Educational institutes have been practicing the traditional
teaching method since ages. Most of us are familiar with the traditional model
where one teacher is teaching fifty students at a time. No-one knows if those
fifty students are able to understand what is being explained or if they are
even paying attention to the lecture. This style of teaching is not considered
very effective today.
Students have access to new technology which helps them learn and
retain information in a far better manner. Which means, it is time for
educational institutes to bring some changes to its teaching methods. A popular
alternative to traditional education is online education or eLearning.
The online education model is basically trying to overcome the
disadvantages of the traditional education system, while also providing
additional benefits. In a traditional teaching model, students listen to long
lectures, take notes, and usually resort to rote memorization.
This leaves little or no room for active interaction in the
classroom. Online education, on the other hand, encourages participation in
classroom activities and peer-to-peer collaboration. With the availability of
various forms of online study resources, students are able to engage with their
courseware and gain knowledge in a much more engaging manner
Here are few ways how online education impacts traditional
education:
Students Can Learn at Their Own Pace:
Students have complete control over their lessons. Meaning, they
can now learn as per their own pace and learning capacity. Each student learns
and memorizes differently. Some might be quick learners, while some might take
time to understand a certain topic. In a classroom environment, the teacher explains
concepts and answers doubts, but there’s only so much that they can do.
Reduces Dependence on Teachers:
When students have an online learning option available to them,
the dependence on teachers for more information or notes reduces. They can get
additional information all by themselves with the help of online libraries.
With easy access to the internet, students can browse through thousands of
online learning content.
If you compare the cost factor, you would find that online
education is way more affordable for students than traditional education. This
is because of the difference in the creation of online course materials and
printed textbooks. A paperback book is costlier because it involves a lot of
process in its making. From cutting down trees to the production of paper, to
printing, packaging, and shipping.
More Social Interaction and Collaboration:
The traditional education model allows students to interact with
each other in and outside of school. But those are mainly face-to-face or
telephonic interactions. Online learning model allows further interaction by
providing an online platform for discussions. eBooks can be embedded with
sharing features, where students can share content and comment on other
student’s posts.
Teachers usually spend a good amount of time in correcting papers,
grading students, checking assignments etc. There’s too much paperwork involved
in the traditional education approach. Introducing online course modules will
help in reducing this time. The teachers could instead spend more time creating
an interactive learning environment in the classroom with activities,
discussions etc.
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