had no other choice but to pursue an education online. However, is it better to continue virtual classes or to go back to the traditional classroom? Each side has their advantages which suit different people depending on their circumstances and their needs. While traditional schools offer growth in social skills and active engagement, online education presents flexibility and lower costs.
Online Schooling:
Online schooling is when students participate in class using technology, and often learn in their homes rather than in a designated school. Although often viewed in a negative light, online schooling has its advantages over traditional schools. Just some of these are access to flexibility when it comes to scheduling and lower costs.
Students are able to participate in class and learn the course material from their homes using computers. Picture by Connections Academy.
Flexibility
When it comes to online school, one positive is that students have the ability to create their schedules in a way that best fits them. This can be great for older students who need to juggle work and education at the same time, allowing them to manage both effectively. Having a flexible schedule that works for the student also allows them to connect more with their family and friends. This can greatly improve a student's mental health, as they are able to spend their time wisely and be more relaxed as well. Bay Atlantic University reports that, “63% of online students committed to an online program because it was aligned with their current life/work responsibilities”(BAU). Having this ability that would not be given in traditional schools is a great advantage students have when taking an online education.
Reduced Costs
Another great thing about online schooling is the dramatic decrease in price compared to traditional education. This is due to the high operating costs of in-person schools, like buildings, onsite staff, and housing. Families who cannot afford to send their kids to expensive schools often find themselves with online education to assist them financially. Melanie Hanson reports that, “For public 4 year colleges…the online degree is $30,545 cheaper”(Hanson) than public schools. This is a huge advantage that would greatly help families who are trying to save money while still wanting to give their children a good education.
Traditional Schooling:
Traditional schooling involves students physically going to campuses and classrooms to learn. They can interact freely with their teachers and other classmates and perform hands-on work that doesn’t involve the internet. This is great for students because it benefits their conversational skills as well as actively engages them in the class material.
Social Skills:
While online schooling can be great, one major problem makes it difficult: socialization. In traditional schools, students can make friends and physically meet new people. This forces them to learn to create healthy conversations and interact with others, which is something that is needed when they become adults. Dr. Eric Storch, vice chair of psychology at Baylor College, says that kids need friends because “friends not only provide emotional support, but also give you feedback that, together with other important figures, helps shape the person you become”(Warren). Learning to work with others is a skill that is heavily needed throughout life, and it is easily achievable through traditional schooling, instead of sitting at a computer and learning at home.
In a physical classroom, students are able to collaborate more effectively by speaking face to face. Picture by McGnaw Hill.
Engagement:
Another important factor that makes traditional schooling a great choice for students is the active engagement involved in physical classes. While doing hands-on activities, students become more focused on learning and assessing the material. In online classes, it can be hard to be actively engaged while sitting around a computer and not physically interacting with the work. But when participating in real-time classes, it becomes harder to tune out the information, making the student more focused and ready to learn. David Elmer, the Department Chair of Excercise Science at Berry College, says that, “During COVID-19, when teaching to a computer screen, it was harder to tell if students were listening, and students were much more reluctant to discuss concepts and ask questions”(Berry College). If students are less engaged in the lessons, they will not come out of the class with an understanding of the material. Physically being in a class and interacting with the world around them can only benefit a students education.
Conclusion:
It is obvious that school plays a major impact on a person’s life, as it plays a big part in shaping who they become as a person. The differences between online and traditional schooling are stark, but each has it reasons for why it can be beneficial towards a student's education. A person could choose to be enrolled in online schooling and face the benefits of flexibility in scheduling and lower costs if it best suited them. Another person might choose traditional schooling for better social skills and to be actively engaged if they thought it was best for them. In the end, it all comes down to what the student prioritizes the most, so they can make the most out of their education that will lead them to a brighter future.
References
Bay Atlantic University. (2023, October 18). Online Learning statistics: Is online education the future? - Bay Atlantic University - Washington, D.C. Bay Atlantic University - Washington, D.C. https://bau.edu/blog/online-learning-statistics/
Hanson, M. (2024, August 31). Cost of Online Education vs. Traditional Education [2024]: Comparison. Education Data Initiative. https://educationdata.org/cost-of-online-education-vs-traditional-education
Warren, H. (2024, August 20). The importance of socializing children. Baylor College of Medicine. https://www.bcm.edu/news/the-importance-of-socializing-children
The in-person advantage: Why face-to-face education has benefits. (n.d.). https://www.berry.edu/articles/blog/2024/in-person-advantage
