Online Learning vs Traditional Classrooms: The Role of Technology in Higher Education

In 2020, 44% of all undergrad students were exclusively taking distance college courses. This accounts for 7 million college students who were only using online college.

If you are a college student, you may be interested in technology in higher education. This is something that has become much more noticeable over the past several years.

Online learning has been popular for a while, but it really took off in 2020. Since then, students continue to use technology instead of going to traditional classrooms.

Keep reading to find out about the role of technology in higher education.

What Is Online Learning?

If you are considering online learning, there are some things to consider. For one thing, you need to understand exactly what this is.

A growing number of colleges have started to offer online college courses. This is something that has been going on for a while, but students are taking advantage of it now.

This allows students to access college courses online instead of going to classes. Some colleges offer full degree programs that can be earned on the internet.

The good news is that you are not limited when it comes to the credentials you can get. No matter what degree you are after, online courses can help you to get there.

Keep in mind that this is not going to apply to every college or degree. There are some degrees where hands-on training is required for completion.

But there are many degrees where everything can be done online without issue. In some cases, colleges even prefer this as it is less of a strain on their resources.

Some colleges have online courses with live lectures and presentations. But the majority of colleges pre-record these lectures in audio and video format.

Online Learning Pros and Cons

Technology in higher education is a great opportunity for college students. Online modules open the door for students who may not be able to attend traditional classrooms.

But there are always going to be pros and cons to any decision you make. You want to understand what the downsides to this decision are as well as the advantages.

Here are some examples of the pros and cons you need to consider before making your decision.

Flexibility

A huge benefit of remote learning is that it is suitable for any schedule. A lot of students choose this option because they can focus on other aspects of their life as well.

You may be working a full-time job, or you may be raising a family. In either of these instances, you would not be able to go to traditional classrooms.

Remote learning is flexible, allowing you to do your work whenever it is best for your schedule. This also opens the door for students who want to attend colleges out of state.

By using online learning, you can stay where you are while going to your dream college. These are options that would never have been available without technology.

Limited College Experience

Some people may struggle with technology in higher education. Although this is a great tool, it lacks the personalization you get from normal learning.

You won’t be interacting with other students and going to classes. Because of this, group assignments will be difficult, and you won’t make human connections.

It can also be difficult for some people to learn using remote learning. They may be easily distracted or struggle to focus when their professor is not in front of them.

They may also struggle to manage their own time and get their work done. Some people are not good at creating routines that help them to accomplish their goals.

These are all things you should consider depending on how you learn. You also want to consider the kind of college experience that you want to have.

Online classes aren't social, so you won’t get many traditional college experiences.

More Opportunities

When you are learning remotely, there is more opportunity available to you. If you are able to dedicate a lot of time to this, your options are endless.

You may be able to take on more courses to learn more at a faster pace. Or you may be able to find other forms of education to improve your résumé.

Going above and beyond in your education is very important for your future. This is what is going to set you apart from other students who are entering that career field.

You could also get part-time jobs or internships in the career field you will be joining. This will look very good on your résumé and show that you have real hands-on experience.

These are things that you would never have the time for if you were going to a traditional college. It is not nearly as flexible, and it won’t provide as much free time to work with.

Learning Distractions

For some people, online learning can be extremely distracting. Depending on your situation, you may struggle to create a peaceful atmosphere.

If you have just started college, you are probably still living at home. This can make learning difficult if there are other people in the house when you are doing your courses.

You may have to learn how to study even if the environment is loud and distracting. Or you may need to find a place to go where you can focus for a few hours at a time.

Some people are naturally good at focusing and getting their work done. But the majority of people require a specific environment so that they can get into the zone.

More Affordable

Something you may not have realized is that online college can help your finances. There are a lot of college expenses that simply come from going to a physical college.

This could include things like transportation costs and living costs. You often have to pay a fee for your dorm as well as the meals you eat each day.

These are expenses that you don’t have to worry about if you are doing college from home.

There is also the cost of the numerous textbooks you need. Many of these student resources can be bought digitally when working online.

What Is Traditional Learning?

Now that you know what online learning is, what is traditional learning? Traditional college is when you are learning in person on campus.

You may be living on the college campus or simply going to your classes. Either way, you are directly interacting with other people on campus.

You will usually attend several classes for courses that are taught by your professors. These classes are often several hours long, providing assignments at the end.

Students are able to do group assignments and interact with the other students. You can also discuss things with your professor if you don’t understand something.

This is the option that most students choose when they are going to college. This will give them that traditional college experience of being surrounded by other students on campus.

Traditional Learning Pros and Cons

Even though traditional learning is still popular, there are certain pros and cons to consider. This is a big decision, and you want to make sure you do your research.

Most often, your decision will come down to your personality and your goals. Some people simply do better online or need in-person experiences.

College Experience

The biggest benefit to traditional learning is the experience you get. A lot of people go to college because they want the college experience before they have to join the workforce.

They want to live in a dorm room and make a bunch of college friends. They also may want to attend parties and meet like-minded people.

If you are a personal person, this may be something that is very important to you. It allows you to still enjoy your college experience while earning that degree.

Distracting Environment

Going to a traditional college can come with a lot of distractions. After all, you are going to be surrounded by hundreds of other students on campus.

Many people find this to be very distracting when they are trying to learn. You may struggle to juggle your social life and your education at the same time.

It is very easy to become caught up in the college experience when you are trying to learn. This can take away from your studies and have a negative impact on your grades.

Some students may also find that they neglect other important aspects of their life. This may include things like their health or their friends and family back home.

Educational Assistance

Going to college in person provides a lot of benefits when you are learning. You may be struggling to grasp certain subjects or get the grades you are after.

College is often surprising to many people as the education level is so much higher. It may take several months before you really grasp the subjects you are learning.

When you are struggling, working remotely can be especially difficult. This is why going to college in person is often ideal if you are struggling with some of your work.

You will have other students in your classes who could help you with certain things. Or you may be able to schedule an appointment in person with your professor.

There are also plenty of on-campus resources for students. This includes different areas where you can receive counseling or have other students tutor you.

Some of these options are still available when doing remote learning, but they aren’t as accessible.

Less Flexibility 

If you go to a traditional college, your time is going to be restricted. You will most likely have a strict college schedule that you have to abide by every week.

This schedule is often structured around the many classes you have for your courses. You may also have extracurricular activities scheduled for fun.

The average college student often struggles to manage their time. They have a large workload and may even need to juggle a side job.

It is very difficult to maintain a life and work balance when attending college. There is very little downtime, and it is difficult to make the most of your time with so many classes.

This is very different from remote learning, where you create your own schedule. You can attend Zoom calls whenever necessary and fit your courses in when you have spare time.

Interactive Experience

Traditional classrooms provide opportunities that online students may miss out on. This is especially true if you are a visual learner.

Visual learners learn by seeing what they are being taught. Even though this is possible to understand online, the quality of what you are learning may not be as good.

Hands-on training is very useful and helps topics to make more sense. Some people even find it helpful to watch other students get through the work, providing an example.

These are things that can make remote learning a bit difficult. You may need to be in an actual classroom to grasp what is being taught and makes sense of it.

A Guide to Technology In Higher Education

You may be considering remote learning instead of going to traditional classrooms. This is a very popular option as technology in higher education is more accessible.

Anyone can take advantage of this option for convenience while getting their degree. It opens up more opportunities and helps you to reach your goals.

Are you interested in going to college online or in person? Contact us today at Honor Society for all kinds of college resources.