Online Education versus On-Campus Learning

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There are many varying attitudes on whether online learning is the same quality as the traditional face-to-face on-campus education.  I have been both a traditional undergraduate student with face-to-face instruction, and then an online graduate student when I completed my MBA.  I am currently an adjunct professor of online learning and have taught adult learners who are working while pursuing their degree as well as resident students who are taking an online class to supplement their face-to-face instruction.  With this range of experience, I feel I have adequate knowledge to make a comparison myself.In my experience, I found that the instruction, content, assignments and overall learning objectives were not much different between on-campus and distance learning classes. In my opinion, distance learning classes require a bit more discipline and commitment then the on-campus classes. When I was an on-campus student, if I skipped class I could always get the notes or the lecture from another classmate. With online education, a large portion of the learning is through self learning. I found that distance learning classes required more time to complete the necessary reading and class assignments.

With the on-campus education, I found myself skipping reading assignments and just taking good notes in class to pass the test. Not so in distance learning classes, making weekly progress is essential to learning. In my opinion and experience as a student in both settings, I found the quality of my education was better online because I was forced to have to teach myself to some degree and I could not afford to cut corners or I would have failed the classes. This seemed like a burden during the classes, but looking back, I see that it forced me to learn more than I think I would have ever learned had I taken those same online classes in a traditional face-to-face classroom. We have all heard that old saying, that to really learn something you need to teach it. Well, distance learning forces you to teach yourself to a degree, thus deepening the learning experience.

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July 30, 2008 · Filed Under Misc, Online Learning

Comments

One Response to “Online Education versus On-Campus Learning”

  1. Ben on July 31st, 2008 12:04 am

    Good points. I would also like to add that I have found that DLP is heavier on requirements than on campus classes. I can definitely say that is true in regard to the religion program.

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