CASE on FIRe 4.

Online Vs. Traditional Program: Do Online Learners BA Communication

Do As Well As Students in Traditional Classes?
 Title:

Online Vs. Traditional Program: Do Online Learners Do As Well As Students in

Traditional Classes?

Lomtong, Angelica Rose G.

Email:

angelicalomtong803@gmail.com

Course:

Bachelor in Arts of Communication (Digital Cinema Track)

Semester:

1st Semester

December 6, 2019
Online Vs. Traditional Program: Do Online Learners BA Communication
Do As Well As Students in Traditional Classes?
Topic:

This paper discusses the meaning of online education, and how it differs from its traditio na l

counterpart. It will examine the benefits of this two mode of education and the problems associated

with enrolling in online classes that may affect the performance of students in college. This paper

will suggest a course of action that can be taken to overcome those problems faced by online

learners. By reading this paper, students will also know the difference between these two and will

have an idea that will help them in choosing which they think is better or suitable for them.

Introduction:

Due to the advancement of technology, new methods and ideas arise that will help people

to ease the work which also has a great impact on education and one of these is the formation of

online education. Online education has a big difference from the traditional way of learning since

the learning process is not just using the internet within the classroom, but rather take the whole

process over it. According to Gardner (2017), online education is a learning style that involves

taking courses over the internet. While there are many articles written about the comparison of

online and traditional education, only a few have truly evaluate the effectiveness of online classes

and whether or not students enrolled in this do as well as students enrolled in traditiona l classes.

Benefits of Online Classes

Some college students have part-time and they are commonly known as working students.

Many of them are working in a fast-food restaurant and some are freelancers. So, by the formatio n

of online education, they can now choose their time that will fit their schedule.

Online Vs. Traditional Program: Do Online Learners BA Communication

Do As Well As Students in Traditional Classes?
 One of the advantages of enrolling in online classes is that students can learn in their own

time (Zegarra, 2019). This is best for those students who have time commitments, because by

enrolling in online classes you hold your time, so you can choose a time that will fit your schedule.

It is also the best choice for those students who do not want to go to a classroom because as long

as you have internet access you can study and pass your homework wherever you are. But even

though online education offers flexibility to students, there are still deadlines they need to follow.

It merely does entail that online learners have more flexibility when it comes to managing their

schedules as they learn with greater freedom (Zegarra, 2019).

Another benefit of enrolling in online classes is that there is less peer pressure from other

students (n.a.2017). Without classmates, you will be focused more on yourself and your work. You

will be free from worry about what other students think of you and on your learning pace because

no one will know how well or bad your scores in any certain exam or test. You will not be also

afraid that you will be judged by other students because you have no classmates.

Benefits of Traditional Program

Despite the advantages of online classes, traditional education still has advantages when it

comes to learning. One of the advantages of traditional education is that there is an actual person

who can assess and evaluate the work and performance of the students. According to Mace (2015),

by being in classroom, students will have more accurate assessment. If you are in the classroom

the instructor or the teacher can assess you more, because he can see what you are doing and he

can evaluate your work more. They will also know if you fully understand the topic or not. If you

are also in the classroom you have someone to ask if there is something you do not understand

well or if you have something to clarify, because you have your classmate and your teacher.

Online Vs. Traditional Program: Do Online Learners BA Communication

Do As Well As Students in Traditional Classes?
 Another advantage of learning inside the classroom is that you can meet several people that

may help you once you graduate. Interacting with teachers, meeting new people and making new

friends may help you in developing your personality and gaining new knowledge (n.a., 2019). You

can also establish a large network which can help you gain connections that you can use in getting

a job.

One of the biggest benefits of enrolling in traditional education is that students will be

practiced to become more responsible and being on time which you can serve as your preparation

in your future career. According to Thomson (2018), preparation for career and adulthood are key

components of a traditional education. By attending in classroom everyday students gain skills to

be presents on time because they may be penalized if they absent in their classes. They will also

learn to work hard because each day, they are given homework that is needed to pass on time.

Success Rate of Online and Traditional Education

Online and traditional program are different learning style. There are some debates and

question regarding which is better or if online learners do as well as students in traditiona l

programs. According to a 2009 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, students

performed better in an online education situation than in face-to-face situations, on average

(Feintuch as cited by Wilson and Allen, 2011). However, Harris and Parrish (as cited by Wilson

and Allen, 2011) found that there was a significant difference in the learning outcomes between

two courses and that the in-class students received significantly higher grades and had a lower

dropout rate.

Base also on the studies of Hart and her fellow researcher in University of California,

Davis (2016), the results shows that online courses ineffective compared to the outcomes of face-

Online Vs. Traditional Program: Do Online Learners BA Communication

Do As Well As Students in Traditional Classes?
to-face courses. This studies shows that how well the students perform on class depends more on

their individual skills and knowledge rather than base on what mode of education they are in. In

spite of that, these studies still implies that learning environment and mode of education can

affect the academic performance of the students.

Problems Faced By Students in Online Learning

Just like any other students, students of online classes are facing many problems or

struggles in the learning process. These students face common problems such as adaptability

struggle, technical issues and computer literacy (Kumar, 2015).

Having a different or new environment from your previous years in grade school to high

school by switching from traditional to online classes in college may be difficult for some students.

According to Kumar (2015), students with a “traditional” mindset find it difficult to adapt to the

learning environment of online class. While students were accustomed to listening to their teachers

and taking notes, online discussions or creating a web page demand springing into action. So a big

adjustment is needed if you are planning to enroll in online classes.

As online classes are taking over on the internet, a fast internet connection is needed. But

as not all students are provided with the high bandwidth that online courses require, it had became

one of the problems faced by online students (Kumar, 2015). And because of this, many of them

fail to catch up with their virtual classmates which also affects their academic performance.

Computer literacy is also one of the problems that are faced by online learners as not all of them

know how to manage their computer well. So if their computers got some problem, it will be

troublesome for them as it will affect their learning process.

Online Vs. Traditional Program: Do Online Learners BA Communication

Do As Well As Students in Traditional Classes?
 Although online classes gives students flexibility of time, problem in time management is

still faced by online learners. As most of them have other everyday commitments, they frequently

forget or missed their activities online. Nobody will also try to remind them because they have no

teachers or classmates to do it.

Plan of Action or Possible Solutions

As students grow up, it is natural that he tries to find a new environment that will give him

more freedom to learn in his way which online classes can provide. However, despite the benefits

that online classes have, there are many problems discussed above which is needed to overcome

by those students who are planning to enroll in this.

Switching from traditional education to online classes needs to have a big adjustment, so

before enrolling or switching to it, students must be prepared. They need to accept the new learning

environment with an open mind and heart and not easily lose courage as it will affect their

academic performance.

It is also better if they study even a little about computer literacy so they can have

knowledge that can use once they got a problem on their computer. Through this, they can easily

find a solution for technical problems and they can participate in online discussion without

interruption. You should also start to study how to use Microsoft word and excel as this is where

you will do most of your document. You should also study how to make PowerPoint as this is use

to make presentation.

Last would be that you should make a schedule planner that will help you to be reminded

of those activities or assignments you need to submit online. It is also best or advisable if this

planner is on your phone because as you always look to your phone, you can be easily reminded.

Online Vs. Traditional Program: Do Online Learners BA Communication

Do As Well As Students in Traditional Classes?
Conclusion:

Online and traditional learning are two different things but with the same purpose which is

to strengthen the mind of students by giving them knowledge. As the traditional mode of education

is more common from elementary to high school, online education is a trend now as there are many

college students enrolled in online classes especially those who have other commitments. There

are clear benefits of enrolling in online classes as it gives students more freedom to learn and study

in their own way. Despite these advantages, there are common problems face by online learners

such as the struggles to adapt in new learning environment which can affects their academic

performances. The result whether which mode of education is more effective or if online learners

do as well as students in traditional education is depend more on the individuality of the students

as there are different studies about the comparison of this two that also shows different result. But

we cannot also deny that the mode of education or the learning environment they have has still

effects on how well they perform.

NO. OF WORDS: 1,720

Online Vs. Traditional Program: Do Online Learners BA Communication

Do As Well As Students in Traditional Classes?
References:

Gardner, M. (2017, December 13). Online vs. Traditional Education. Retrieved from:

https://owlcation.com/academia/Online-Education- vs-Traditional-Education

Hart, C. et.al. (2016, March 23). Online Course-taking and Student Outcomes in Califor nia

Community Colleges. Retrieved from:

http://education.ucdavis.edu/sites/main/files/hart_friedmann_hill_03232016_0.pdf

Kumar, S. (2015, July 10). 5 Common Problems Faced By Students In eLearning And How To

Overcome Them. Retrieved from: https://elearningindustry.com/5-common-problems-

faced-by-students- in-elearning-overcome

Mace, J. (2015). The Advantages of Classroom Learning over Online Education. Retrieved

from: https://ppeptechs.org/527

n.a (2019). Traditional Learning vs Online Learning: Which one is better? Retrieved from:

https://www.pinlearn.com/traditional- learning- vs-online- learning/

n.a. (2017). Online Learning vs Classroom Learning: Online or Traditional Classes?.

Retrived from: https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/online- learning-vs-classroom-

learning/

Thomson, V. (2018, August 10). The Goals of a Traditional Education. Retrieved from:

https://classroom.synonym.com/goals-traditional-education-8023.html

Wilson, D. & Allen, D.(2011). Success rates of online versus traditional college students.

Retrieved From: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1068796

Zegarra, M. (2019, April 9). Online vs. Traditional Education—Which is Best? Retrieved from:

https://www.fnu.edu/online-vs-traditional-education-which-best/

Online Vs. Traditional Program: Do Online Learners BA Communication

Do As Well As Students in Traditional Classes?
Online Vs. Traditional Program: Do Online Learners BA Communication
Do As Well As Students in Traditional Classes?