What do you think is better? Online Education or Traditional Education? What I meant by traditional is going to school, to the classroom with a teacher in front. I think Traditional Education is better because you interact with other people and you experience the lesson hand-in-hand. I would like to know your opinion about this because I'm an upcoming teacher.

Mark-

I don't think either format can be called universally 'better'.  I'm not sure what you mean by "upcoming teacher" but if you have only recently started classes one thing you will learn is about all of the different learning styles both in adult learning theory, and child learning theory.  For some people online is better than traditional, but for others online will be next to impossible.  I have done both, and have been successful at both but I would say that I prefer traditional but don't think of it as better.  For me, online has it purpose. As an adult learner with a career and family, the flexibility afforded out weighs the preference for my learning style.

Regardless of the format though, the person's level of dedication can determine your level of success.  Online is more self directed and in my opinion requires more work than traditional which can be good or bad. As an online student you often have to figure out more things for yourself which can be great, kind of like working a muscle your knowledge will grow with the increase level "work".

Also, keep in mind that as online lerning continues to evolve many institutions are trying to emulate the classroom experience as much as possible. The lectures range from asynchronous message boards to interactive video lectures.  At a traditional school, one thing I hated about being in class was having to suffer through all of the stupid questions that the one person in the front row would constantly ask... anyone who has been to a B&M ... you know what I mean every class has that one person to work your last nerve by monopolizing the lecture and wasting everyone elses time.  With online, you can just log off and go read your assignments or work independantly on your assignment.

to each his/her own. I am rambling now

A recent meta-analysis suggests that distance is slightly more effective, but that blended learning, where a program has elements of both, is the most effective:

http://community.elearners.com/blogs/atsu/archive/2009/06/30/meta-analysis-online-beats-the-classroom-but-blended-learning-is-best.aspx

That strikes me as pretty intuitive -- both ways have their advantages, so by combining them one can get most of those advantages in one while mitigating the disadvantages of either.

-=Steve=-

---

B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

I think the question is subjective.  I don't think one is necessarily "better" than the other, but it depends upon the program.  Would I want my doctor to have a degree from an online school?  Heck no...he better have some hands-on experience and face-time with an instructor.  For other professions, distance learning is just fine.  It's not that one is "better"; they are just "different."  There are pros and cons for each, depending upon your goals and career objectives.

 

I’m Clarisse, a Filipino Student and I am currently taking up BSE as my field of specialization. Well from what I learned, the traditional education will never be replaced by any technological advancement we have right now because in the classroom setup and with the presence of an educator, you will learn factual knowledge and mostly the proper values and attitude– not in computers, not in internet and not in gadgets. Those are just merely use as supplements in teaching-learning process. I am not against of Online Education, in fact I think it is very much conducive in giving knowledge to the students. Actually the kind of interaction it has proves how people maximize the use of internet nowadays. Instead of just chatting and playing online games in the computer, why not use it in an educational way? After all, one of its advantages is its accessibility... but as what I have said earlier, traditional teaching cannot be replaced by those innovative things.

 

Hey Clarisse, what you have said is very touching. ooh huuu... but there will come a that online education will over shadow traditional education. why? because the world is continuously changing. we are now in the post modern age and information age will come next. And you know what, your statement is actually peculiar when you said that traditional teaching cannot be replaced by innovative things. actually it can be replace depending on the world's situations. and another things, online education is much better because is way cheaper than traditional education. you don't need to get to school anymore and you can educate yourself anywhere through the use of a laptop. and online education can also cater those who are in the remote area. 

A degree is something best earned for professional reasons.  However with all that is available on the internet today, you could get a world class education (sans degree) just by reading the wealth of knowledge available for free.  I've even recently found a ton of instructional videos on Youtube that pretty much show you everything from playing guitar to fixing your household plumbing.  Now if someone would just do car repair I'd be set. 

Clarisse:

I’m Clarisse, a Filipino Student and I am currently taking up BSE as my field of specialization. Well from what I learned, the traditional education will never be replaced by any technological advancement we have right now because in the classroom setup and with the presence of an educator, you will learn factual knowledge and mostly the proper values and attitude– not in computers, not in internet and not in gadgets.

Well, as for factual knowledge, there are plenty of situations where one can learn things without being in the physical presence of an educator.  As a basic example, you can learn factual knowledge simply by reading books, even when the author is no longer even alive.

As for "proper values and attitude", that sounds more like someone trying to control you than educate you.

Those are just merely use as supplements in teaching-learning process. I am not against of Online Education, in fact I think it is very much conducive in giving knowledge to the students. Actually the kind of interaction it has proves how people maximize the use of internet nowadays. Instead of just chatting and playing online games in the computer, why not use it in an educational way? After all, one of its advantages is its accessibility... but as what I have said earlier, traditional teaching cannot be replaced by those innovative things.

Having done a Master's degree in Educational Technology, I can assure you that for subjects where hands on experience is not directly required, this is simply not true.  I'm not sure what you're being told in your BSE program, but this old fashioned thinking has become more and more discredited.

-=Steve=-

---

B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

Just a question, can technology teach us in gaining the right values or proper discipline? Because for me, I think it is one of the tasks of the teachers. I believe that learning is not only based on the factual knowledge but it is also based on how the student changes and it can be done when there is a guidance coming from the instructor. Being a model to them in the classroom setting can be the way for them to acquire values that they must need as a person. Teaching them is molding them to become individuals with ethics for them to succeed in life. And that I think is the plus point for traditional education. All that I am saying is that we should not forget the earlier methods for those are starting point of all these advancements that we are getting right now.

Clarisse:

Just a question, can technology teach us in gaining the right values or proper discipline?

If that's the goal, then why not?  People study online taking courses in ethics, philosophy, theology, and so forth.  Remember that whether a course in on campus or online, the content is the same.  It's only the way that content is delivered that's different. 

-=Steve=-

---

B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

I think that both online and traditional education compliments each other. In my perspective, competition is not the issue but rather how to combine the best elements of both methods to reach out to a broader population should be our focus. Personally, I prefer online learning. Why? Because I'm a working professional with a family and I serve in the military as well. It would be near impossible for me to attend a traditional university. However, what it comes down is individual circumstances, personal learning styles and finances. In this day and age I would think that "finances" play a big part.

our world is changing fast now. the demands are increasing most especially when it comes in education. i believe that change is the constant thing in this wordls. thus, even educational strategies changes.  now, we have internets and online educational. this is not made to trashout the traditional way of teaching which is the chalk and board, rather, this is made for extra or should i say, for additional way for learning. this reaches out to some who cant afford to go to schools because of financial problems. yes they are not for competition but, like what MAKANA793. said, they compliment each other. education is open for new ideas as long as it is for the betterment of learning. i cant fully say that there is no character  formation in online learning. it depends on how parents or guardian guide them. i believe that learning is no just from schools but it also comes from home:)

MONTERO, CLAIRE

STUDENT

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

I think it all depends what you are studying. I'm totally for online classroom if you have already gotten your degree and you are taking some extra classes to kind of enrich your knowledge in a certain subject. But i would definitely prefer to be in a physical classroom setting when i'm getting my undergraduate or master degree. That's a life experience that each person should go through. The campus life, the interaction with peers, etc.

Campus life might be an interesting experience for a kid who's just getting out of the house for the first time, but I wouldn't wish it on someone who is past traditional college age.  As for connecting with one's peers, one can do that in online programs.  I still correspond with some of my fellow students from my Master's program, and in the Facebook era I doubt I'm all that unusual for it.

-=Steve=-

---

B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress