Are Online Courses as Effective as Traditional Classes?
Are we ready to totally dive into the remote world?
Since the world has been hit by the Coronavirus pandemic, people have never used and turned to the internet this much than ever before. Everything is suddenly being relied upon on the internet, digital files being sent right away, even church masses are being shown instead on Facebook Live, and then suddenly a lot of online institutions have emerged offering their courses online which is absolutely an ideal replacement and come in convenient with the fact that it is a lot more dangerous to go out to go to school amidst coronavirus pandemic.
For hundreds of years, traditional classes have been a successful method of education. Going to the brick-and-mortar school to study with classmates, interact with peers, and listen to lectures, learning new things, and accepting rewards are just some of the enjoyable activities we can do at school, though sometimes boring and at times frustrating because of too much competition going on.
Then the pandemic happens.
A lot of parents are hesitant to let their children take online classes due to the disadvantages and negative effects it may bring. However, many parents, who do not seem to find themselves fit to guide their child’s learning, also find online classes their savior (there are families whose both parents have to do their day jobs) and even as effective as traditional classes. What’s more, online classes are way cheaper, which is the greatest benefit so far, and convenient. Students need not wake up early and go through the traffic nor pay for transportation fees.
Another benefit students can get in taking online classes is they have the freedom to choose from a variety of courses and register at their preferred time, even choose the teacher or instructor, which then leads to a more educated and eventually a skilled society as a whole.
Flexibility
This is students' and parents' most favorite factor of taking online classes. For instance, university students who are busy working part-time jobs have the option to view online course lectures online, anytime, and anywhere he/she prefers. Perhaps during lunch break, at night after work, or while on the train. Students do not have this kind of flexibility in traditional classes.
In my country, the Philippines, since 2020, the popularity of online courses is increasing continuously, although many students who come from less fortunate families still cannot afford it due to financial struggles.
However, online classes would probably continue even more in the next years as the internet becomes more accessible and affordable to many.
Wrapping Up
So based on the reasons stated above, it gives every indication of being that the online course is an effective way of learning if and only if the traditional class does not work for you. Accessibility and flexibility, for instance, need to be studied further in a specific area. The quality of teaching still depends on the teacher and the student’s passion for learning.
