Online College Education Network
(OCEN)
Traditional or Online: How do I Choose?
Online education courses and traditional colleges both have their respective advantages and disadvantages. In a traditional classroom scenario the focus is mainly on the instructor. The flow of information from instructor to student may be passive if the instructor does not successfully get the attention of his audience.
Online
College Courses
The online classroom technologies are suited for a learner-focused environment.
In this type of environment, the focus is on the student while the instructor
becomes more of a guide than a teacher. The student thereby takes a more
central role in the construction of his or her learning while instructors
provide resources rather than delivering content.
Online education courses offer a wide range of technologies, media and forms of interaction that allows instructors to meet a broader range of students needs. While distance learning is not for everyone, many are enjoying the advantages such as flexible schedules, learning at your own pace, and the ability to study from anywhere in the world.
Distance Education Statistics
Online education courses are the wave of the future! They range from short
term training workshops to undergraduate and graduate programs for college
credit. During the last decade the use of online education courses has
expanded from twenty-two percent to sixty percent.
Many wonder about student performance of distance learning graduates as opposed to those who are educated in a traditional classroom. The survey respondents rated the performance of distance education students about the same (54 percent) or better (27 percent) than their classroom-based students.
Traditional
College Benefits
While many people are succeeding in taking online education courses, it
is not a perfect learning environment for everyone. In order to be a successful
student taking online college courses you must possess strong written
communication skills and an ability to work well independently.
You may be better suited for a traditional education if you possess the type of personal learning style that relies heavily on visual and verbal cues. A traditional education can offer you the connection you may need between yourself, your instructor and classmates. Understanding your learning needs is the best way to determine whether you belong in a traditional or online college.