Online College vs. Traditional College When Considering

Online College vs. Traditional College

When considering the ever-changing and ever-growing world of globalization and technology, it is no surprise that such trends have found their way into the educational arena. Accordingly, with the computerization of classrooms and assignments many more worldly citizens have been given access to the valuable education they deserve. Regardless of the subject they teach, almost all teaching professionals have also had to become more educated in the world of technology. For, in addition to the computerization of assignments, technology has found its way into several other aspects of the overall higher education experience. In the modern collegiate world things like applications, grades, transcripts, library resources, textbooks and even exams have all been incorporated into the lives of students and faculty members. In keeping with this advancement of technological integration, countless universities have begun to offer online classes and degree programs, whereby students never enter a real classroom and rarely meet their instructor. The success and increases in application rates to these classes and programs has prompted the creation of numerous exclusively online universities that specifically cater themselves to the needs of this growing demographic of students. However, as this trend continues to gain steam, there have been many critics claiming that this type of education is prohibitive and takes away from the valuable experience that is a traditional college education. While there is little question that the recent surge in the popularity of online educational outlets is based upon their convenience and lower costs, there are several substantial differences with respect to a traditional college environment that are certainly worth exploring.

The traditional college experience is one rife with personal interactions, teacher-student relationships, community events and extracurricular options. All of these facets of conventional college life can provide students with valuable memories and learning channels. The friendships forged in this atmosphere often become lifelong comradeships. What is more, the strictly academic components of traditional university life come with a much larger inventory of useable resources. When students experience difficulties in their studies, universities will offer tutoring programs, teacher meetings, and students can also ask their classmates in a candid face-to-face environment. The presence of such helpful services and the chronic support of friends often translate into increased academic performance and confidence in the classroom. What is more, the camaraderie developed through extracurricular clubs and teams often has the same carry-over effect in the classroom and provides yet another source of friendship and support. Thus, cumulatively, the traditional college environment provides students with a full and well-rounded experience inside and outside of the classroom.

However, as all of the aforementioned characteristics of conventional college have the capacity to aid students in their educational and occupational journeys, these aspects of university life also have their drawbacks. One such shortcoming of the traditional higher education framework is the wealth of distractions that are ever-present in the social world of college. The same outlets that are created to provide students with camaraderie and personal values can act as disturbances and hindrances on academic achievements. Additionally, things like intimate relationships, parties, fraternities and other social outlets can cause the educational curriculum to be placed on the back burner, while these recreational channels are exploited to excess. Moreover, the traditional university environment is almost exclusively designed for young people. While this demographic certainly comprises the vast majority of college students, there is seemingly little room for older individuals returning to college or giving college a go later in life. There should be room for this valuable group of individuals wishing to increase their knowledge base.

From the perspective of the online educational option, there is a wide array of differences both positive and negative. On the brighter side, this collegiate channel is much more convenient and significantly less costly. Accordingly, this choice is very attractive for those on a budget or those who have full-time jobs or family responsibilities. Knowing that tuition prices have been steadily climbing (to ghastly figures) in recent years along with overall living costs, online colleges have been chosen by many as a means of avoiding large debt sums, while also accumulating valuable work experience during their education. This type of educational arena is also an ideal choice for older individuals that want to get a college education. In many cases, such individuals are uninterested in the social and extracurricular distractions of the traditional college world and simply want to enhance their resumes with a college degree. The online classroom allows such people to learn at their own paces and not feel excluded on the basis of age or scholastic status.

Though while the more comprehensively inclusive and generally convenient nature of online education are unquestionably favorable, there are also several negative aspects of this technological framework. For instance, being that students must be extremely self-sufficient and self-motivated in the world of online universities, the availability of personal assistance and support is often limited. While teachers and educational professionals may be available by email or even by phone, the personal aspect and the true dedication to learning seem to be limited. Similarly, while traditional college professors enhance curriculums through their lectures and personal/professional inputs, online learning is much more dry and "by the book." Thus, with the absence of social networks, extracurricular events and personalized educational resources the online college experience is much less comprehensive than its traditional counterpart.