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Breanna Watson
English 111

Online Versus In-Class Courses

The days of in-class courses are becoming obsolete with the newest craze of online
learning rising up in todays world. Being able to achieve school work at home and on your own
time is great but, it is pushing having in-depth and personable learning to becoming a thing of the
past. Nowadays, students are wanting the time convenience and the ability to only perform the
minimal work ethic to scrape by in their courses. Although, many fail to realize the difficulties
that can occur when you commit yourself to only online classes. Instead of committing
themselves to just online classes they should create a balance between online and in-class
learning. A few of these disadvantages that come with just one commitment are the lack of
personable learning and discipline requirements; also, how the nationwide statistics are being
shaped because of this situation.
The lack of personable learning is one of the largest issues with online learning. Barry
Alford who is the author of Freirean Voices, Student Choices does a great job in talking about
how important classroom learning is. The most concrete way I know of making this move is to
engage my students, and have them engage each other, in the formation of topics and strategies
in the classroom. Not saying that a student cant engage in having an online class but who are
they engaging with? Themselves? Theres no one around but the computer and the student. As
Alford points out his beliefs that students will not be able to write as well if they are not able to
listen to themselves and others brainstorm and talk about their ideas. He uses a three-step
method in his classroom to get his students to interact with one another. Another author, Nicolas

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Carr, also agrees with the benefits that in-class classes can offer a better way of learning after
stating his experience with online learning to be chipping away my capacity for concentration
and contemplation. (371) Both of these authors submit valuable input that helps to illustrate my
point of how the engaging environment of a classroom can make such a considerable difference
in an individuals education.
The discipline requirements of online classes are overestimated by many students. In the
debate of online vs in-class courses, the new online trend has college students flocking towards
this new way to learn and further their degree. Online classes are the new version of education,
but new is not always better. Self-discipline is one of the biggest red flags that comes with online
learning. Students are often looking for the easiest way to get through their courses, and with the
World Wide Web at your fingertips, it's much easier to succeed. However, with online courses,
you have to have the discipline to know what needs to be done and schedule the time to get it
done. Author Nicholas Carr would agree with this statement as he states the more they use the
web, the more they have to fight to stay focused on long pieces of writing (Carr pg. 371). Inclass learning offers time to complete your assignments in a more focused environment. Anyone
who partakes in online courses needs to have strong time management as well as the ability to
learn independently. These traits can be a struggle for many individuals and can often lead to
failure if they are not taken seriously.
The nationwide statistics provided for this topic illustrate that in classroom has a superior
course pass rate to online learning. Although, the two statistics are similar, there is a slight
advantage towards the classroom aspect. There is a seventy-six percent completion rate for face
to face courses to the seventy- two percent who take online courses according to
edtechmagazine. Author Nicholas Carr might state that its because the internet is only crippling

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us that it is becoming our map not our guidance to a better education (Carr pg.373). Why do
you think that is? Maybe its the fact that there are many sources of information and ideas
floating around the classroom. Different brains are there to give ideas and a professor to guide
students in the right direction. As Alford would say student voices should have public,
unscripted involvement with the other students and the instructor (Alford pg. 280). Thats the
key; involvement. It not only doesnt cripple students but it leads them to a better learning style.
After discussing the personable learning and disciplinary advantages, as well as the
national statistics, we can conclude the superiority of in-class learning. The ability to discuss
ideas with others in-person is irreplaceable. Not to mention, the educational guidance from
instructors and the easier self-disciplinary requirements that come with the classroom learning
method. Many fear that as our society becomes more technology oriented, online classes will
continue to become more common. We hope this essay will educate people on these different
learning methods so they can make the best decisions for themselves.

Work Cited
Akanegbu, Anuli. "50 Striking Statistics About Distance Learning in Higher
Education."EdTech. EdTech Magazine, 12 July 2012. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.

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Alford, Barry Freirean Voices, Student Choices Exploring Relationships: Globalization

and Learning in the 21st Century. Custom ed. Mount Pleasant: Mid-Michigan Community
College, 2002. 279-282. Print.
Carr, Nicholas. "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" Exploring Relationships: Globalization
and

Learning in the 21st Century. Custom ed. Mount Pleasant: Mid-Michigan Community

College, 2008. 370-388. Print.