Online Learning vs Traditional Learning

by Vineith Kaul, Posted on 27 January 2021

EdTech

Advantages of online vs traditional learning :

Online learning has gained recognition these days. Moreover, during the pandemic 2019, this method of learning increased at an alarming rate. People prefer studying from the comfort of their homes than commuting to the educational institutions. It has taken over the traditional learning system partly and would overtake it completely in the years to come.

Let us have a look at the differences between online learning vs traditional learning.

Difference between Online Learning and Traditional Learning

Following are the comparisons between online learning vs traditional learning:

Online Learning	Traditional Learning
It happens online.	It happens offline.
The students can study anytime, anywhere with online learning.	Happens in a scheduled place at a specific time.
Flexible	Imposed
The students can study alone.	The students study with their peers.
Enforces personalized learning and experiential learning.	All the students are taught at the same pace.
There is limited interaction between students and teachers.	Face-to-face interaction with each other and teachers.
Online content is the primary source of information.	The teachers and textbooks are the primary source of information.

What is Online Learning?

Several people undertake professional courses and certification courses while working. After a tiring day, they hardly have any energy left to go to the coaching classes. Here, they can study online from their homes or hostel rooms and need not run to the coaching centres. Thus, an online class is more convenient, time-saving, and cost effective.

During online classes the student is not interacting directly with the teacher, therefore, they cannot ask any queries. However, there are separate live sessions wherein the students can ask their doubts and get the answers.

There are a large number of sources online where the students can get any information in the world. This reduces their effort of going through different textbooks.

Online learning is fun and engaging. Animation in education has enabled the students visualize the content they are studying. Online class enables personalized learning and helps the students study at their own pace.

What is Traditional Learning?

Traditional learning, also known as face-to-face learning, is preferable to the students who haven’t started working yet and have time to attend the offline classes. However, it does not prevent them from attending classes during the scorching heat and heavy rains.

In traditional classrooms the students can ask their queries there and then. However, they are not fun and engaging like the online learning. All the students are taught at an equal pace. There is guarantee of proper understanding of concepts in traditional learning. The shy one’s would anyway never clarify their doubts when offline.

Thus we see, online learning is better than traditional learning in every manner. It also proved to be a boon during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a more flexible method of education. There are a few who are unable to cope with the online learning system, but the generation of smartphones and internet connections is more in favour of it.

Each method has its pros and cons. It is up to the students what method they want to adopt.