Learning styles and effectiveness in online versus traditional education

Learning

Online vs. Traditional Learning

Online learning has become a reality in the past decade and most traditional institutions have come to embrace this method of education. However, arguments remain regarding the effectiveness of online educational opportunities vs. those offered in the more traditional manner. Many possible reasons for this reluctance to fully embrace the technology exist, but the main reason seems to be that people are just not used to this method of education so it is difficult to alter one's perceptions. Those who have been embracing the digital education revolution have suggested that there may be a type of student who will benefit greatly from this type of education due to the way that they learn. This paper looks at learning styles as they correlate to online vs. traditional learning, and also examines the conjecture introduced by some that online learning may foster some traits, such as those required of leaders, better than traditional learning.

Online vs. Traditional Learning

The first argument made by those who believe that online learning students suffer compared to those in a traditional environment is that the online learner has no direct connection with an instructor. This is one of the many problems that is being addressed while online education programs are streamlined. As a matter of fact, the absence of a single instructor teaching a large number of students may make the environment better for those in the class. Researchers have begun to realize that there can be more individual instruction with in an online environment, and that this help can be more immediate (Dagorret, 2010).

Other benefits can be seen such as a reduced overall cost to the consumer (Dagorret, 2010), the flexibility and direct feedback (Online Education, 2012), and the fact that classes are often more convenient (Kennedy, 2007). The benefits that researchers have found though seem to be limited by some of the difficulties some learners have in the online environment. A problem occurs for those who are not ready to be self-directed in their quest for education. Because the online environment is less constrained, individuals will often fall behind in their courses and perform poorly. This type of message was at the core of research conducted by Ladkin, et al., (2009) which looked at the type of learner that online education benefitted and whether that type of learner was better equipped to lead after they completed their education.

Conclusion

The basic finding is that people are conditioned, by their learning and personality type, to be more or less successful depending on the learning environment that they are placed in. Some gravitate toward online learning because it affords them the opportunity to enhance their individuality more than a traditional environment. The process also allows the individual to develop those talents that will prepare them for leadership in the next phase of their lives.

Reference

Dagorret, C. (2010). Difference between online education vs. traditional education. Retrieved from http://www.dagorret.net/difference-between-online-education-vs.- traditional-education/

Kennedy, R. (2007). Online v. traditional learning. Retrieved from http://onlinehighereducation.com/articles/196/Online-vs.-Traditional-Learning

Ladkin, D., Case, P., Gaya-Wicks, P., & Kinsella, K. (2009). Developing leaders in cyberspace: The Paradoxical possibilities of online learning. Leadership, 5(2), 192.

Online Education. (2012). Online vs. traditional. Retrieved from http://www.onlineeducation.com/resources/Online-VS-Traditional.php

Reynolds, L.J. (2001). Model for a web-based information-literacy course: Design, conversion and experiences. In Engineering libraries: Building collections and delivering services, Thomas W. Conkling and Linda R. Musser Eds. (pp. 165- 178). Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Information Press.